7 Questions to Ask When Meeting Vendors

In the wedding business, this is what we call "booking season." While there are a few weddings to be worked, we mainly spend our time meeting with brides and grooms getting married later in the year or even next year. I have met with several couples so far and have noticed the lack of questions asked.

I think it's very valuable to know exactly who you're hiring. I try to tell my couples as much as I can so they can really understand the value in hiring me. In this day of Craig's List and Thumbtack, it's easy for very amateur vendors to book unknowing clients.

Here's a list of questions I wish I was being asked, and ones I try to answer even if I'm not asked. Even tough I'm a wedding planner, I think most of these can be asked of all vendors.

1. How long have you been doing this?

Many people started doing weddings on the side, before joining a company or starting one.

2. Are you the owner or employee of this company?

An owner who comes to the initial meeting is usually a small business owner and will usually give you the best deal.

3. How many employees do you employee?

Not having employees isn't a bad thing... it'll just help you understand the size of the company.

4. Will you be the person working at my wedding?

There have been many weddings I've worked where a couple works with person X for months leading up to the wedding, giving tons of details and getting to know them, only to have person Y who they've never met at their wedding and many of those details are lost.

5. What kind of disasters have you had to handle at weddings? How did you handle them?

This will give you a little piece of mind that any hiccup on your wedding day will be handled professionally.

6. Have you ever had an unhappy client? How did you handle that?

They may be hesitant to answer this, but a forthcoming answer will give you insight to their experience and professionalism.

7. Do you belong to any wedding networks or group of other personal in your category?

Not belonging to one isn't a bad thing, but these networks can be invaluable back up should anything happen to your vendor on the day of your wedding. It could also help you snag a deal for a vendor you haven't booked yet!