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What To Do After Booking Your Wedding Photographer


For those planning your own wedding for the first time, or even if you’re working with an experienced wedding planner, you may feel confused about what to do after you’ve booked your venue and photographer. Traditionally, the venue and photographer are the most competitive vendors to secure for your wedding day because they can also secure your wedding date or are highly sought after.


Once those two vendors are secured with contracts and retainers, you may be asking yourself, “what should I do next?”


Depending on who you ask, you’ll receive a spectrum of different answers. Some encourage you to book your florist next or say the DJ should be booked as soon as possible.


Because every couple and every wedding day is unique, I’ll answer your question with a question.


If you ask me, “what should I do after booking my photographer,” I would ask you, “What’s next most important to you about your wedding day?”


For some couples, booking the hair and makeup stylist who did your sister’s wedding who you loved is next most important to you. For other couples, securing the bakery they’ve had their eye on is the next most important element of your wedding day.


Each couple is different, so talk with your fiancee about what’s (and in some cases who) is most important to you to book next. Sometimes, you may be interviewing and talking with multiple vendors from different services at the same time, and if you can manage all of that without adding stress to your life, more power to you!


If you and your fiancee can’t quite decide what’s the next most important wedding day element to research and start booking, ask a trusted family member or friend to help you with the next steps.


To help you in your planning process, I have a wedding day vendors checklist for you, so you won’t miss any vendors and services to consider. I’d highly recommend ranking each service in importance to you and your specific wedding day experience. After you’ve ranked your wedding vendors by importance to you (1 being most important, 2 being second most important, and so on), just work your way down your checklist until all of your major wedding vendors are secured for your wedding day.


If you’re working with a wedding planner, be sure to share your list of priority vendors with him or her, so you can all be working toward the same goal-- securing your dream wedding experience!


You can download your FREE wedding vendors checklist here:

WeddingVendorsChecklist
.pdf
Download PDF • 51KB

Booking your wedding vendors based on how YOU prioritize which are most important to you will help you gain confidence that your wedding day will include all of the experiences, visuals and professional services that are important to YOU.


To help you get started, here’s a list of wedding vendors and services you can consider including for your wedding day:

  • Bakery

  • Band or DJ

  • Caterer

  • Ceremony venue or church

  • Cocktail hour entertainment/photo booth

  • Dress alterations

  • Florist

  • Hair and makeup stylist

  • Honeymoon destination

  • Hotel accommodations

  • Invitation and paper goods designer/provider

  • Jeweler (for your wedding rings)

  • Officiant

  • Photographer

  • Reception venue

  • Rehearsal dinner location

  • Suit or tux designer/shop

  • Table linens/decorations

  • Transportation/party bus

  • Videographer

  • Wedding gown designer/shop

  • Wedding planner


Don’t forget to download your free wedding vendors checklist to help you prioritize what’s most important to you about your wedding day experience!

WeddingVendorsChecklist
.pdf
Download PDF • 51KB



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