What Vendor do you hire first?

There are many myths in the wedding business. One that I’d like to address today is the notion that there is a particular order that you need to hire vendors in.

The first thing you do need to do is choose the date of your planned wedding. While you’re at it. Choose two or three dates that you’re interested in.

And then…you don’t have to book the venue first. You choose the person / service / product that is most important to you. Is it a custom made wedding gown that takes over a year to get? Call that designer. Is it the DJ that you saw at another party that you really want to keep your party going all night? Email him first. Venue is important, because without a space, you can’t have a party, but if that’s not THE most important thing to you, then move on from that task.

You could always hire a wedding planner to do all of this for you, if that’s in your budget. But if you’re doing it alone, choose the vendor that’s the most important first, then work your way down the list. The reality is, one vendor will be hired before anyone else, that’s just how it goes, so start there, then base the rest of your list of services around that persons availability.

Some people see my work and book me long before they have a venue - because the wedding is going to take place, regardless of the venue. And some couples book me after the venue or the planner.

I like to get booked out anywhere from three months to ten months in advance. Years ago, I used to actively book as far out as two years in advance, but now I try to keep all bookings within the same year.