Building Your Dream Team: How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Vendors

Choosing the people who will help make your wedding day the best day of your life is incredibly important. From the floral arrangements to the photographs that will capture your memories forever, to the food and drinks that will delight your guests, the right vendors can turn your dream into reality. With so many options available in today’s vibrant wedding scene, making decisions can feel overwhelming. But don't worry! Here are some fun and friendly tips to help you navigate the process and turn vendor selection into an enjoyable part of your wedding planning journey.

Start with What You Love

Think back to weddings you’ve attended. Did you fall in love with the flowers at your best friend’s ceremony? Were you blown away by the delicious food at your cousin’s reception? Take note of the vendors who made these events special and add them to your list of potential choices. Having personal experience with a vendor’s work is invaluable. Just remember, don’t make any hasty decisions. These vendors should be on your preferred list, ready for further exploration.

Begin Your Research Early

The early bird gets the worm, and in wedding planning, the early bride gets the best vendors! Start your research as soon as possible. Dive into their websites, blogs, and social media profiles. Look at galleries of their previous work and read testimonials from other couples. Keep an eye out for vendors who’ve worked at weddings you’ve attended and loved. Often, personal recommendations from friends and family are gold mines. Don’t dismiss these suggestions; they might just lead you to your dream team.

Inspect Their Work Up Close

Seeing is believing. If you haven't experienced a vendor's work firsthand, find a way to do so. Attend events where they’re working, if possible. For example, if a caterer is handling a friend’s event, see if you can sample their food. Observe how photographers interact with couples and guests, and how they position themselves during key moments of the ceremony and reception. It’s not just about high-quality work; you should also feel a connection and have good communication with them. This chemistry is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Schedule a Trial Run

After narrowing down your list to your top 2 or 3 choices, schedule a trial run. Set up tastings for cakes and food, or arrange for a sample bouquet to be made. These trial runs give you a taste of what to expect and help you see if the vendor aligns with your vision and taste. This step is essential in confirming that they’re the perfect fit for your special day.

Keep Your Budget in Mind

While it’s easy to get carried away, always keep your budget at the forefront of your planning. Once you’ve identified what you love, compare the costs. If you have two florists you adore, choose the one that fits best within your budget. It’s possible to have high-quality services without breaking the bank. Balancing cost and quality ensures that you get the best value for your money.

Stay Calm and Enjoy the Process

Selecting vendors can seem daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to define your wedding style and bring your vision to life. By following these steps, you’ll not only reduce stress but also enjoy the planning process. Remember, this is your chance to create a magical day, and the right vendors will make it truly unforgettable.

So, gear up, stay positive, and plan on, soldiers! With a clear vision and a solid plan, you’ll assemble a vendor dream team that will help you create memories to last a lifetime. Happy wedding planning!

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Steps After you say I Do

You’ve made it down the aisle. You can finally take a deep breath. You’re HERE and the wedding is beautiful. You and your partner say your vows and you seal your ceremony with a kiss. We always tell our couples the part that matters is making it down the aisle and saying “I do.” But, there are some very important details that you have to do after your ceremony. So, let’s break apart all of the tasks you’ll need to accomplish after the ceremony wraps. 

Don’t Forget to Sign on the Dotted Line 

As you work to create your day of timeline, create a moment, it can be between 10 - 20 minutes, where you can sit down with your officiant, pastor etc., and your witnesses to sign your marriage license. We highly suggest that this is done directly after your ceremony. Out of everything on your wedding day, this is the most important part – so be intentional with planning it out!. There are two different copies. One copy is yours to keep. This is the fancy copy that can be for your records. The most important copy is the official document for the state. Fill all the important information out prior, or ask your pastor or officiant to. You don’t want to miss any information or forget to fill out portions. Create a plan and stick to it and ensure that the people who need to be a part of the signing know ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is scramble to find all of these important people! 

Who Sends it in? 

This is another detail that needs to be planned out. Most likely, your officiant or pastor will handle sending in your marriage license. Prior to saying “I do”, determine who will handle mailing your marriage license. Be sure you have the envelope on the wedding day and that a responsible person is in charge of it! Check with your person and ensure that it is sent off in a timely manner. If you get married on a Saturday, plan on sending it off on a Monday. Get it off your hands as soon as you can! 

Check it, once or twice! 

We HIGHLY suggest your check with the office or courthouse if your marriage license made it there. In all of our years, we’ve had one couple that never mailed it off, and one that mailed it off but it was lost in the mail. They spent years unmarried because their license was lost and never filed. Do not let this happen to you! Call the courthouse after a few weeks and check on the status. Stay diligent and check back if they haven’t received it. 

Set a Time to Open Gifts

Don’t feel like you have to open your wedding guests the next day. It is okay to take a day to decompress and enjoy your loved ones. Once your wedding guests have returned home and your life has settled and is calm, open your gifts and cards. You will need to keep track of senders and gifts and get those thank you cards out within 6-8 weeks. Don’t skimp on the thank you cards and don’t send cards that aren’t personalized. We suggest your take time to thank your guests personally, including a personalized thank you card or poster. Stay clear of mass facebook thank yous, or generic thank you cards. The last thing you want your guests to feel is a lack of graciousness. 

