Last Updated on September 13, 2022 by Corynn
Wedding vendors. People that help us make our dream wedding a reality. From a photographer, all the way down to your wedding favors.
Here is a list of 16 wedding vendors you need at your wedding. Plus at the end of this post, you will find my top 3 tips on how to score and save money on your wedding vendors.
List of Wedding Vendors
1. Venue
One of the most important vendors you’ll need for your wedding. If you are getting married in a church then all you need to worry about is a wedding reception.
Although if you are looking for a ceremony and reception venue, then that is two vendors you would have to look for in the venue category.
Remember to ask your venue coordinator if they provide waitstaff. Do they offer all-inclusive packages? What about chairs, linen, and tables? Decor?
This will help you determine what vendors you should be looking for after booking your venue.
2. Caterers
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For all the food at your wedding. Check to see what kind of caterers are around your area. Do they offer meal tasting? Do they also provide wait staff? Will they be allowed to serve alcohol? Do they cater to people with allergies/food restrictions?
Your caterers are feeding you, your partner, and your guest at the wedding. You want the food to be at least decent.
3. Floral
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What type of floral are you looking for? Are you only looking for the reception? Ceremony and reception? Or just the wedding party? Sit down and write down all the floral you would need for your wedding and begin looking around at floral vendors.
Each company will give you a set price. Do not be afraid to express your budget to them! Some Floral companies can accommodate your budget, others cannot.
4. DJ/Music
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You need some music at the wedding am I right? Begin with the ceremony, what music do you want walking down the aisle. Do you want to be instrumental? Or a playlist?
This all depends on what you want because you can always DIY it, bring in some speakers, and play from a playlist you made. Or have your DJ come for the entire wedding and play your ceremony and reception music. Or even hire a musician!
There are so many choices you have for your wedding music.
5. Dessert
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This has to be its own category because I realize that the traditional cake is slowly beginning to fade away. Now I’m seeing cupcake towers, donut walls, dessert tables, you name it!
If you are looking for cake and/or a cupcake tower, you can always go down to a local bakery that specializes in wedding cakes, and see what they have to offer.
Remember to ask if the bakery offers delivery? Will, they set up the cake? Also, what are the extra charges that come with the cake?
6. Attire
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From bridesmaids to groomsmen, all the way down to the bride. You will have a vendor for each attire bought for the wedding.
Bridal dress shopping should start 10-8 months prior to the wedding. To give time for your dress to come in. Groom and groomsmen should look 5-4 months in advance.
As well as your bridesmaid, although I would add an extra month for your girls’ dresses. Just in case we need any extra alterations. Estimating 6-5 months in advance.
7. Entertainment
We all know the guests are there to see you. But what are they going to be doing while you’re off taking photos?
Well, most couples (like me!) decide to hire a photo booth for the night. Always a great hit with the guests.
Or you can be creative and hire dancers, magicians, tarot card readers, card tables, you name it!
This is where you and your partner can be creative and decide on entertainment that portrays you as a couple!
8. Stationary
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I’m talking; menu cards, program cards, place cards, invitations, save the dates, oh the list goes on! You will need to find a vendor who you trust to create your invitations and other stationery items that fit your wedding.
TIP: Take the DIY route! Create your own stationery. You can use Canva.com and use their graphics, your engagement photos and create a beautiful invitation. Then go to your local office/printing store and print them out.
This way you added your special touch, plus you saved some money along the way. Want some more saving money tips? Check out my 15 Items To Cut Out Of Your Wedding post to see how you can save thousands (like me!) on your wedding day!
9. Officiant
You need someone to marry you, am I right? Find someone with who you can get along and click with your vibe.
Meaning, you don’t want someone who is monotone while you and your partner are bubbly. You want to find an Officiant that can match your energy plus marry you off!
If you need to meet with them in person or virtually, do that! You want to be as comfortable as possible on your wedding day.
10. Transportation
Transportation is like one of the most important vendors you can ever hire, because how are you going to get to your wedding! Although you have to figure out where your wedding is going to be held before hiring your transportation vendor… Hear me out!
