Searching for the best wedding vendors in your area can be a handful, to say the least; there are so many options, and where do you even start? Never fear! We have a few ideas to help take at least some of the load off of your shoulders and help your wedding planning run smoothly.
Look Into a Wedding Planner
Wedding planners are the *real* experts when it comes to finding the perfect vendor in your area. Find one that’s well-versed in their field and they’ll know where to snag the best cake decorators, florists, and more, so just leave all the heavy lifting to them. And not only can they spot the best in town, but they can typically help you keep inside your budget as well. If you want more information on whether or not a wedding planner is right for you, check out our post here to learn more about how they can help you create your dream wedding!
Social Media Is Your Friend
Vendors are *constantly* posting their work on socials to gain engagement; *use that to your advantage*. Instagram and Pinterest are great tools in particular for finding vendors that can create the aesthetic you’re looking for. Use hashtags, keywords, or themes you’re interested in and let yourself fall down the social media rabbit hole. It may seem daunting at first, but you’ll eventually find the *exact* vendor you’re looking for.
Tip: When scrolling through social media for vendors, make sure to read comments or Google search the vendor for reviews.
Vendor Marketplaces
Vendor marketplaces are a great resource if you want to filter around your surrounding area or search based on your needs. Websites such as The Knot, WeddingWire, and The Aisle Guide are great places to start! Most wedding-based publications have one too!
Be on the lookout for when The Wedding Manifesto launches its “Find A Pro” marketplace.
Venue History
Believe it or not, the venue itself may be another great way to find some vendors. If it’s a popular wedding location, they may already have a list of vendors that they’ve worked with (which may come with some discounts), and there could even be a lookbook for you to see previous weddings. If the venue doesn’t have a list of vendors, then past weddings may give you a chance to look into what vendors the couples back then used so you could take note of what the area has to offer.
Recommendations
Maybe a friend or family member recently got married and they have a few recommendations for you— great! Asking for or receiving recommendations is awesome and can definitely help you narrow your search down. Just remember to take them with a grain of salt. What worked for someone else may not work for you, and you won’t be offending anyone by not accepting their recommendation (if you do, that’s a problem for them to work out within themselves). But still, take the opportunity to research the vendors and what they have to offer.
Don’t get yourself too worked up when it comes to vendor searching. There’s a ton of information online about different wedding vendors. Look into creating a comparison chart or use our free “Wedding Planner Companion” that includes a venue comparison to help get you started!
