I’ve heard it said that wedding planners are only as good as their network of wedding vendors. It’s pretty true! Without other polished professionals working with you on your weddings, it would be almost impossible to successfully pull off a big event.
Today I answer a question about finding vendors so you can start building your fabulous network of wedding professionals.
Question
I’m just starting out and I need wedding vendors to work with. Where do I find them?
Answer
One of your most valuable assets will be your network of wedding vendors. You need to find vendors who are responsible and show up when scheduled, have the proper licenses and permits to be in business, are skilled at what they do, are customer focused and are professionals whom you can trust and can work with easily.
Here are 5 places to find vendors:
1) Wedding and bridal fairs will give you an opportunity to meet many vendors and learn what they might offer to brides in your niche. Introduce yourself to them at the fairs and arrange to have coffee at a later date to get to know each other. (Please do not monopolize their time in a booth when they are trying to meet brides.)
2) Venues, caterers and bakers often offer days in which they invite planners and potential clients to tour their facilities and taste their foods. Check to see when this is offered by vendors who sell the types of services your brides would want.
3) Chambers of commerce and convention and visitors bureaus have members who host networking events to showcase their venues, catering, and decor. When you attend, you will get a first hand look at their skills.
4) Once you have a few vendors in your network, ask them to recommend other types of vendors. Experienced wedding vendors have worked with many other professionals and know good ones in your area.
5) Your local bridal magazines feature vendors in your area in their articles. If you like the type of work they do, contact them and ask if they would be willing to talk to you about working with you and your brides.
Understand that you will need to show vendors that you are a professional who would be easy to work with and whose work is worthy of their referrals. Arrive at your meetings on time, wear business attire, speak well of others, show respect for the work that they do, and be prepared to share your portfolio so they can learn about your work.
And if you have a pressing question about starting or running your wedding planning business, you can send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer them on this blog or in my ezine, “Wedding Planner Tips,” which you can subscribe to here.
