10 Critical Questions to Ask Wedding Vendors Before Hiring…

Getting engaged is such an exciting time. However, the exhilaration of saying “I will” can quickly be replaced by the overwhelming concerns surrounding planning a wedding.

I designed my Smart Start series to take the worry out of planning your wedding. Smart Start will be delivered to your inbox every week filled with tips on the business and the art sides of planning a wedding. It will break up your tasks into easy-to-accomplish segments so you can enjoy the planning process.

If you have questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to email me at susan.southerland@pwg.com. You may also find back issues of the Smart Start series by clicking HERE.

Part of my job is to help couples make smart decisions for their weddings. A great way to do this is by asking the right questions when interviewing your wedding vendors. This will help you gauge each vendor’s personality and determine if they’re the best fit for your event. Here are the most important questions you can ask before you go to contract:

1. Are you available on my wedding date? This should always be your first question before moving forward. If your date is flexible and you’re early in the planning process, this is less important, of course.
2. How long have you been in business? While longevity shouldn’t necessarily be an immediate reason to choose or reject a vendor, it should weigh into your decision. Be sure vendors present themselves professionally and can provide testimonials regardless of how long they’ve been in business.
3. How many events will you have on my wedding date? You deserve each vendor’s focus and attention, so this question will tell you if you’re going to get it.
4. What exactly is included in your quote? You want to know what you’re paying for, so request a breakdown of the services each vendor will provide. Some vendors will be flexible on what they offer and others won’t. Be sure you’re getting everything you want within your budget before going to contract.
5. Are you licensed/insured? Most wedding venues require that vendors have at least basic insurance coverage for liability and worker’s compensation. It’s best to work with vendors who meet this requirement so there are no problems down the road.
6. What deposit is required to secure your services? Be sure to document all payment requirements and deadlines in your wedding planner or share your contracts with the professional wedding planner you hire so that he or she can keep track of them for you.
7. What is your cancellation policy? If the worst should happen and you have to cancel your wedding, you need to know each vendor’s cancellation policy and how much you will owe each of them.
8. What happens if there’s bad weather? Any wedding service can be impacted by bad weather. Ask each vendor what the plan will be if the weather becomes a factor on your big day.
9. When and how can I reach you? It’s helpful to know each vendor’s contact information as well as their availability and responsiveness. You don’t want to get frustrated with someone you hire because you can never reach them.
10. What do you envision for my wedding? Getting this response may be the most important one of the interview. I recommend giving the vendors your general ideas and then asking this question. See how each vendor’s answer meshes with what you want for your wedding and choose vendors that are the closest match.

There are certainly other questions you can ask each specific vendor, but these questions should be on your list for all of them. If you have questions for me, reach out in the comments!