There is a common misconception that when couples hire professionals for their wedding day, all they need to do is book in for the services and show up on the day. The truth is that choosing and hiring professionals to handle catering, photography, music and the rest is a job in itself.
The people who help make wedding day dreams a reality are as diverse a crowd as the couples they service. Personalities and niche talents aside, there are some basic requirements every professional should meet. We’ve looked through articles and blogs to find the five most common mistakes people make during the hiring process.
Going With the Cheapest Option
Let’s face it: Planning a wedding isn’t cheap. It doesn’t always matter whether you want something huge or a small affair – no matter what you think your budget should be, you should probably double it.
With that in mind, it can be tempting to simply shop around on pricing for some services. This is especially true if you see the service as a one size fits all kind of thing. For example, how much difference is there in one DJ service or another? Can’t any florist make an arrangement that will work if you give them the color palette you’ve chosen? Does it really matter which officiant you use?
While this can be true to a degree, the details count. One DJ service may offer an amazingly low rate, but will they be able to engage with your guests and get them dancing? Do they have access to the songs you want or do you only get to pick the genre? A florist going only on colors and the absolute lowest cost will likely end up delivering underwhelming bouquets and arrangements.
There’s nothing wrong with getting estimates from several companies. In fact, a good rule of thumb is to get three estimates whenever possible. But that doesn’t mean you should make the bottom line of the quote your deciding factor. Compare the detailed services each one offers a part of the service.
Going in Without a Plan
Take time with your partner to create a general outline of what you want your wedding day to be like. You do not need to go into great detail but the quotes you receive from professionals will be more accurate if they know what you are looking for.
Some basic information you can provide at the beginning will help your pros give you an accurate estimate includes:
- Number of guests
- Wedding party size
- Family size
- Color scheme / Theme of the wedding
- Date of the Wedding
- Venue (Or venue type)
This basic information will give the professional a general idea of your needs. The end result will be quotes and estimates that are less likely to increase as plans become finalized.
Hiring a Friend
When you announce your wedding plans, you may have a friend step forward to offer their services. It can be tempting to hire a friend, especially if they offer you a bit of a break on the price. But hiring friends is almost never a good idea. Friendships can make it difficult to conduct business and business adds a strain to the relationship. PLanning a wedding is stressful, even with the help of professionals. If there’s a problem or disagreement – and there almost undoubtedly will be – you will want to be working with someone where you don’t have to worry about hurting their feelings. (Not that you should hurt the feelings of professionals either, but they are used to working with couples under stress. They are much less likely to take issues personally and they can often avoid those situations completely thanks to their experience.)
Leaving it to Someone Else
Weddings can be one of the most costly projects couples take on. As a result, some families pitch in and, in some cases, even foot the whole bill for a wedding. Help with costs is great, but it can result in a loss of control. When deciding who to hire for professional wedding services, couples should be the ones in the driver’s seat. If they are receiving help with financing from family, those family members may want a voice in who is hired. There is not anything wrong with that, but the final decision should be down to the couple. If you find yourself in a tug of war over who to hire, take a step back and decide if the financial help is worth the loss of control in planning your special day.
Not Spelling Things Out
Perhaps the biggest mistake people make when hiring a wedding professional is that they don’t spell out exactly what they want. Take the time to sit with your professionals and go through the details of what you want for your wedding day. Don’t worry initially about what can or cannot be done – just tell them what you’d like and then discuss how to make it happen. You will likely need to revise your plans or adjust expectations depending on what you had originally envisioned. But that’s better than being vague and hoping they can read your mind. Clear communication will make it easier for each professional to give you their best work while keeping everyone in the loop on what to expect and any changes in cost.
Planning a wedding is no easy task and hiring the right professionals makes a huge difference. The key is to take the time to do your research, hire the right people, and invest in clear communication. The more time you spend investing in the planning and preparation, the more likely you will be to have a (relatively) smooth wedding day.
