It is easy to get what you want from your wedding suppliers.  But let’s face it; none of us plan our wedding day very often!  So here are some helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of your wedding suppliers.

General Tips

• Find suppliers local to your venue - you don’t want any of them to get lost or stick in traffic on your big day!
• Set your budget - and stick to it as closely as you can.  It is so easy to get carried away.
• Visit suppliers in person to ensure that you form a good rapport with them.
• Ask to see several recent examples of their work so that you can check the quality and style.
• Get a detailed quote - and be sure to ask whether the figure includes VAT or other additional charges.
• Ensure your contract is specific - down to naming brands of drinks or types of food.
• Expect to pay at least 50% in advance.
• Reconfirm all details with your suppliers a couple of weeks before the wedding.
• Make sure you take out wedding insurance, which is available for as little as £50.

Venue Checklist

• Is the venue available on your chosen date?
• Will it accommodate your guest list?
• Is it close to your ceremony venue?
• Is the price within your allocated budget?  If not, are prices cheaper on other days of the week?
• Does it have in-house caterers with good menus?  Ask for a tasting session to ensure the quality of the food.
• Will there be other weddings taking place on the same day?
• Can you move furniture around if necessary?
• Is there accommodation for all your guests?  If so, will you get a discounted rate?  Or if not, is there any alternative accommodation nearby?
• Are you able to have a marquee / band / candles / fireworks / bubbles / confetti / chocolate fountain?
• Check that the venue is licensed to sell alcohol and until what time?
• Can you have a late bar for residential guests?
• Does the price include VAT and service charge?
• What are the corkage charges, if needed?
• If there is, heaven forbid, bad weather on your wedding day, are there good photographic opportunities indoors?
• If you are outdoors, is the venue licensed to play music or have other entertainment outside?
• Do they allow high heels inside the venue?
• How do they accommodate for children?
• Do they hold viewings for other potential wedding couples during your stay, and if so, would this interfere with your wedding?

Photography

• Always check out your photographer’s website to see their work before you meet with them, and make sure you get on well with the person you book.
• Think about the style of photography you want.  Reportage photography has a less posed feel, while a traditional style usually features formal line-ups of friends and family and tends to focus less on the details of the day, like close-up shots of the menu, for instance - something that is often forgotten.
• Many couples like to have a combination of both reportage and family shots - so choose a photographer who is good at both elements.
• Consider a mixture of colour and black and white pictures, so that you capture the shades of outfits, flowers and decorations.
• If you have got any particular shots in mind, give a list of them to your photographer so that nothing gets forgotten on the day.
• Give one of your ushers the job of pointing out who is who to your photographer.
• The fee will depend on how long the photographer stays at your wedding, the number of shots included in your package, the album you choose, plus any prints.
• Your photographer will usually retain the copyright of your pictures, so budget for the cost of any re-prints.

Cake

• A traditional white fruit cake best suits a formal occasion, while cupcakes or coloured designs are ideal for a relaxed celebration.
• Not everyone likes fruit cake, so think about different fillings for each tier.  A layer each of carrot cake, chocolate sponge and classic fruit cake will please everyone.
• The cake is usually cut after the toasts and can be served either as dessert or set aside to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee later on.

Flowers

• Your flowers are an integral part of your wedding and should reflect your theme.
• Take your florist’s advice wherever possible.  They are experts and will recommend the right seasonal blooms for you and save you money.
• Ceremony flowers include the bouquets for you and your bridesmaids, buttonhole for the groom and displays for the altar/registrar’s table.
• Table centrepieces and larger arrangements are perfect for your reception.

Wedding Stationery

• All of your wedding stationery should match - from your Save the Date Cards, to the Wedding Invitations, Evening Invitations, Order of Service or Order of the Day Cards, Menu Cards, Place Cards or Place Tags, Table Numbers, Favour Boxes, Table Plan and Thank You Cards.
• They should be in keeping with your wedding theme(s) and Colours.
• Always ask to see proofs before printing. The Designer Card Company will send you PDF proofs by email before going to print.
• Bear in mind that the colour of your wedding invitations that you see on the computer screen may not match the colour when printed, due to the backlight of your monitor.  So if you wish your colour-matching to be precise, ask for a printed sample.
• Ask for a sample of your chosen wedding invitation design as a finished product.  Many companies charge for samples.  The Designer Card Company will reimburse the sample fee upon order placement.
• Allow about one and a half months for your cards to be made and delivered.  The Designer Card Company will deliver your wedding stationery 20 working days after order placement.
• Your order will more than likely encompass 3 stages: 1) Save the Date Cards, which can be ordered as soon as you have set a date and confirmed your wedding venue and suppliers; 2) Wedding Invitations and Evening Invitations, along with RSVP cards; 3) ‘On the Day’ items, such as Order of Service or Order of the Day cards, Menu Cards, Table Numbers, Place Cards or Place Tags, Favour Boxes, Table Plans and Thank You Cards.
• Send your Wedding Invitations out 8-12 weeks prior to your wedding
• The Designer Card Company can print your guest names in your cards to save you writing them out - so don’t worry if your calligraphy skills aren’t up to scratch!
• You will have lots of information to contain within your wedding invitations, such as venue information, maps, directions, local hotel information, taxi numbers, RSVP cards and your gift list. For this reason you may wish to choose a wallet style invitation to ensure that everything is neatly enclosed and nothing falls out when guests open their invitations.  The Designer Card Company offers a unique ‘Deluxe 3-Way Folded Card‘ which features the RSVP card tied in with double satin ribbon and a wallet to hold other information.  Matching information cards can be produced to insert in the wallet if you wish.

Catering

• Find out from your caterer whether there are mix-and-match options from their menus.
• Find out what their service includes.  Do they provide waiting staff, table linen, crockery and cutlery, or do they expect the venue to provide it?  If the venue provide it, will you incur extra cost?
• Do they provide alcohol, or could you provide it cheaper by buying it in bulk?  Will the corkage fee offset your savings?

Entertainment

• Don’t pick any extreme music styles - you have to cater for everyone, regardless of your tastes.
• Live bands encompass everything from blues groups and acoustic duos to tribute bands and jazz.  If you want continuous music throughout the night you will need a DJ for when the band takes a break.
• Other forms of entertainment can include string quartets, a pianist or a soloist, while magicians or jugglers will keep children amused.
• A CD or iPod play list is the least expensive way of providing music.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 10:28 am and is filed under Wedding News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.