Wedding Vendors 101: Your Guide To Choosing The Right Vendors For Your Wedding

When it comes time to plan out your wedding, one of the first big decisions you'll find yourself worrying about will be finding the right vendors to cover every service you'll need at your wedding: there are SO many to choose from. Today, we're diving into the types of vendors you may need for your wedding and the services they can provide for you.

What Is A Wedding Vendor?

A wedding vendor is a brand, business, or individual who supplies products or services for weddings such as wedding stationery, catering, bridal gown, entertainment, and more. There is a whole range of wedding vendors that exist, some may suit your wedding while others may not, but ultimately it's all about personal preference and the theme of your overall wedding that will define the type of vendors you'll hire.

Wedding vendors or services you may need for your wedding.

Invitations & stationery: There is a whole range of paper you may choose to use for your wedding, from hen's party invites to wedding invites and all the events in between. For a more in-depth guide to what stationery you might want, check out our guide to wedding stationery and invitations HERE.

Wedding Cake Baker: While you'll want your cake to be delicious, it's also traditionally a big part of your wedding theme, so choosing the proper baker is a big deal. A wedding cake baker tends to be a necessity at every wedding these days.

Food, beverages, & reception entertainment: From vendors that will supply food & drinks (if the venue doesn't include it in their package) to any potential entertainment, such as a DJ or a live musician. There can be a lot of choices of different types of vendors you may hire for ceremony entertainment!

Officiant: This one is a must-have. You'll always need a legitimate person to officiate your wedding to ensure that you're legally married. 

Flowers, bouquets & ceremony/reception decorations: There can be a whole range of floral arrangements at any given wedding, so the florist tends to be on the must-have list. From centerpieces to your bouquet or boutonnieres to the ceremony florals - flowers will almost always be a big part of any wedding day.

The wedding ceremony + reception venue: The venue(s) for your wedding ceremony and reception will be one of the most significant parts of your special day. It'll set the tone for the theme or style of wedding you're after and be the place you'll get married. Some brides may choose a venue that can be both the ceremony and the reception. In contrast, others may go with two separate locations, for example, a church wedding followed by a reception at a different venue.

Wedding rings: One of the most important vendors for your wedding, along with the dress & venue, will be the jeweler that provides the wedding bands.

Wedding planner: While some brides may opt to plan and carry out their wedding independently, some choose to hire a wedding planner to take care of all the stressful details and stay organized to be on track, and budget, for the wedding day.

Hair & Makeup artist: We all want to look our best on our wedding day. While some may opt to go for a more natural look, others may wish to go full glam on their special day.

Transportation: If you're planning on hiring some transportation for your big day, like a limousine or a specific car that matches your theme, this is a vendor you'll need to use.

The wedding dress + other wedding garments: One vendor rarely carries this out. Between the bride's wedding dress, the bridesmaid dresses, and also the suits or tuxedos for the groom and his groomsmen, you'll usually end up doing quite a bit of shopping around. However, some designers may do your bridesmaid's gowns + bridal dress at the same place.

Photographer/Videographer: Hiring someone to record the memories you and your partner will create on your special day is something many brides do because it gives them a way to look back at their happiest moments.

Wedding Favors: If you plan on giving your guests wedding favors, you may choose to hire a vendor that will take care of that for you. They'll generally work with you to create, source, or find something meaningful to give as a gift to all of your wedding guests.

How Do I Choose The Right Wedding Vendors For Me?

Choosing the right vendors can feel like a stressful undertaking, but it can be a lot easier than you might think with a few tips.

Firstly, you'll want to be sure to contact these vendors with as much notice as possible - some vendors such as photographers, wedding dress designers, venues, and more can be booked out quite far in advance. So to avoid any disappointment, get in touch ASAP to check if the vendor of your choice has free availabilities.

When it comes to looking up potential vendors, there are a few easy ways to find some good candidates, such as Google (be sure to check reviews!) and Instagram (look at wedding-related hashtags + other brides weddings and see the people they've used). But, again, be sure to use reviews and social media to check what other brides have said about the vendors you're thinking of using, in case. Also, don't forget to make sure your agreement with the vendor is in writing once you've agreed to work together. This helps avoid any messy situations later down the track for either party!

When engaging with possible wedding vendors, the first thing you'll want to do is discuss your budget with them. If someone is far outside your budget, you won't be able to afford the cost they charge, and cut them off your list of candidates as soon as possible is an excellent way to narrow down the options and make it easier for yourself to plan.