It is important to be selective and careful when choosing wedding vendors. There are many wonderful vendors available that you can use who will fulfill all of your requirements. However, there are some vendors who do not have a good reputation. When contracting with a vendor, keep some key points in mind.

If you do not know the area well where you will be married, you need to use extreme caution. There are some places that have information regarding breaches of contracts as well as customer complaints. The chamber of commerce and better business bureaus are some official places to check.

In addition to those two organizations, word of mouth may be particularly helpful. If you can find just one good vendor to trust, you may be able to get some valuable suggestions from them. For example, a great hair stylist can probably give you the name of an outstanding bridal boutique. A reputable bridal boutique may be able to give you the name of a fabulous florist.

Of course, experienced wedding coordinators in the area will have many contacts and will know who to recommend. Often, wedding coordinators will charge a set fee for recommendations. For example, for $200, a coordinator may give you the names of three florists, photographers, caterers, and reception venues that she trusts and uses on a regular basis.

Just be sure to ask the coordinator how she earns her fee. If she gets paid by clients, you should be okay. However, some coordinators are paid by receiving a portion of the fee paid to vendors. I would recommend staying away from this type of coordinator if you are asking for recommendations.
A final safeguard is to ask for references from each vendor you are interested in using. The key here is to make sure you contact the references and ask how they came to know about the vendor. If the vendor is a relative or stumbles around before answering the question, move on to the next vendor on your list.

When talking to vendors, pay attention to how you are greeted when the phone is answered. Did the person who answered say the name of the business or just, hello? Did the personality of the person with whom you spoke match yours? Did you end the conversation feeling comfortable and excited or tense and discouraged?

In conclusion, selecting vendors is a task not to be taken lightly. These people will make or break your wedding and you need to be well-informed before making any decisions or signing any contracts.

Pepper Montero