Selecting Wedding Venders
Always be careful when selecting the companies or individuals who will provide you with
products or services for your wedding and reception. Unfortunately, vendors can say
almost anything in their promotional materials. They can even make up testimonials from
past clients or say things about themselves which are untrue. However, if your vendor
already has a good reputation for providing products or services, you may not have to do
much research. So, how do you trust vendors you don't know to deliver exactly what you
require at a reasonable price? Here are eight general guidelines:
1. Read all of the promotional material very carefully. If something doesn't look right,
question it. Not every vendor can produce the perfect website, but vendors should take
pride in displaying and describing what they have to offer. Generally, many of the most
successful businesses have the most user-friendly and informative web sites.
2. Don't just believe the testimonials you read on the vendor's web site, but try to contact
some of the people who have actually worked with the vendor. If your vendor cannot
provide the name and phone number of a customer, walk away.
3. Review samples of the product. If it's a musician, either see the band perform in
person or review a video of the band playing live. And make sure you hear more than
one or two songs. For your caterer, taste the food. If possible, actually look at the table
settings, etc.
4. Make sure your vendor is a member of an organization -- like the Better Business Bureau
-- or has a statement of quality assurance or performance standards. By the way, vendors
who are also members of professional associations with standards may or may not
practice those standards.
5. How long has the vendor been in business? Brand new vendors can very often provide
good products or services at very reasonable prices, but be careful and always trust your
instinct.
6. Meet your vendor in person, if possible. You don't have to meet every single person
who will contribute to your wedding, but you should meet with those people who could be
instrumental in making your event successful or not so successful.
7. Shop around to compare similar vendors. Review the promotions, prices and
promises of several businesses offering similar products or services. By reviewing a
number of vendors, can you make a more informed decision.
8. Test the vendor's commitment to customer service. How focused are they on your
needs? Do they listen well? Do they return phone calls or e-mail messages, promptly?
Again, use your instinct to understand their level of commitment to serving your needs.
