Straight Up Advice

  • Get things in writing- no matter what it is.
  • Most venues have contracts with other businesses, whether it be caterers, photographers, florists, etc. Before you book a venue, check this first.
  • Never trust just one answer or opinion. I visited a florist for my wedding who kept wanting to put peonies in all my bouquets and arrangements for my wedding that will be in March. I was indifferent to be honest so I went along with it. After a $6,000 estimated cost of flowers (for a 50 person wedding) I found out from a different florist that peonies aren't even in season in March.
  • Businesses will try to make every dime they can off of you just because it is your wedding and they expect you to pay whatever amount....don't! You can find cheaper ways to do things.
  • Never go in to an appointment unprepared. If they see that you don't look like you know anything about their business (for example flowers, costs of flowers, etc) they will use that against you if they are not good business people.
  • Silk flowers are not always cheaper than fresh flowers
  • If you are really on a budget, and looking for local businesses (bakers, florists, etc), if they don't have a website.....don't make an appointment. I made the mistake of Googling for wedding cake bakers in the area of my wedding site.... the "business" was run out of her filthy trashy home that smelled like cat urine and her house was located in the hood of Dallas, Texas. 
  • Read reviews about your vendors online, but don't decide against them because of one bad review. Everyone makes mistakes and most people are likely to leave reviews if they are "angry" with their service rather than pleased. But do take in to account if there are 10 bad reviews that have the same problem and there are no good reviews.
  • No matter how much time you have...you can't try to have unrealistic expectations. Not everyone is going to be happy (whether it be the location, date, time of thew wedding, who your bridesmaids are, etc). The important thing is that you remain happy but not bridezilla either. You can't afford to lose your friends due to your expectations of your bridesmaids and/or family.