Planning our wedding was one of the most stressful thing I’ve ever done, but… I absolutely enjoyed it. While James and I were more than pleased with all our wedding suppliers, I thought it would be good to share some of our knowledge with you.
In no particular order:
Tip No 1 – Get the right feeling
Make sure you get the right feel from your suppliers and feel comfortable around them. Especially the ones you will be spending a lot of time with. For us to click with our suppliers was essential. As a bride, you will spend the morning getting ready, so make sure you are confident & trust your hair and make up ladies. Same goes for photographers and videographers (if you have them)- you will spend some of the most magical and intimate moments with them.
Tip No 2 – It’s Ok to say NO
Don’t feel bad for saying No. I think the majority of people, myself including, most of the time are too polite to say- no. It’s good to listen to suggestions and advice, from people in the industry, but be strong to stand your ground. At the end of the day – it is your big day and you want it to be the way you & your partner want it to be.
Tip No 3 – Budget is everything
My wedding budget template – link here
Decide on the budget – and stick to it. It will be very tempting and easy to ‘add to cart’ when speaking to your wedding suppliers. Some will try and sell you extras as ‘this is only just £5 per person’ or ‘it’s only £150 extra if you go for the other package’. And yes, we did go over budget as well. There were things we agreed to overspend, as we knew they would be amazing- our flowers being one of them. But the crucial part was- we knew we could afford a little bit extra. Make sure to check your monies before committing to overspend on things, as you don’t want to add another thing to worry about.
Tip No 4 – Check their work
It is absolutely crucial to check your suppliers credentials, testimonials, reviews, social media- anything you can find- check it. You can thank me later. Out of our 9 wedding suppliers, I can, with hand on my heart, recommend 8 of them. We had issues with our DJ & Photobooth supplier, who we found at a wedding fair, their stand was beautiful and equipment was top of the line. Unfortunately after paying our deposit, the communication just evaporated, so we spent a lot of time chasing to confirm final details. I, personally, wasn’t impressed with some of the things on the day either, but they did make an effort by adding extra Mr & Mrs signs to our evening reception- so that was a lovely surprise. I do think- this was the only supplier we didn’t properly research before booking.
Tip No 5 – Explore your options
Don’t be lazy and book the first person you see. It is absolutely fine to book the first venue you’ve visited, but make sure you have done your online research before. I can tell you now, I spent days upon days googling all suppliers. Making list, then short lists, then getting them down to 2-4 and then booking appointments. Don’t be scared to email or message ones that don’t have their prices online. And yes, it can get frustrating, but when you find the perfect fit- it will be rewarding.
Tip No 6 – Ask questions
Both James & myself asked a lot of questions to all our suppliers, even ones that felt silly. I found this ‘What to ask your wedding suppliers’ in one of the wedding magazines, and we did use it. There are lots of these on Google- just have a search to give you a guide. If you are booking your wedding now- make sure to check their Covid-19 protocol about postponing, canceling and amending.
Tip No 7 – Don’t rush it
Sometimes it’s good to take it away and sleep on it. If you feel the same about it in the morning, or few days later, then you know it’s the one. There will be suppliers that will want you to book there & then, as ‘the deal is only for the weekend’. If someone is really pushing it, then it’s probably sh*t anyway. (love this saying). But in all seriousness- if you come across a pushy-salesmen like attitude- then just walk away, as you will always feel on edge with them.
What you have to remember is- it is your and your partners day, so don’t feel pressured into something you aren’t comfortable with.
Here is a list of our recommended suppliers (note- we are in Cambridgeshire, so some might not be geographically possible for all of you):
Photographers – Jack, Warren & Andy
Jack Wilson Studios – link here
AG Photography Cambridge – link here
AndyChambers Photography – link here
Elizabeths the Florists – Norwich – link here
Harveys of Ramsey – link here
Make up by Sam (and hair) – link here
Melania Hair & Beauty – link here
Dunston Hall – link here
Previous Wedding Posts:
How I Found My Dream Wedding Dress – link here
Wedding Planning Timeline and Our Wedding Overview – link here
What are your top tips for hunting down the perfect wedding suppliers?
Are there any other weddingy questions like these you would like me to answer?
Leave a comment below.
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