Congrats, You’re newly engaged!! How awesome is it now that you’re about to begin a new chapter in your life with that special someone?! If you’re like most people, there’s a brief moment of pure joy and excitement, then suddenly, millions of ideas come to mind. Some choose to hire professionals to do all the dirty work of speaking with different vendors and narrowing down the selections.
But if you’re more hands on, and know what you like, then it can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help you when picking not only your photographer, but any vendor!
1) In our experience, one of the biggest obstacles in planning is a lack of information. Most people don’t know where to start! I mean, you’ve most likely never done this before and there are many things to consider. Our best advice is to take a day out, relax on the couch, and sift through a number of wedding websites to see real weddings. This not only will give you inspiration, but will give you an idea of what you like and don’t like, making it much easier when it comes down to selecting your vendors!
2) After getting an idea of what you like, now it’s time to set a realistic budget. It’s important to know that wedding expenses can add up quickly, but just like anything else, you get what you pay for. Whenever someone ask us about budget, me and Tara always go back to our own wedding day story. We decided to be cheap on certain areas, such as photography, and it absolutley showed in our end result. We ended up with only about 150 images, most of which were out of focus and dark.
At the time it seemed like a smart idea to cut cost, but if we could go back in time, we would spend the extra money with no hesitation! Why? Because it can never be re-done. There’s only a handful things in life that will be as memorable and momentous as your wedding day, so keep that in mind when setting the budget.
3) Once you’ve found someone you’re interested in, set up a phone, zoom, or in person meeting. Admiring someone’s work is one thing, but making sure that you know who you’re hiring and that they fit your personality is important. Wedding days require so much more than just technical skills. Communication is a large part of what we do, and you need to make sure that you and your photographer, DJ, or coordinator can communicate with no issues!
These are just a few helpful tips that will go a long way when it comes time to start planning your special day. There are countless other helpful resources, but utilizing these steps will most definitely aid you in the process! We’d love to answer any other questions you might have. Send us a message for any more helpful information! (PS: Below are some of our preferred vendors we’ve worked with in the past)
Wedding Gown: Studio I do Bridal
Make up: Beauty By Tiffany
Venue: Woman’s Club of Portsmouth
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