Journal New Forest Collection
Things To Consider When Choosing A Wedding Supplier

Choosing someone to support you and be part of one the biggest and most important days of your life can feel like quite a leap of faith.
You’ve perhaps already thought long and hard about which of your closest family and friends will be playing different roles for you in the run up to your wedding celebrations, and of course, during the big day itself.
Choosing people you may not know well yet to become part of the team that is tasked with bringing your wedding visions to life can seem like a daunting task.
However, breaking it all down into some simple, manageable steps and areas to consider will really help in making the whole process of choosing a wedding supplier that much easier for you.
We are proud to work with a trusted list of New Forest Collection Recommended Suppliers, so if you’d like a little more support from our wedding experts to help guide you in the right direction, just let us know.
Get clear
Top of the list when you’re planning your wedding is of course the budget. With this in mind, you’re able to prioritise and choose the suppliers that are most important to you.
You might feel that a wedding planner is a vital piece of your wedding puzzle, or you feel confident that you have the management skills to take on this aspect yourself. Will you book a live band at a certain cost, or invite your aspiring-DJ nephew to take to the decks with a carefully curated playlist? You might go bespoke with your catering, or you might have a family friend who is a whizz with a wedding cake and who might be delighted to offer their services as a gift to you both.
Start by making a list, and get clear where you want your wedding budget to go.
Check in
Something else you’ll be getting clear on right upfront is where you want your wedding to take place. Check in with your chosen venue to make sure that they are happy for you to bring in outside suppliers if that’s what you intend to do.
Some venues prefer you to use their own in-house team and so making sure that you’ll be able to have exactly what you want and who you want, right from the start of your planning, is crucial.
Do your research
Having made a list of the type of suppliers you want to work with, the fun begins. Doing your research is important, and ensures you end up with the right team for you.
You will have already come to some decisions at this stage around your wedding theme, style and decor inspirations, and it’s obviously a good idea to bring on board only those who are a good fit in terms of your particular taste.
You might have recommendations from friends or family to follow up, or have done an online search for suppliers in your local area. Check out websites, social media accounts and read testimonials of those who are specialists, with expertise in your chosen areas.
Is their website up-to-date and easy to navigate? Do the photos and images delight you? Have others been impressed by their services?
Tune in to those you are most drawn to and draw up a shortlist of your top three.
Make time to meet
Contact your favourites to arrange a meeting, either in person or online, so you can get a sense of the ‘real’ them. Do they answer your emails on time? How do they come across? This is also the time to ask to see a full portfolio of work if their website only covers highlights.
If you can, make time to see these people and their work in action. If it’s a band you like and are considering asking them to play at your evening reception, buy tickets to their next gig. Cake-makers and caterers will often do tastings, and wedding stationers and florists will often be happy to mock up samples for you for a nominal fee.
If you like what you experience so far, be clear with them about what you’re looking for, and be open with them about your budget. Ask to see examples of work they have done for others for a similar cost.
With all this in mind, it’s time to make your final choice. Signing a simple contract, where you pay a deposit for specified services, is legally binding and supports you going forward, with itemised invoices showing you exactly where your budget is being spent.
Don’t forget to let the others on your shortlist know that whilst you may have chosen to go elsewhere, you have appreciated their time and work.
Trust
As you begin to plan with your team of experts, remember that whilst they are there to respond to your wishes, it’s also good to trust them. Remember you’ve chosen them precisely because of their skills, and that they know what they’re doing.
Whilst everyone will understand you getting picky over certain details every now and again, you will all have an easier and more enjoyable time of it if your chosen vendors feel they have your confidence.
Letting go and allowing your carefully chosen wedding suppliers to show up for you in the best way they can is the perfect approach to have as they support you in bringing your wedding wishlist off the page and into reality.
Choosing the right wedding suppliers frees you up to focus on other important aspects of your planning and preparations, benefits you as they bring their uniquely creative magic into the mix, and ultimately ensures that your wedding day is everything you’ve ever dreamed of, and more.