As soon as you begin to plan your Wedding you'll find there are endless choices for every aspect of your day. Photographers, musicians, stationery, caterers, venues, dresses, florists, tiaras...the list is endless.
It can seem a real minefield trying to work out who will provide you with the best quality service, and who will make sure your day is everything you dreamed it would be. How do you chose between different suppliers? How do you make sure you are choosing wisely and how do you ensure your choices are right for you? Here are a few ideas to help you make the best decisions for your big day.
1. Research- if there is one thing that will help you above all else, its researching well. Check, check and check again every supplier you are interested in. Who are they, what level of service do they offer, can you see examples of their work, what do other Bride and Grooms say about their work, how easy are they to deal with, how helpful are they? These are the sorts of questions you need to ask as you go through the planning process.
2. Instinct- Trust yours. Your sense of judgement will serve you well if you trust your instinct. Do you find the supplier easy to get on with, easy to negotiate with, do they offer advice and guidance, are they willing to go with your ideas, do they have lots of their own ideas to offer? You will know if you get on with a supplier, and this is crucial, only you know if you feel they are trust worthy and straight forward. You need to feel they are reliable, if you are in any doubt, they are not the supplier for you.
3. Flexibility- How flexible do you need your supplier to be? Do you need them to provide more or less than their usual service? Deciding exactly what you expect from your musicians, caterers etc, will help you narrow down your choice.
4. Word of mouth- nothing really beats it. If other Brides have used the service and were impressed, it's worth listening to their views. Equally if they were not happy, find out why. Other Brides are a great source of ideas and information, so pick the brains of anyone you know who has recently married and ask for their recommendations.
5. Compare- as you narrow down your search compare suppliers offering similar services and products. Are there differences in price, level of service, whats on offer? Sometimes it can be possible to negotiate with your preferred supplier, but you can't do that without knowing what the competition has on offer, so do your homework and use it to help you agree a better deal.
6. Prioritise- What is important to you? What matters most? Asking yourself these questions will help you establish what you are seeking in each supplier. For example with photography do you want lots of formal photos, or a reportage style, with music do you want classical or Jazz, a mixture of sounds or something simple. Once you've decided on the style and type you are looking for, you'll easily be able to narrow down and simplify your search.
