Photographers, cake makers, videographers, entertainers, and florists – if you’re planning a wedding, you’re going to be booking a lot of suppliers. If you’ve got little to no experience in booking these kinds of services before, you might be wondering where to begin. The great news is that the wedding planning team at Broadoaks have years of experience on hand to help and we have also created a great wedding supplier brochure to help you with your search.
Our beautiful lake District Country House has hosted many beautiful weddings and they are all unique not only because of the couple being married but also because of the suppliers they choose.
Here are some tips to help you choose the best suppliers for your Lake District Wedding:
Prioritize
Make a list of suppliers you need to book, and then put them in order of what is most important to you. For some couples, this is the photographer. Others may find that food is more important to them. This will look different for each couple, and it’s important you’re both on the same page – it could save a lot of stress (and potential arguments) later on.
Budget
Set your budget as early as you can. You may need to browse a few different suppliers to get an idea of what people are charging but try to set the budget quickly. It’s going to be tempting to overspend on everything – and that’s how couples can get carried away. Work out how much (roughly) you want to spend on each service if you can, and you can always be flexible with it if you need to.
Research
This can be time consuming but do as much research as you can when it comes to potential suppliers. Look at their website, social media pages, and reviews. Testimonials are really important, and of course, a good portfolio. This does take some time – but you should be able to tell their skill level from examples of their work. Remember Broadoaks has made a great Wedding Supplier Brochure to help – click here
Meet in Person
It’s important to meet with your suppliers in person if possible – if not, try and arrange a Skype meeting or phone call. Meeting them in person can give you a better idea of their personality and the services they provide. You’ll also be able to tell if you ‘click’ with them. It’s good to have an idea of what you want before you meet with them, but also, don’t be afraid to hear their input – they are experts, and they may have creative ideas and advice that you might not have considered.
This is especially important when it comes to caterers or bakers – because you get to taste the food. (This is a bonus you need to make the most of.)
Protect Yourself (and Them!)
If you’ve got a good feel for a supplier and you want to book with them, make sure to pay them the requested deposit and receive a contract in writing. This protects you as a couple, and them as the supplier – and makes things feel official. Keep all those contracts in a safe place, and then sit back and relax – another job will be ticked off the list!
Now there’s nothing left to do but get excited, knowing the details of your day are being taken care of as you suppliers link in with the Broadoaks team to create the wedding you have always wanted.