Unless you’re having an ultra low-key wedding, you’ll likely need to hire some professionals to help with your special day. This team of professionals (often referred to as ‘vendors’) need to be carefully selected depending on your budget, time frame and preferences.
Below are 20 of the most common vendors that couples hire for weddings, what they do and how to select the right one.
Officiant
The wedding officiant is the most important vendor at your wedding. They are in charge of leading the ceremony and in some cases making sure that the marriage is certified. You can hire a religious officiant (such as a priest or imam) or a secular officiant (usually a registrar appointed by a local council). You can alternatively hire a celebrant to lead the ceremony. Such professionals can take you through the whole ceremony at any venue in any style you want – however they cannot legally certify the marriage, so you’ll often have to hold a separate ceremony after in a registry office. This post on hiring a wedding officiant explains more.
Caterers
Caterers are in charge of preparing and serving all food (except the cake) on the day. Some venues have in-house caterers, while others require you to outsource caterers. When hiring caterers, it’s important to consider the type of food you want at your wedding and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Buffet-style catering can often be cheaper than a sit-down meal, but may be too informal for some couples.
Cake supplier
Who will bake your wedding cake? While you may know a friend who can bake cakes, most couples choose to hire a specialist with experience baking wedding cakes. Wedding fairs can be great places to find cake suppliers because you have the option of trying cake samples.
Photographer
When it comes to recording memories of your special day, it’s often worth hiring a professional photographer. They will be able to take gorgeous photos throughout the day – including natural photos and staged photos. To find the best photographer, compare portfolios online.
Videographer
It’s becoming more popular for couples to also hire videographers. These professionals can take video footage of your special day to capture the best moments in motion. Some videographers will have drones as well as regular cameras. As with a photographer, the best way to choose a wedding videographer is to compare video examples online.
DJ
Most couples hire a DJ to handle the music at the wedding reception. A good DJ should have plenty of experience in weddings and should be able to cater to your preferred music style. Some DJs are able to play outdoor venues, while others are not.
Live musicians
You could alternatively hire a live solo musician or band to play at your reception. This could bring a different energy to your wedding, and may be preferable for certain styles of music. Live musicians can also be hired to perform during the ceremony.
Chauffeur
How will you get to the venue? And who will drive you? While some brides and grooms are happy to be driven by a friend or family member, others hire a chauffeur to drive them. Chauffeurs often supply their own wedding car. Some even have a fleet of cars to choose from. Think about which type of vehicle you’d like to arrive in (a classic car? A limo?) and find a chauffeur who can drive this vehicle for you.
Decorators
While some wedding venues are able to take care of decorations for you, most venues require you to outsource decorators. When choosing a decorating company, think about the types of decorations that you want. Many companies will offer packages, while others will allow you to completely customise your wedding.
Florist
Flowers are something that is provided by many wedding decorating companies. However, you may prefer to hire a separate florist if you have specific requests regarding flowers. A good florist will be able to provide you with all flowers including bouquets, buttonholes and decorational flowers.
Hair stylist
Most brides hire a professional hair stylist to do their hair the morning before the special day. This needs to be a hair stylist that can do bridal hairstyles for your hair type. Take a look at photos online and compare prices to find the perfect hair stylist.
Make-up artist
A lot of brides will also hire make-up artist. As with a hair stylist, you may want to hire a makeup artist who has experience with bridal make-up. Some bridal salon services may be able to supply you with a hair stylist and a make-up artist.
Tailor/seamstress
When it comes to wedding dresses and suits, you’ll likely want to hire a professional who can a) supply you with a dress/suit, and b) custom-make any parts or make adjustments. You may find a professional who can provide both services, or you may have to hire two separate professionals. When it comes to making adjustments, make sure to hire someone who is highly rated.
Stationery supplier
Is there any custom stationery that you need to produce for your special day? This could include wedding invites, menus, orders of service and custom guestbooks. A specialist stationery supplier can produce all this stationery for you. Some of these suppliers have websites where you can design invites and orders of service yourself, handling only the printing.
Photobooth supplier
Photo booths are becoming increasingly popular at weddings. These allow guests to take their own photos to print off there and then. These could be for guests to take home or they could be to stick into a guestbook.
Magician
Another type of entertainment to consider could be live magic. Magicians can perform card tricks and other forms of magic to guests throughout the day. Look for a highly rated magician online.
Games supplier
You could also consider having some games at your wedding such as ring toss, corhole, jenga, croquet and giant connect four. These games can be great for entertaining kids and adults alike. Some game suppliers offer packages that include multiple games.
Fireworks operator
A fireworks display company could help to end your wedding night with a bang! They will be able to supply fireworks and arrange a display to your preferences. Just be wary that not all venues may allow fireworks.
Children’s entertainer
Got lots of kids at your wedding? Hiring a children’s entertainer could help to keep them occupied. This could be a kid’s magician or a games supplier, or it could be someone who can do face painting or even do craft activities with kids.
Wedding planner
If rounding up all these people sounds like a lot of work, why not hire a wedding planner? These professionals can help assemble a team for you and guide you through each detail. You can compare wedding planner rates and reviews online.
*This is a collaborative post
