The Ultimate Wedding Vendor List

Are you engaged and just starting/in the midst of planning your dream day? Are you unsure of where to start, what to do, and most importantly, who to hire? Just know that your feelings are completely normal, and you are not alone! Weddings today are a production, and for every vendor category, there are tens to hundreds of different companies to choose from! So if this is your first time planning a wedding, no worries, we have planned thousands, and are here to help! On this week’s blog, in no particular order, we have put together the ultimate wedding vendor list to help you know where to start! Your wedding vendor team will make or break your wedding day, so make sure to book those you love, trust, and are inspired by! It makes all the difference when planning your dream day!

• Wedding Planner:
  • We hear over and over again from our clients, that hiring a wedding planner was “the best money they spent on their wedding”. A Wedding Planner is there to help you organize all of your details, create your timeline, organize all of your wedding vendors, and overall, help you take the stress away! A Wedding Planner’s goal is to make things so much easier for you, and they are vital for the success of the wedding day! Don’t want to run around personally, or have a family member/friend have to run around and set-up the day of? Do you want to take in & enjoy every second of your wedding day? Hire a Wedding Planner! You will never regret that decision!

• Your Wedding Venue:
  • Where will you be holding your wedding ceremony and reception? Have you contacted them yet? Your wedding venue is also an essential part of your wedding planning process, if not the most essential from the very beginning. Basically everything revolves around the venue.  Once you secure your venue, you will then have your date, and the timeline and checklist for your wedding will begin to fall into place! It all feels real once you have secured your venue!

• Videographer:
  • Now this vendor is one that not everyone gets, but it is always one we highly recommend! Couples always say they don’t remember every word to a speech, or do not remember the vows, so having it captured on film forever is something we absolutely love & highly recommend! Videographers are so talented as well, and can give you different versions of your day, from full length films, to 4-6 minute highlight films, to a 30-60 second social media preview video! They basically can do it all!
• Photographer:
  • This is one of the most important vendors for couples, because this is the one of the only tangible item you can have for the rest of your lives together to remember your wedding day! A photographer can only do one wedding a day, so if you have a photographer in mind, make this the first vendor you book once you have a venue/date. Some couples actually ask for a photographer’s availability first and then based on this, they select their wedding date (not typical but if the photographer is a must-have, it’s something you can do)!

• Music Professionals:
  • Great wedding entertainment is always a good thing, well a great thing. You can choose to either go with DJ or a Band, and both have their benefits, so its a personal choice (and a budget choice as most bands are more financially than DJs).  When you meet with them, see who you vibe with, look for experience and who you feel will deliver the best entertainment for you! Also, talk about your timeline & preferences when it comes to an MC. Do you want someone to really entertain your guests, or do you want someone to be the director of the event so all guests know what is happening, and speeches/dances are introduced. Do you care if the MC is the center of attention, or would you rather the day be more focused on you?
• Hair & Makeup:
  • This is the vendor that will make you look and feel your very best on the big day, so this is an important one! When looking through your beauty vendor choices (there are a lot everywhere), look at reviews, look at their instagram for inspiration, and talk to those that have gotten married before + used them for recommendations! These reviews/recommendations will give you a real perspective on how the day-of went & how the bride + her girls really felt on the wedding day!

• Officiant:
  • Now you will really want to research + find the perfect Officiant for you! Whether it is someone from where you are planning on getting married, to hiring an outside non-denominational officiant that could help you put together a custom ceremony, to everyone in between, you will want to really connect with this person! They will be conducting that very special moment, so making sure you are on the same page is truly important!
• Florist:
  • Now this vendor is usually the favorite but the most stressful to most couples getting married! There are SO many flowers to choose from, different colors to put together, and everyone stresses that their floral decisions will not look like they had envisioned it! This is where a good florist comes in! Florists are there to help you go through your vision and bring it all to life! Tip: Ask before booking if you are able to see a centerpiece and/or a bouquet sample prior to the wedding to see your vision come to life before the big day to bring you comfort + ease!

• Jeweler:
  • Picking out your wedding bands is one of the best parts!  The symbol that represents your love forever! Ask those that have gotten engaged/married before on who they would recommend to ensure this is a company that provides quality jewelry, and is someone you can trust!

• Bakery:
  • Who doesn’t LOVE dessert? Whether it is a multi-tiered cake, a small cutting cake, or a station filled with all kinds of desserts, this is one of the best vendors to book! Schedule your tasting a few months before the big day, and come hungry, because you should be leaving full + happy!

• Caterer:
  • Does your venue not include food? Your wedding menu is essential. It’s no secret that food is the one thing most people look forward to when attending a wedding, so make sure you choose wisely & do your research! This is one of the biggest budget items you will be hiring, so when meeting with your Caterer option(s) before signing, ask to meet with them, for pricing, and to possibly taste the food to make sure it is the perfect fit for you!

• Bar Services/Alcohol:
  • Does your venue not include alcohol/bar services? Let’s be honest, one of the most important thing for guests is the bar! Talk to your venue/caterer about recommendations on bar services & where to get alcohol! There are companies that can provide both service + alcohol, and sometimes they just provide service & then you will have to order Alcohol separately! Your Caterer, Venue, and/or Planner are the best sources on what you need for the party!

• Rental Company:
  • Depending on your venue, you might need to rent things like your linens, serving pieces, tables, chairs, tents, dance floors, etc.  A rental company will cater to your needs and will make sure you have everything you need for the big day.  It can be overwhelming, so try to rent everything from the same company so the vision is not lost & counts are all the same!
  • Another rental you should consider for your wedding is a Photo Booth! This is a popular item to have at a wedding, and all of your guests will LOVE it!

• Stationery/Calligrapher:
  • There are many options for your stationery/calligraphy needs! Some couples just want to order simply through a website such as Minted.com, etsy.com, or theknot.com. This is a budget friendly choice that can give you want you need in a short amount of time. However, some couples really want to ensure they have the highest quality, and have a design that truly matches their vision/color scheme. So hiring a professional stationery vendor is the way to go! We always love working with a stationery vendor and a calligrapher for our clients wedding because they can truly create an original that has everything the couple could ever ask for on their paper goods/signage, vs. just filling in your information into a template. Neither way is wrong, and couples can create magic going either way!

• Transportation:
  • You may want to transport guests to your event or just your wedding party and yourselves (or both), so secure the services with a good and trusted transportation company! Knowing your timeline before booking transportation is recommended so you are booking accurately and avoid surprises later!

We have some incredible wedding vendors that are only featured on our Preferred Vendor Lists! Click HERE, go to the top right and click “Locations”, select the location you are getting married, then scroll down to view that specific city’s custom Preferred Vendor List! xo