It’s Wedding Wednesday and today I wanted to share what I would do differently if I were a wedding vendor. I spent so much time researching vendors and a lot of that time I was seriously frustrated with the process. So I’ve thought about it and will share what I wish all vendors would do! Per usual, I’m linking up with Jordon, Meredith and Mary and hope you’ll check out their blogs.
Things I would do if I were a wedding vendor:
- List my prices! This was my number one complaint while looking for a vendor. I hated finding a vendor who seemed amazing and searching in vein on the website only to find NO indication of prices. I understand that vendors don’t want to put all their rates on their website…but given an average price (i.e. “our brides usually spend 2000 on photography.”) doesn’t hurt! I wasted a lot of time on vendors that were just simply not in the budget. Ugh. This was my biggest pet peeve.
- Update my website. There are SO many vendors that have out of date websites and it honestly just turned me off so so much. If I’m going to consider spending thousands of dollars on your services, please have an updated website (with NO music playing! There is not an exception to this if you often book weddings — NO ONE likes this!).
- Respond to emails PROMPTLY. While I was in the middle of the planning process, I had a number of vendors who took their time getting back to me. I don’t expect an immediate turn around, but honestly, if I don’t hear from you in 24 hours and it’s during the work week, I’m not interested. That’s just good business in my mind.
- Have a blog. It was really cool to be able to read blog posts from vendors that we were considering – it helped me to get a deeper understanding of the vendor’s style and made some decisions much easier. Especially for vendors like the photographer, with whom you will be spending a lot of time with, you want to try and get to know them the best you can. A blog can help with that!
What would you do if you were a wedding vendor?
Numbers 2 and 3 were big things for me as well. And really, they apply to all businesses. I hate when I’m trying to decide on a restaurant and it doesn’t have an updated website or even a menu available to look at. You have to make things easy for potential clients!
Chaitali recently posted…Tasty Tuesday – Grilled Ratatouille
EXACTLY!!! 100% — so so annoying!
I totally agree on the price thing and the outdated websites. Major pet peeves of mine when I was wedding planning.
Julia @ Vegas Mother Runner recently posted…I’m in! I’m in! I’m in!
i just got SO frustrated. the photographer we went with gave a baseline for her packages online and i appreciated that SO MUCH!
The price thing….grrr
right???? SO annoying!
Great tips. Businesses who don’t have prices listed bug me.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…My First Official Weight Watchers Meeting
i just seriously don’t get it — i think part of it is they hope you’ll fall in love w/their work and then bust your budget to hire them. boo to that!
We were so poor when we got married that, thankfully, we didn’t have to worry about dealing with too many wedding vendors – ha! I did have problems with photographers – not responding quickly, giving me one price at one time and another price at another time, being very inflexible. I finally asked a friend, who has a college degree in photography and uses it in her work, if she would be willing to take photographs for us; she was delighted and cheap – ha! In general, I think there are many wedding vendors who are vultures; it frustrates me.
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…W(h)ine Wednesday – New Job Anxiety
that is so smart! we had a friend who was a photographer but took literally weeks to get back to us (with his yes answer) and we’d already booked. in retrospect, it was probably the better choice! 🙂
I agree about pricing! It was so annoying to email vendors for pricing. Our photographer had their prices listed for everthing – engagement session, wedding day, album, etc. so we loved that. I also agree about updated websites and NO music.
Rachel recently posted…Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Party Gifts
it was probably my biggest pet peeve in terms of finding vendors! ugh!!!
I am with you 100000% on these! Not knowing the prices waste my time and really wastes THEIR time too- it’s so frustrating!! And the music on the websites- what is that about??? Why is that there? So many caterers emailed me back weeks later or never followed up on things they said they were going to do…it is so annoying! Ha why don’t they put us in charge?
Lindsay @brokeandbougie recently posted…Wednesday Workouts: Let’s chat about something that’s pissing me off.
they SHOULD just put us in charge — it’d all flow so much more smoothly! 🙂
Great tips! The delayed email responses drove me crazy too!
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie recently posted…3 tips for making friends in a new city
thanks erin — i’m SO glad the planning is over so now i can just wax poetic on the things i found annoying 🙂
I’m not planning a wedding but the listing price thing annoys me to no end!! I feel so pressured when I have to call to ask for prices and they try to sell me on expensive packages!
Carmy recently posted…WIAW! #5
yes 100%! it stinks – so glad planning is done 🙂
I’m a wedding photographer so I appreciate this post 🙂
I do everything I can to be quick in response. I know people want answers NOW – don’t blame them. I’m the same way.
Rebecca Jo recently posted…Summer Vortex is my friend….
ah, i didn’t realize — that’s awesome! i bet you are great to work with 🙂
I can see where these would be frustrated. I am not planning a wedding but in any circumstance businesses should respond promptly and have their website updated. And if everyone showed their prices it would save us more time.
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Visitng Negril, Jamaica
the prices thing is my #1 complaint! just let folks know so they can assess if your business is in their budget!
Oh my goodness YES to all of it! If vendors had a bad website I couldn’t consider them, especially if it was for photography! If your business is visual, then present your business in an appealing and visual way! Sheesh! 🙂
Mary recently posted…Wedding Wednesday: Photos from Around Town