How to Make your Vendors Happy

Don't be that bride. The one who thinks their wedding is the only wedding that has ever and will ever happen... Don't be that bride.

Be the bride that understands this day will be the most important day in your life and hopefully your spouse's life. Be the bride that's easy to work with but still knows what she wants. Be the bride who's got her shit together!

The first step to being a happy, easy-to-work-with bride is to make your wedding vendors happy. ((Sound of screeching brakes inserted here.)) YES.. YOU have to make SOMEONE ELSE happy. if you want the seas to split and the world to float around you in slow motion on your big day then you've got to put in the effort beforehand. If your vendors are happy chances are they will go the extra mile to help you out when something goes wrong... because something will go wrong. No matter how many hours, sleepless nights or wedding boards you create on pinterest.. something will go wrong. And, IT'S OKAY because you have been so easy to work with your vendors are going to take care of you.. right??? ((Make sure your answer to this question is YES by taking the following actions.))

1. PHONE CALLS Make those initial phone calls to your vendors as soon as possible. Ask for quotes, let them know when you are thinking about getting married.. get your wedding on their schedule asap. Some vendors max out on weddings on certain days or may have other schedule conflicts.

2. SHARE YOUR VISION If you're anything like 90% of women getting married today then you have had your pinterest wedding planned before you even started dating your fiancé. So, the time has finally come to put those pictures to use! Show your vendors what you want your dream wedding to look like and they can help give you something within your budget. You probably have a million ideas running through your mind but showing your vendors exactly what you mean will help ensure that you are all on the same page.

3. CONFIRM CONFIRM CONFIRM Don't forget to confirm all of the details with each vendor. The date of the wedding, the time of the ceremony, the number of guests... these details have all probably become imprinted in your brain but that doesn't mean they have for other people. To ensure your day goes smoothly you have to confirm that everyone is on the same page.

4. TIMELINE Throughout my career as an event planner, I can't tell you how many times the cherry on top of the planning process has been an event timeline. I can't stress enough how important these details are especially for a wedding day. Timing is everything when it comes to events and a printed event timeline is the sure way of making sure everyone knows what is going on at every moment throughout the day. To make your vendors happy.. give them a personalized timeline of the day that is specific to their needs. Here are some samples from our big day...



This timeline was for our caterer.



This timeline was for our DJ.



This timeline was mailed to our wedding party with the rehearsal dinner invitations.



5. THANK YOUR VENDORS Chances are you didn't get to talk to your vendors the night of the wedding... or even in the week or two after the wedding. No matter how long it takes, make sure you follow-up with your vendors to tell them "thanks!".

Good luck!!