Gary
When it comes to wedding suppliers, there’s a huge amount of choice. From venues to caterers, entertainers and florists, photographers, wedding cars, bar suppliers and more. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution because every couple is different and each wedding day a very special, personal and unique occasion.
Sourcing wedding suppliers: Where to start
Image: Ginny Marsh
Navigating your way through the minefield of different wedding suppliers can be tricky. But it’s essential that you get the right people on board if you want everything to go according to plan.
Wedding suppliers are crucial to creating the look, feel and flow of your big day. Every element needs to be perfect, with one element flowing seamlessly into the next. Your wedding suppliers need to be easy to deal with, communicative, flexible and enthusiastic from the moment that you first meet them, right through to the big day and beyond.
You don’t want to be battling your supplier in the build up to your wedding day. And you certainly don’t want to be thinking about anything other than enjoying yourself on the big day itself.
Having the right team of wedding suppliers on board helps to create a stress-free experience from start to finish; meaning you can simply focus on yourselves, your guests and enjoying the celebration.
Wedding suppliers: Recommendations and referrals
Whether from family, friends or even colleagues, recommendations and referrals are a great place to start.
Do you know anyone who has recently held a party or even a work event? Don’t forget that many wedding suppliers aren’t purely focused on weddings – they work on other types of events such as private parties and corporate occasions too.
With any recommendations it’s always important to ask the recommender about their personal experiences with these suppliers; they may know someone, but have they ever actually experienced their work?
A recommendation from someone that you trust is probably about as rock solid as things get. But never commit before meeting the supplier in person, reviewing their previous work and reading reviews and testimonials. People have different tastes, and different standards… just because your friend thought they were amazing doesn’t mean that you will too.
Wedding suppliers directories
Wedding suppliers directories can be very useful. They are a one stop shop for all things wedding. But don’t forget that most listings on wedding suppliers directories are paid for. The company has written the information that you’re reading.
Check out whether there’s a reviews section independent of uploaded testimonials handpicked for showcasing by the supplier. If not, then check out their listing on Google. Google reviews can offer a great measure of a company’s service levels and successes.
We offer a free suppliers directory listing, on our website for companies that we have met and worked with in the past. When we offer a recommendation we put our reputation on the line, so we don’t simply recommend anyone. Our recommended suppliers are all tried, tested and enjoyed by us and our clients.
If you’d like to take a look at our supplier directory then click here.
In summary: It’s worth doing your research
Whether a supplier has been recommended to you, looks great on several directory sites or seems to be the only one available for your wedding date; put in some time to research them before signing on the dotted line.
Remember that everyone has different tastes and that every event is different. A band that was perfect for your friends Caribbean themed birthday party may not be a great fit for your contemporary wedding day celebration. This thinking is applicable across every different type of supplier. What do they enjoy doing? What are their specialities? Are they a great fit for you and your wedding?
Personality fit is a big deal. You need to get on with all of your suppliers, and they need to get on with each other too. A lot of suppliers will need to collaborate to ensure that every element transitions seamlessly during build up and on the day of the wedding too. There’s no room for ego here, your wedding suppliers need to be willing and capable of working together as a team.
We can help you source and coordinate your wedding suppliers
The venue for your wedding celebration is the foundation for your event. A marquee is a unique venue that is bespoke designed and built to your specification. But there’s more to it than that.
Because we build temporary venues for different types of events week in week out, we’ve got to know the region’s best wedding suppliers and have become a dab hand at matching up our clients with the suppliers that we believe will suit them and their personality.
What’s more, if you choose a marquee as your wedding venue, you’ll have far more control over which suppliers you choose than you would with a brick and mortar space.
Additionally, as we would be building your tailored wedding venue from the ground up, we will coordinate with all of your third-party wedding suppliers too; taking a great deal of stress out of organising the wedding celebration for you and your partner!
Why not have a no obligation chat with a member of our team on 01483 322070, or by email: enquiries@lifestylemarquees.co.uk to find out more?
