The world of weddings can be super overwhelming to a newly engaged couple. There are so many different things to consider: how many guests to invite, what you're going to eat, whether you're going to have a band or DJ (to name a few). It's no wonder couples sometimes find it stressful!
Once you've found your dream venue and got your date booked, the next step is to start booking your suppliers. So, where to start? Here are some simple tips to help you find your dream wedding team.
Plan your budget
It's always a good idea to have your budget mapped out before you start your supplier search. Write a list of all the suppliers you'd like for your day, and allocate a realistic chunk of the budget to each one. There are plenty of budget guides online to give you a rough idea, but be aware that some of those guides do come out a little too low for things like flowers and stationery, so it's best not to take them too literally.
Consider the style of your wedding
This can be quite tricky, especially if you don't have a clear vision of your wedding from the get go. Talk to your other half and start thinking about colour schemes and overall aesthetic, get everything down on a good old mind map so you can see your ideas start to come to life – and don't be afraid to inject your personality into it too! Do you want a neutral, minimal wedding? Or a more opulent pastel wedding? Or how about an alternative wedding with lots of bright mis matched colours?
If you have no idea what I'm even talking about, this is where the internet comes in handy! Get yourself set up on Pinterest (if you're not a veteran pinner already) and set up a board for your day, pinning all of the images that you love.
Know where to look
Rather than just googling 'wedding photographer in (insert your town)' and booking the first one that comes up, I'd suggest having more of an in depth look at what's out there. The best place to start would be through your venue. Every venue should have a recommended suppliers list, featuring all of the businesses they love to work with. Pop along to the next open day (when they're allowed to run again) and take a look at every single supplier available. Speak to them, look at their work and see if any of them seem to be a good fit. You may not be ready to book straight away but having a glimpse at what's on offer will help you get a sense of your likes and dislikes.
Do your research
Wedding suppliers are certainly not 'one size fits all', so it's really important that the suppliers you choose complement the aesthetic of your day. Every photographer, florist, cake maker, stationer (etc...) has their own unique style, so you need to make sure you find the one that best fits your vision, rather than expecting someone to change their style for you (I can guarantee you wouldn't be happy with the results, and neither would they!).
Look back at the suppliers you met at the open day (or saw on your venue's website) and take a look at their websites and their social media accounts. You should be able to get a really good idea of whether they're a good fit for you by doing this, especially as you can often get a glimpse of what they're like behind the scenes too.
You may also find that you'll discover a whole host of suitable suppliers that they love to work with. For instance, you might find a photographer you love and see that they've done several styled shoots with the same team of suppliers, all of them working brilliantly together on a set up in a similar style to your dream day – and just like that, you've found your perfect team.
Try to meet in person (or on Zoom)
Now this next tip won't be relevant to all suppliers, as a stationer I very rarely meet my couples face to face but for a photographer for instance, it's very important. Basically my advice would be, if a supplier is going to be there on your day, make sure you meet them (in some capacity) before you book them. Even if you love someone's work, it'll all be useless if you don't really get along! This person is going to be a big part of your day, so you need to know that you're going to be in good hands and that they'll put you at ease rather than cause any stress. (Although truth be told, most of my fellow wedding professionals are an absolute delight, so don't worry too much about that!)
So hopefully this guide will come in handy when it's time to book your wedding suppliers! And if you're feeling inspired by the images in this post, make sure you check out the credits below.
Photographer - Natalie Stevenson Photography
Planner - Bride & Belle Weddings
Venue - Hunton Park Hotel
Florist - Kate Wren Flowers
Tableware - Duchess & Butler
Bridal gowns - Halo & Wren Bridal
Makeup - Michelle Nash Makeup
Hair - Emma Kim Hairdressing
Bridal Accessories - Rachel Sokhal Bridal
Cake - Erzulie Cakes
Hand Dyed Ribbons - Silk & Purl