Must Ask Questions For Your Potential Wedding Vendors

One of the really important steps in your wedding planning journey is taking the time to research, shortlist, and make enquiries with potential wedding vendors. After all, these are the people you'll be trusting to bring your dream day to life!

Making contact with vendors and arranging meetings may feel really overwhelming because there are a lot of things to take into account before curating your perfect wedding team. But fear not; we've compiled a comprehensive list of the most important wedding vendor questions you should be asking during your conversations before you make any big (and expensive) decisions.

All Wedding Vendors

Before delving into the exact questions you should ask each supplier, we thought it would be helpful to highlight some important questions you should ask all vendors from the start.

1. Are you available on our preferred date?

2. What are your pricing and package options?

3. Do you have a backup contact if you are sick on the day of the wedding?

4. What are your deposit and payment terms?

5. What are your policies around cancellations and postponements?

6. Are there any additional fees or costs we need to be aware of?

Wedding Planner

If you're enlisting the help of a wedding planner, good for you! But with so many options out there to choose from, it's super important that you pick the right one for you. You need to be able to get along with your wedding planner from your very first conversation, as you'll be working VERY closely with them throughout the wedding planning process and on the day itself... so pick carefully!

1. What planning packages do you offer, and what do they include?

2. Can you work with my budget?

3. What do you require in order to book your services?

4. Do you have a preferred vendor list, and how does this affect how you choose your vendors?

5. What vendors will you assist me with booking?

6. How many hours will you be there the day of the wedding and what can I expect you to do?

Ceremony and reception venue

Your wedding venue is one of if not the most important choices you'll make during the wedding planning process, so go armed to this meeting with your pen and paper! It's important not to rush this one, so after a viewing, even if you think you've found your dream venue, sleep on it and make sure it ticks as many of the boxes as possible!

1. How far in advance can I reserve my wedding date?

2. How many guests can your various spaces hold?

3. What are the rates for different seasons, days and times of the week?

4. How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive and how late can we stay?

5. What is the latest possible date to make changes to our reservation?

6. Is it essential that we have wedding insurance if we want to book your venue?

7. Do we have to use your list of preferred list of vendors?

8. Is the site wheelchair friendly?

9. Are there noise restrictions?

10. Is parking available on-site, and how much space is there?

11. Do you have your own sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be hired?

12. What is the backup plan for bad weather?

13. Are there any decor restrictions?

14. When can vendors arrive for set up?

15. Is there a room we can get ready in before the wedding?

Catering

Another pretty important one! You want your guests to be happy during your wedding, and one of the simplest ways to achieve this is to feed everyone with plenty of delicious food! Make sure your caterers are flexible and prepared to work with you rather than dictate what you'll eat and when.

1. Tell us about your wedding catering experience...

2. What kind of meal service do you offer?

3. What is included in your package, and what costs extra?

4. Do you offer menu tastings?

5. Tell us about your catering staff...

6. How will the food be prepared on the wedding day?

7. Are the menus fixed, or can we create a custom menu?

8. Do you have licenses and liability insurance?

Photographer/ Videographer

These guys are responsible for capturing all the magical wedding moments on film; therefore, your photographer and videographer are another very important part of your wedding day. Make sure the styles you are considering match your vision by looking through their portfolios and reading reviews thoroughly before contacting them. After narrowing down your options to a select handful, consider these questions before deciding on the one:

1. How many years have you been shooting weddings, and how many weddings have you shot in total?

2. Can we see some of your past work from real weddings?

3. How would you describe your wedding photography style?

4. What is your photo editing style?

5. Do you have different packages, and what do they include?

6. What is it like to work with you on the day of the wedding?

7. When will we receive our wedding photos?

Celebrant

Your celebrant will set the mood for your wedding day. It's advised to meet potential officiants face-to-face as soon as possible to make sure they're a good fit.

1. Are you able to travel if needed?

2. What type of weddings have you officiated?

3. What is your ceremony style?

4. What are your fees?

5. Will you provide us with the wording of our ceremony ahead of time?

6. What is your wedding officiant attire?

7. Will you participate in the rehearsal?

Florist

Though floral arrangements are beautiful, they can get a little costly, so it's critical to compare prices and do your homework to prevent going over your wedding budget. Making an informed choice for your wedding can be made easier if you ask prospective florists about their costs, package possibilities, and minimum spend amounts nice and early.

1. How long have you been a floral designer?

2. Do you employ any sustainability practices in your business?

3. Can we see photos of your past work at weddings?

4. How will you ensure designs represent us as a couple?

5. What flowers do you suggest for my wedding season?

Bridal Shop

Yep, another pretty critical one to get right as you want to feel truly amazing on your wedding day, right?! That's why choosing a seamstress or bridal shop that will work with you and listen is really critical. Don't be afraid to shop around to get a good vibe before committing.

1. Are alterations included in the cost of my outfit?

2. How many fittings will I need to have?

3. What is the typical deposit on a wedding outfit?

4. How customisable is my outfit?

5. What accessories will complement my chosen look?

6. When do I pay the balance?

7. Will the outfit be steamed at pick up?

Hair & makeup artist

The hair and makeup artist you select will be in charge of ensuring that you look and feel your very best on your wedding day. Before selecting your wedding hair and makeup artist, there are a number of things you should think about, from the materials they use to the years of expertise they have under their belt. Here are some questions that you may want to answer:

1. How many stylists will we need for the number of bridesmaids?

2. Do you offer mobile hair and makeup services?

3. How long will you require for services to be completed on the day?

4. Will you bring any additional artists to assist you, and will this incur extra costs?

5. What qualifications/ training do you have?

6. How long have you been working as a bridal hair and makeup artist?

7. Are there added costs for extras that I need to be aware of?

8. Do you offer hair and makeup trials before the day? If so, what's the cost?

9. What products do you use?