If you decide to have your ceremony and reception at two different locations. You’ll probably be paying extra for traveling fees.
Do you need to find transportation for all of your out-of-town guests? What about your bridal party? Your parents?
It’s something you and your partner need to talk about.
11. Wedding Favours
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Are you planning on giving favors out to your guest? Are they going to be a miniature product or something that they can eat?
Some ideas I have seen were; hungover kits, a plant, a donation to a charity, cookie favors, and so much more.
If you do decide to give out wedding favors, make sure they are unique, plus signifies you and your partner. When your guest sees your wedding favor to they think “Oh yeah, that is totally Sally and Ben!”
Or you can opt-out of wedding favors, (which I am doing).
12. Rings
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Wedding bands, Something you’ll be wearing for basically your entire life. One thing my fiance and I decided to do was get our wedding bands from modengents.
We didn’t want really expensive rings and wanted to use the money elsewhere in our wedding budget. Plus I am also looking into getting my fiance an Enso ring.
If your partner works in schools, construction, or any hands-on job. An Enso ring is great for an everyday ring they could wear!
If you prefer to splurge on your rings, then go ahead! I know you wanna show off that bling haha.
13. Wedding Planner
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There are soo many different wedding planners out there. We have full wedding planners that are with you throughout the entire process.
Then we also have Month of Coordinators, where they take over your wedding planning for the last 6-4 weeks of wedding planning, can come to your dress rehearsal, and basically help run your wedding smoothly.
We also have coordinators who sometimes go lean into the month of coordinators.
It all depends on your needs and wants, also how much of the wedding planning you want to do yourself.
14. Hair and Makeup
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We can’t forget about hair and makeup. Some vendors can do both hair and makeup, although others you will have to hire them separately. You’ll also have to ask your bridesmaids if they want their hair and makeup done, even ask your mom, step-mom. It’s a whole glam day!
15. Photography & Videography
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Another important vendor to have at your wedding. You want to capture each moment of the best day of your life. From the moment you are walking down the aisle to your first dance as a married couple.
Now with photographers, you can check out their different packages for whatever you need them for. For example, for my wedding I don’t want to get ready photos done, I only hired our photographer for 6 hours instead of a full 12 hour day.
Videographers follow the same way. Do you want a wedding video or can you opt for just the photos?
During covid, live streaming has become a popular thing in the wedding industry. My fiance and I decided to hire a live streaming service, just in case our plan A changes.
16. Rentals
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This goes back to your venue. Let’s say for example you have a venue but they do not provide anything. So that meant you would have to go out and rent chairs, tables, linen.
Also if you want to do a donut wall, you’ll have to get an actual wall to hold your donuts. They are so many rentals you can have at your wedding, but it’s all based on your needs.
Those are all the top vendors you need at your wedding and here are a few tips that will help you outscoring your wedding vendors:
Tip #1: Follow Them On Social Media
Following your potential vendors can get you an idea of how they run their day at an event, their photos, designs, and also other people who have attended a wedding that they have applied their services on.
Plus some vendors promote discounts on their social media pages, that you can get!
Tip #2: Prioritize What You Want
Figure out your wants and needs. Do you need a wedding planner but can give up on wedding favors. Or do you want to splurge on entertainment and keep the cost low on your wedding cake?
Sit with your partner and decide what you truly want at your wedding, and what you can compromise with. It’s all about having the most amazing day and at a reasonable cost.
Tip #3: Research & Negotiate
You have a budget and you want to stick to it. You can talk to vendors and negotiate their prices. Most Vendors would not mind negotiating their price, although some may stick to their guns. Remember it’s their livelihood!
This is where you research different vendors and see which one is the better option. If you have to negotiate, just remember when it’s time to walk away.
I suggest having your top 3 picks and one extra pick on the side. Just in case your top 3 picks are a) unavailable and b) over your budget.
I hope this helped you in finding your vendors. Comment down below if you have any questions about picking your vendors, or just want to talk about wedding planning #2022bridetobe
Happy Planning!
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