The Broke-Ass Bride's Wedding Guide empowers couples with the simple philosophy that it's not about how much you spend but how you spend it. As author Dana LaRue says, "You're only planning a party, so have fun with it." You don't need to give up your savings, the possibility of a downpayment on a house, or your sanity to plan a celebration that is meaningful and inspired. Here, Dana shares her advice on what to consider before hiring vendors.
Be careful not to let your desire for camaraderie overshadow your confidence in showing potential vendors that you know your stuff. There may be no guarantee they’ll respect your knowledge, but at least they’ll know better than to try pulling the wool over your eyes. Great expectations yield great results, so be confident and it will inspire them to have confidence in you.
Clearly, to show them that you know your stuff, you’ve got to know your stuff. The best way to get comfortable speaking on their level is to understand their product or service, inside and out.
Your goal is to get a great sense of their personality and style, which should be your first qualifiers in terms of finding a good fit. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a top three candidates for each service, query each for a price quote, indicating your preferred dates and needs, and be sure to let them know if you’re flexible on those details in exchange for lower fees. Keep an eye on how long it takes each to respond, how thorough their response is, and how receptive they might seem to working within your budget.
Before you contact anyone, go in armed with the following questions answered.
