HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WEDDING VENDORS (And Other Good Stuff to Know!) Part Two

DURING THE BOOKING PROCESS

A couple more things should you decide to ask for a discount:

Wedding budgets vary with each couple.  If you spent a large chunk of your budget on a vendor or item that was a priority for your special day and you have depleted your funds for other vendors, expecting that another vendor will give you a discount because you can't afford them now is unrealistic. Seek out vendors within your budget. Your vendors want to feel valued.

Established wedding vendors don't often give discounts, and for good reason!  They have the experience, stability and offer a quality product that a newbie cannot.  They know their worth, and that is a good thing!    You will benefit from their worth by having a well-organized, less stressful event because of their experience! 

  

THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP

Yes, you are now in a relationship with your wedding vendor.  You have expectations from your new relationship, as we do.  You have hired a person or company who will be providing a service or product for the event of a lifetime. They are experts in their field and they have spent time learning how to woo you, but how do you return the favor to make this a beautiful relationship? While it’s not necessary or even expected for clients to do anything to make their vendors feel comfortable working with them (they are “hired help” after all), your event will go more successfully and with less stress if your follow these few tips:

•  TRUST YOUR VENDOR  You have invested in the vendors you have made part of your team!  Trust is the basis of all good relationships, so TRUST that they are proficient in what they specialize in (and if you did your homework, you already know that).  Ask their advice about everything!  This will help them feel valued and honored to be part of your "team"!  Know also that there is a vendor community and your vendor may have advice on what other vendors may help complete the "Dream Team" for your event.

• GAIN PERSPECTIVE  When speaking with vendors from every category, we agree that one of the funniest phrases we hear from time to time is “you can just . . . “, followed with the client basically telling us "how" to do our jobs.  Sometimes we are asked to do things that are not even possible or out of our realm of expertise.  Unfortunately, this is a result of mistrust and not being educated in the industry.  (Remember "homework"?)  If you do feel it necessary to request something a little unorthodox and out of the norm from what a vendor specializes in, please explain exactly what you are hoping for and also be open to listen why it may not be possible. Sometimes what you are asking can be do-able, sometimes it is not.  Let the vendor use their professional experience to explain things from their point of view.

• BE UNDERSTANDING AND FLEXIBLE  Understand that all vendors are all in different stages of growth.  Don't hold it against them if you have asked them to do something out of their comfort zone.  COMMUNICATE.  Please be open to your vendor's limitations, especially if they are newbies.  They may be more comfortable with trying something new if you understand that it may not work.  No one is perfect, but know that experience does count when it comes to this topic.  With experience come a lot of different situations that have had to be handled over the years and are now in the vendor's repertoire to utilize, if necessary.  Use this experience to allow you to be at ease about your special day, knowing things are in the best hands possible.

• COMPROMISE  Be willing to actually listen to your vendor’s advice and concerns.  Wedding vendors are part of the service industry and a GOOD vendor wants to please every client, EVERY time.  If you are being told that they can't promise you something, they are telling you that for good reason.  Your vendor helping to provide a beautiful, successful event is their priority.  Demanding a vendor to do something they have advised against can result in a poor relationship, added stress and will decrease the success of your event. 

• COMPLIMENTS GO A LONG WAY!  You put a lot of thought in choosing your vendors!  All of that homework and your selection process shouldn't go to waste!  Tell all your friends and family how awesome you think your vendors are by tagging them in your social media posts.  Follow them and share their posts.  This will increase all of your friends' excitement for your upcoming wedding!  (Plus, show your vendors some love!)

• THOSE "LITTLE EXTRAS"  Your vendors really want to make your day as special and as wonderful as you are.  Little things that will make your vendors feel like part of your wedding team and 100% welcomed at your even will absolutely result in "little extras" that will be paid back to you from your vendors!  Let your vendors who will be spending the day with you know that they are welcome to have dinner at your event.  Greet your vendors when they arrive, meet their team; ask what they might need to do their job better.  Introduce your vendors to any key players they will be working with during your event, such as your parents and wedding party.  It is a good idea to put someone in charge of checking with them at least one other time to see if they need anything.  Although a pro should be vocal about their needs, showing that you care will help your vendor work more efficiently.

• YOUR SPECIAL DAY  Remember, YOU are the decision maker, and as the client, your vendor's priority is YOUR happiness and satisfaction.  If someone else is giving commands to your vendors, it can be a sticky situation for all parties.  If this would happen, remember that YOU are our priority.  Your vendors are on YOUR team and you should always be vocal about what YOU want. 

We hope that these few tips and tricks will help you choose and plan with your vendors to make your wedding the event you have been dreaming of and that you deserve!