how to choose wedding vendors Archives

Jessica’s Southern Wedding: Choosing a Wedding Photographer

by Emily in SW Weddings on July 20, 2015

Hi belles! Our friend and former Southern Weddings intern Jessica Clinch is the newest gal to take you through her wedding process here on the blog! Jessica will be blogging for us once a month until her wedding next May. In case you missed her introductory post, be sure to check it out here! — Emily

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There are about a million and one things to decide when planning a wedding. There are details and vendors that will enhance our wedding day, from music to food to flowers. And, there are vendors who will absolutely enhance our wedding day, but will also provide us with something to cherish days and years after our wedding, including our videographer and photographer.

Choosing a wedding photographer is a challenging task! There are so many incredibly talented photographers in the wedding industry, especially here in the South. Zack and I had to think long and hard about the qualities we want in our photographer. Hopefully the questions we considered below will be helpful to you if you are deciding between photographers, as well!

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What style are we most drawn to, and what details stand out to us? The detail in a photographer that helped us narrow down our search dramatically was their photography style. There are a variety of photography styles, including classic portraiture style, documentary style, fine art photography style, and more. I have always been most drawn to the fine art style, and photographers who are able to capture all of the important and beautiful details of a wedding, but told from their unique creative eye. I adore the beauty and the process of film photography, and knew that was something special I wanted for our big day.

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While looking through pictures from some of our favorite photographers, there were certain details that we looked for style-wise. One of the factors that was extremely important to us was the photographer’s ability to capture the details in white items clearly and crisply. I absolutely adore my wedding gown, and we wanted to know that our photographer would be able to truly showcase all of the gorgeous and intricate parts of the dress. We also knew we were more drawn to photography that has a light and airy quality, while still capturing the crisp details — a fine balance. And, we knew we preferred photos that have more of a blue undertone to them as opposed to really golden-toned photography. All of these style factors really helped us to narrow down our photographer options!

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How comfortable will we be with our photographer? This question was a big one for us! We couldn’t determine this until actually meeting with a few photographers in person or over the phone, but feeling comfortable with our photographer is crucial! They will be the person who is with us during the most intimate moments of the best day of our lives. