Choosing the right suppliers and vendors for your special day can be an arduous, stressful task. Some may feel that hiring a professional coordinator will ensure a flawless event with no hiccups. However, this is not at all the case. Whether it is you or a wedding planner that is trying to get a group [...]

Choosing the right suppliers and vendors for your special day can be an arduous, stressful task. Some may feel that hiring a professional coordinator will ensure a flawless event with no hiccups. However, this is not at all the case. Whether it is you or a wedding planner that is trying to get a group of external providers to work together in perfect harmony, there is plenty of room for misunderstandings, miscommunication and human error. It requires time and patience to coordinate your vendors, and there are always risks involved. But, with open, honest communication and realistic expectations, you are able to make the best decision for your unique day.

Get Talking
Speak to friends and colleagues that have recently gotten married or are in the midst of planning a wedding. They are sure to have some advice on good and bad service that they have received. Of course, your needs and tastes will differ from theirs, but they will be able to provide important information on how professional and cost-effective certain suppliers are.

Social Networking
Sites like Facebook and Twitter have invaded the social lives of tens of millions of people across the world. Use this to your advantage. Using these media, you are able to make contact with a number of people and organisations at one time with the use of status posts or notes. Posting a status or creating a poll on the internet will likely encourage your contacts to share advice and their own personal experiences. These media also tend to encourage communication amongst and between people going through similar experiences.

Personal Visits
Your suppliers are, ultimately, your decision, so make the time (as a couple) to source them yourself. Insist on meetings, samples, proven portfolios and comprehensive quotes before signing on the dotted line. You are more likely to regret a rushed decision than a well thought out one. When meeting with and briefing suppliers, make sure that they have a keen understanding of your needs and desires. Also, let them know that you are aware of their competitors’ services and rates to be sure that they are not trying to deceive or overcharge you.

Sampling Products
Sampling the products you want to get from potential suppliers is a vital part of avoiding disappointment. Taste the menu items, listen to the quality of the sound system, feel the different napkins. Doing this is the only way of knowing what to expect. Then, once you have decided on a particular choice, ensure that it is that item that is put into the service contract in detail. Do not sign a contract that is vague in any way, as this leaves the supplier with the power to change it to a large degree. Make sure that the product code or a detailed description of the product or service is included (e.g. instead of 1 x wedding cake, your contract should read 1 x 3-tiered chocolate mousse cake with white marzipan and almonds detail).

While nothing can guarantee that your wedding day goes off without a hitch, there are many things that you can do to put yourself in the safest position possible in terms of the suppliers that you choose. Speak to others, get counter quotes, sample as much as you can, and always make sure that you have a legally binding contract to secure your order.

Image Courtesy of On The Edge Of Victory