It goes without saying that your wedding day is a special day that requires hours upon hours of planning and preparation. Apart from finding the right wedding band, you’ll also have to organize a variety of other aspects, including but not limited to the most delicious meal options, attire, and entertainment. However, setting up for your big day isn’t exactly something a one-man team can easily pull off. In order to bring your vision to life, you will need to employ the help of a dedicated st louis wedding vendor team. 

There are various factors to consider when handpicking the right members of your wedding dream team. Aside from understanding their abilities and what they can bring to the table, it’s also important that they can align with your preferences or provide backup plans in case something unexpected happens. (Click here for our Wedding value sheet it will help you think about your prorities)

In order to assemble your ideal crew, check out some of the tips listed below. 

Set a starting budget

Before anything else, it’s essential for you and your partner to sit down and discuss finances. While it’s never a fun conversation, it’s a crucial detail that can make or break your plans. Creating a budget allows you to search for vendors and locations within your price range. And a budget is a living breathing thing. You can adjust and change things as you go. If your parents or family is willing to help that budget worksheet can really change from day one to wedding day. Its important though that you don’t just make up number on the fly. Weddings vary from $500- $500,000. so vendors can be appropriately priced, but be out side of what your value for their service is. It doesn’t make them over priced or make your wedding unworthy, its just not a financial match. Some vendors are able to make concessions that others are not. In any case where you find someone you’d love to work with but cannot hire due to budget constraints, you can at least be able to manage your expectations. 

Find a wedding planner

Hiring a wedding planner is one of the easiest ways to assemble your dream St Louis wedding vendor team. (check out our article about our faves!) Well-established planners will have a sizable directory of vendors they have previously worked with. And they will have a ear to the ground to have feed back about folks they don’t have personal experience with. I love working with a planner I have never worked with before, I learn more about our industry and different ways to make a wedding awesome. They will be able to provide you with some recommendations based on your wants and needs while also making sure to keep your budget in mind. If you’re ever unsure about certain decisions, they’ll also be a great help that will guide you in the right direction.

Determine your event’s details

You don’t need to solidify all the specifics of your wedding when you’ve just started planning. However, it is ideal to at least have locations or certain dates in mind. This allows you to check with potential vendors if they can accommodate you on any of your chosen dates. Its also a good idea to have an idea of how you want your event to feel. Choosing a space that give you the right “vibe” or feeling means what ever you do for decor will make the space sing I always thought venues such as The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis do a lovely classic feeling event. And space like the Jewel box in Forest Park work beautifully for events where the theme is floral. (we did one with a pineapple/hospitality theme that was to die for. )

Check who matches your preferences

Whether it’s finding a caterer who can offer wholly organic meals for your guests or a supplier that can provide you with sustainable options for your decor, there may be some more specific requirements that you’re looking for in a vendor. It’s best to find options whose styles and values match your own. This allows you to work more smoothly with each other and minimize any clashes in ideas. Knowing which St Louis wedding vendor team members can provide the service you need also leaves less room for guessing games over whether or not they’ll be able to meet your expectations.

Do your own research

There are various ways for you to conduct research when looking for the right team. Have any friends or family that recently got married? You can ask them for any vendors that they may want to recommend. This way, you can get a direct review of their services from someone you know and trust. If you were able to attend their ceremony in person, feel free to ask for a contact person for aspects of their wedding that you enjoyed.

The work doesn’t end there, however. It’s also important to cross-check reviews from other former clients, so you’ll be able to weigh their pros and cons. You can also look through social media and online directories to widen your search.

Build a relationship with your team

Seeing as you’ll be working closely with each other for an extended period of time, it’s important to find vendors that you can get along with. While you don’t necessarily have to talk to each other every second of every day, it’s still a good idea to build camaraderie. They want you to be happy and they want to be friends as much as they can.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Finding the right vendors to build your team requires extensive communication. Rather than questioning whether a vendor is a right fit or not, it’s better to clarify any queries you have during the first few meetings. This includes any clarifications you may have about the extent of their services or additional fees they add to your contracts. You can also ask for testimonials or documentation of their previous work. 

Leading up to your big day

Ideally, you would want to begin looking for potential vendors early on in your wedding preparations. This provides you with enough leeway to communicate with each one and work around any unexpected roadblocks. You can make use of the tips above to help you find the right team members that will help make your dream wedding a reality.