Planning a wedding is an exciting yet overwhelming task that involves far too many decisions. Let’s be honest, chances are you’ve never planned a party for hundreds of guests before. From choosing the perfect venue to selecting a catering company that all your guests will love, every detail plays a crucial role in creating a memorable celebration.
While you could try and do it all on your own (it has been done), it’s not something we recommend. Selecting the right wedding vendors can ensure a smooth and magical wedding day with minimal stress. These professionals bring their expertise to various aspects of your wedding, turning your dreams into a reality.
With countless details to think about, it can be challenging to know which vendors you need for your big day. But that’s why we’re here. To help you know what vendors can help your celebration come to life without a hitch.
Wedding Vendors, We Recommend Having
Wedding Planner
One of the first and most important wedding vendors to consider is a wedding planner. Though this is one of the most highly debated vendors when it comes to wedding planning, the amount of work they take care of can’t be matched on your own.
They assist in budget management, timeline creation, and vendor selection, making the planning process far more manageable. They’ll help bring your vision to life, ensure that your other vendors are exactly where they’re supposed to be on your wedding day, and take care of any other issues that may arise so that you can focus on what’s important–marrying the love of your life.
Wedding Coordinator
If you’re not planning on hiring a planner, we highly recommend at least looking into a day-of coordinator. They won’t be there to assist you during the planning process, but they will be with you on the big day to make sure that everything goes according to plan.
They’re responsible for everything from ensuring the day’s timelines are met to ensuring you eat (and trust us, many couples forget to do this during the whirlwind of the day) to gathering all of the wedding parties for photos.
Photographer and Videographer
Capturing the magic of your wedding day is vital, making the selection of a skilled photographer and videographer crucial. While it may be tempting to opt for an inexpensive photographer or skip a videographer altogether, these professionals immortalize your special moments, creating a visual narrative that you can cherish for a lifetime.
Your wedding goes by in the blink of an eye, so we mean it when we say that you will want these photos and videos to look back on later in life.
Recommended Reading: Wedding Memories with QR Codes: Capture, Share, and Cherish Every Moment With WaldoPhotos
Caterer
The way to your guests’ hearts is often through their stomachs, making catering a pivotal aspect of your wedding. Research and sample menus from different caterers to find one that suits your taste and budget. However, in many instances, your venue may already have an on-site caterer that you have to use.
If this is a deal-breaker, you may want to consider a different venue. Or, if you don’t mind the food but still want to treat your guests, consider bringing in your favorite food truck in at the end of the night for a late-night snack after the drinks have been flowing.
Florist
Flowers have the power to transform any venue into a romantic and enchanting space. A skilled florist can enhance the ambiance with stunning floral arrangements, bouquets, and centerpieces. Discuss your color scheme, preferred flowers, and overall aesthetic with your florist to create a cohesive and visually appealing atmosphere, and be prepared to be truly amazed.
Entertainment
While entertainment is vital to any celebration, we don’t think a live band, DJ, or a combination of both is essential. If you’re tight on money, you could always create different playlists for every part of your wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, etc.).
However, they set the tone for the evening and kept the dance floor alive. They know exactly which songs to play to get everyone moving, and they act as great MCs for things like calling out the first dance, the last song of the day, and everything in between.
Rental Services
Depending on your venue, you may need to rent various items such as tables, chairs, linens, and decor. These things can be bought or brought in if you’re having a smaller wedding, but as your guest list builds up, these things can get very pricey. It’s easier to rent these items based on your needs and overall wedding vision.
Bonus: WaldoWed
Although not technically a wedding vendor, if after planning the perfect wedding, you want to rest easy that you’ll have the photos and videos to cherish over the years, look no further than WaldoWed. WaldoWed is a smart wedding gallery and more.
It will help gather photos from your friends and family at all of your wedding events throughout your wedding season. You can easily share your gallery with friends and family, and everyone can add the photos and videos they capture. WaldoWed’s Gold level comes with pre-designed QR code signage for your reception, making it a breeze for all your guests to snap a photo and video, scan the QR code, and drop it into your gallery.
If you use the live slideshow feature, photos will pop up on the flat screen at your reception. And, thanks to Waldo’s AI technology, all of your guests will receive the photos they’re in via text alerts, saving you emails, texts, and phone calls from Aunt Edna looking for the family photo.
