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
| 
