How to "Vet" Your Wedding Vendors

I am part of many larger groups of wedding vendors, business owners, florists, etc. Some of these are formal networking groups with weekly meetings, some have monthly meetings, some are Facebook groups to bounce ideas, others are Facebook pages with vendors and brides and grooms. There are so many resources out there!

One question I see often is "How can I ensure my wedding vendor (photographer, planner, florist, venue, etc.) is reputable and will not let me down/ghost me?". There are absolutely steps you can take to avoid this! But - there are always exceptions to "rules/guidelines" that are out there, so take everything I say with a grain of salt and use your discretion and best judgement.

• Do they have insurance?

• Are they licensed to do what they do? (if required)

• Do they have an online presence? (website, social media, google profile with reviews)

• Do they have photos of past work? (If they are new they may not)

• Do they have a contract for their services? (Not required for all, but should be in place for high ticket items - photographer, wedding planner, florals, venue, DJ)

I often see couples say they think it is "rude" to ask a vendor to see their licensing. I would never be offended if a couple asked me this. As far as I am concerned, it is due diligence! Some of the networking groups that I am a part of have asked for my business license, insurance and any other documents to ensure I am operating a legal, safe and fair business. I would be more than happy to share my documents to show I am running a reputable business.

It is far too often that I hear about "another wedding vendor" who has run off with a deposit and ghosted a client. I have even had brides in my store to complain that a wedding vendor has not deliver or canceled on them and needs my help to fix/deliver the final product.

I highly encourage you to ask your vendors that you have already booked with if they recommend anyone - do they have a favorite photographer they refer to? Is there a baker that is absolutely spectacular but a hidden gem? You just might meet someone amazing who won't let you down on one of the biggest days of your life!