Local Vendors vs. Bringing your Own

I've done a lot of destination weddings over the years. One of the biggest questions I get when planning from the brides is whether to hire local vendors from their destination or bring their own. While most people would assume hiring local ones are easier and less expensive, it can actually be the opposite. I would recommend bringing your own vendors for the following reasons:

• You get a chance to meet the vendors face to face in the process of planning your wedding, and have more interaction with them and can see their work/references. If you are planning a destination wedding, you might not necessarily get a lot of time alone with a vendor who is abroad.

• Having a familiar face in an unfamiliar setting lets you be more assured that everything will run smoothly. If you hire someone local that you hardly know, you might not have this feeling on your wedding day.

• Some local vendors actually might overcharge you if you are out of country. They might put extra unknown charges on you because they know you are in their area and might not have a choice. It is important to be wary of this.

• When it comes to services like photography and video, if you hire someone from your own area, you will get your items sooner. If you hire someone local, you run the risk of waiting longer to get these items, especially if you are out of the country

You should consider bringing your own vendors so you have a chance to know them better and can feel more at ease on your wedding day. Just because someone is local, does not necessarily mean they are the better choice for your events. Bringing vendors that you know well and trust will ensure that your destination wedding will be a success!

Tipping

Tipping

Tipping can be tricky especially when you are getting married. Most people don’t know how much to tip or when at their events. There are certain etiquettes that come from tipping and there are also things to look out for. When signing any contract, it is important to look out for hidden costs. You want to make sure to read all the fine print so that you fully understand how much you are paying before you sign. Some contracts will actually automatically put an included tip amount in their final cost, so you want to make sure you do not double tip on the wedding day.

Why do we tip?

1. Because it serves as a thank you for a job well done.
2. It's important to acknowledge that someone's service is appreciated.
3. Because just paying someone now is not enough. Most vendors EXPECT a tip even if it is nominal.

Having been to so many weddings over the years, I have learned the etiquette of tipping:

1. All tips should be given in cash.
2. All tips should be given out at the beginning of an event - Vendors will do a better job! Trust us.
3. It is best to put the tips in separate envelopes and keep some on hand in case any services come up unexpectedly.
4. It is wise to designate one person, usually the wedding planner, a trusted friend, or relative, to hand these out.

Who gets tipped:

1. It is vendors who provide any kind of service on the wedding day. For example, the limo driver should be tipped 10-15 percent of the total bill, the valet would be around $1.00 per car, the waiting staff would be about 15 percent of the total catering bill, the bartenders would be tipped 10 percent of the total liquor bill, the makeup/hair stylist would generally get a 15 percent tip, and the DJ would receive between $50-$100.
2. You should also tip vendors such as the Hotel Sales person, the banquet captain, and your personal bridal attendant.

Using these guidelines will help you on your big day and let your vendors know how much you appreciate the hard work that they do!

Naughty or Nice...To Vendors

As you plan your wedding you may start to get wrapped up in all the chaos, but remember never loose your ground. Vendors are there to guide and help you in the planning process, but there is a danger with being too nice or too naughty.

If you are too nice your vendor may take advantage of you and not be as forthright with you and feel they can do what they want regardless of your feelings or opinions. However, if you go to the opposite extreme and are too forceful and demanding, you may rub your vendors the wrong way. They may not be inclined to accommodate your needs and can be difficult to do business with.

The solution is a happy medium between the two. You want to be nice and friendly with your vendors but stand your ground and make your opinions heard. Remember to say thank you. A thank you can go a long way. Make sure your vision has been clearly communicated and is on paper with no mistakes. If you feel that the vendor is not listening or you don’t feel comfortable maybe that vendor is not for you. Remember, they are there to make your day spectacular and want to help.

Seasons for Weddings

As you may know, there is a season for weddings.  In each area of the country the season is different.  For example on the East coast, the peak wedding season is during the summer months May through September.  Whereas on the West coast, the wedding season is January through April during the winter when it’s cooler.  Can you image an outdoor wedding in Texas during the summer? 

Since there are different peak wedding timings around the country, you can use that to your advantage. You can hire vendors from different areas of the country for your wedding.  A photographer in New York during the summer will not only be difficult to find but also expensive.  Why not hire a photographer from Arizona or Texas during a summer wedding New York?  They will be more willing to negotiate on pricing since it’s off season for them.  Just remember to factor in travel expense for the vendors when you are negotiating with them since you will be covering their costs.

Hope this helps you with your budget when you’re planning your big day.