If you have a wedding looming on the horizon and you get lightheaded just thinking about it, don’t worry.
The feelings of excitement, stress, and anxiety that you have balled up in your stomach are totally normal. Part of the reason for those feelings is the fact that most of us feel totally lost when it comes to arranging such a big event.
The good news is that you are not alone. Remember that when getting married you are stepping into a $60 billion dollar industry that only a wedding vendor is an expert in. So to give you a head start, we have put together some tips to help you in dealing with the wedding experts.
Avoid Venue Hidden Costs
Starting with what will be your most important wedding vendor, it is crucial to have a clear idea about what to expect from your wedding venue.
Checking prices online and going for a tour of a place may be enough to seal the deal. However, on more than one occasion, couples have been hit hard in the pocket due to a misunderstanding about what they will and won’t provide. This can leave them with a hefty list of services along with expenses to find a solution for.
This can also work both ways. If you find and plan to use a great florist make sure that your venue contract doesn’t restrict you to only using their trusted suppliers.
Avoid this by having frank conversations with all your potential venues about what they provide and any hidden costs. The things that can vary from place to place include a DJ service, the use of the kitchen and catering staff along with the menu, and floral arrangements.
What’s the Deal With Tipping Wedding Vendors?
We don’t get married every day (given the stress involved thank God for that!), and for that reason, this is one area that leaves many unclear.
Do you tip a wedding vendor? What is the industry standard?
The answer? A general rule is that there are some services on your wedding vendor checklist that expect a tip and others that are optional.
Services within the wedding industry where tipping is an industry-standard include:
- Caterer
- Waitstaff
- Hair and makeup stylist
- On-site venue coordinator
- Musicians and/or DJ
Others such as your wedding planner, photographer, and florists can be considered optional, however, if you are particularly happy with their services then be sure to let them know!
Time Operates Differently for a Wedding Vendor
Being able to tick things off your wedding list can provide a welcome source of pleasure and accomplishment. Normally at the top of the things to arrange are all the wonderful wedding vendors that you will hire to make your day special.
For that reason, the awkward nature of confirming things with businesses in the wedding industry can cause some frustration. However, understanding things from the perspective of a wedding vendor should help things make sense.
The weekends are the busiest time for many, meaning arranging meetings, viewings, or tastings on those days is nearly impossible. Take it as a good sign, as you wouldn’t want their attention distracted by other clients on your big day either!
As this is the case, often smaller vendors will take some weekdays as their days off. Therefore if you don’t get a speedy response to an email or phone call don’t be put off, although most will have an out-of-office informing you of this.
Make Your Wedding a Success
We hope that our tips help you on your way to having the wedding of your dreams!
Fancy having more peace of mind before your big day? Then check out the rest of the great wedding vendor-related articles on our site!
