Photo Credit: Instagram @akintayotimi
If you are planning any type of wedding or serious event, chances are that you will want to hire experienced and knowledgeable vendors. Here’s a guideline to securing wedding vendors for your wedding:
Wedding Planner:
A wedding planner should be the first vendor you hire at least eight to twelve months before your wedding if you are hiring for full services. A day coordinator could be hired five to six months before your wedding to keep up-to-date with activities but probably won’t be used fully till a month before your wedding.
Makeup Artist:
Booking times vary for makeup artists. If your wedding is during a busy season like Christmas then you want to book at least six months in advance for a brand name makeup artist and three to two months ahead for other makeup artists.
Florist:
If you are using real flowers, booking a florist on time is very important to get an idea of how many centerpieces to use provided that you have booked your venue. Eight months before the wedding is a decent time to source all the flowers that you need for decorations and bouquet arrangements.
Hair Stylist:
It’s a wise decision to try your hairstylist out a few times before the wedding (and even the style) just so there are no surprises on your wedding morning. A healthy relationship with your hairstylist could blossom from 6 months before your wedding taking into consideration your hair type and required treatments.
Wedding Transportation:
A month before the wedding is a good time to book because you will have ascertained the number of people you would like to cater for, including you and your new spouse.
Officiating Minister:
This vendor should only be booked if you are not getting married in a place of worship (for example, church or mosque) and you choose a neutral venue like the beach or a garden in your home city or at a special destination. An officiating minister could be booked nine to twelve months ahead of your wedding.
Photographer/Videographer:
Popular photographers and videographers can be booked up to a year in advance so that you are sure they are available on your wedding date at a reasonable rate. For smaller events and younger vendors in this section of the industry, a booking can also be taken three to six months in advance.
Learn from other people’s experiences and be proactive in booking the best vendors for your big day!