Return all Rentals 

Even though your wedding day is over, there is still a need to wrap up all loose ends. One of the biggests tasks is returning all of your rentals! Now, if you have a wedding coordinator, some of these tasks may be assigned to their team. But, if you’ve rented table decor, speciality linens etc., return them on the next business day. You definitely do not want any of the rentals damaged, or have an unexpected accident occur. It’s best to get these off your hands as soon as you can. If you assigned this task to a friend or family member, ask them to let you know once it’s been returned. You’ll want to manage all of the rental returns to ensure there are no additional fees incurred. 

Often our couples say after they walk down the aisle, all of the stressors of wedding planning fades away. This is one of the biggest events, or most meaningful events, couples plan in their lifetime. Even though the doors close on the night of your wedding, there are still important tasks to complete when it’s all said and done. Don’t forget to sign and send in your marriage license, and keep checking on that document once it’s been sent in! Plan on returning any rentals the next business day and sending out those thank you cards. But, most importantly enjoy this new adventure with your partner and tackle these tasks TOGETHER! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Writing Your Own Vows – Yes or No?

There are definitely mixed reviews on writing your own vows. We see a mix of couples who prefer to stick to more traditional nuptials or tailor their own vows. But, let’s face it… personal vows are not everyone’s cup of tea. For some, it’s too personal, or couples may experience writers block. When we think about what makes a wedding, a wedding, it is the ceremony. And if we take it a step further, it is your vows and the words that are exchanged that really seal the deal and make it a wedding. Yes, the catering, food, decor, and cake are all a reason to celebrate, but without your vows – you can’t be married!

How do you decide if you go with personal vows, or opt for something more traditional? We always tell our clients that it depends on your level of comfort and what you prefer. Afterall, this is your wedding day!

If you’re leaning towards writing your own vows, ask yourself how you feel like writing. Writing your own vows is a personal experience. Some couples write about anecdotes, or their favorite memories. Other couples choose to keep it short and sweet. If you’re more of a creative soul, writing your own vows may be a perfect option for you. It’s a way to express your own words and thoughts and you can create an intimate vibe. Sometimes, traditional vows can seem cold. Writing your own vows are the perfect way to express your creative side, while expressing your love to your soon to be spouse! You don’t have to write a novel, or be an A+ writer. You just have to express your feelings, and well – follow the writing process. 

Getting through your writers block is one hurdle. But, if you’re seriously considering writing your own vows, you have to be vulnerable to read your words, out loud to your guests. If you are not a public speaker, or you don’t like reading your words aloud, writing your own vows may not be for you. Writing is one thing, but reading your writing can be a whole new element for many. If you feel leary about reading your raw emotions out loud, you may want to opt for traditional, or non-traditional pre-written vows for your ceremony. You can always personalize pre-written vows to make it fit you and your “wants” for your vows. At the end of the day, you want to ensure that you are comfortable with reading whatever vows you choose in front of an audience. And folks, practice makes perfect!

Ultimately, writing your own vows takes time. If you’re planning your wedding, working full time, or even taking care of little ones – be realistic on what you can accomplish. You definitely want to make sure that your vows have ample time to develop, edit and revise. Not many people can write eloquent things on the fly (or prove us wrong). So, you’ll want to dedicate time prior to the wedding day to block out your ideas on what you want to say then edit, edit, edit! You definitely DO NOT want to cram in a last minute writing session. We’re not back in finals week during college folks! Avoid backing yourself into a last minute situation. If you want to write your own vows, be sure to have some back ups just incase time isn’t your friend. 

Unfortunately, writing your vows has to be an agreement between you and your partner. It doesn’t look or sound cohesive if one partner writes their own vows and the other chooses to go the traditional route. So before you take the plunge writing your masterpiece, talk to your partner and make the decision together. If one wants to write vows, the other must too. This is one piece of the wedding where both parties have to make the same decision. If one is hesitate, choose pre-written vows and add some of your own sparkle. Revise and add some of your own personal touches. If you’re writing your own vows, check your time limits during practice. You don’t want one to be 5 minutes, while the other is 30 seconds. In addition, compromise on the vibe you want to create. Will your vows be light hearted? Will they be comical or full of memories? Whatever you choose, don’t embarrass or share intimate details about your partner that would make them feel uncomfortable. You may need to allow a friend, or a member of the wedding party to give your vows the stamp of approval. 

If you choose to write your own vows, talk to your partner about it first. Remember that this is something you both must be in agreement on. One can’t write their vows and the other use traditional vows. You must both be on the same page and in sync. When writing your vows, stick to the same time limit and theme. Ensure that you don’t share too much intimate or delicate information from your relationship and that whatever you write you feel comfortable reading to family, friends, and even some strangers. Give yourself ample time to write, edit, and revise… absolutely do not wait until the morning to write your vows! Most importantly, add your creative sparkle and make it from the heart. Your partner will love and cherish these vows – so make it your own! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.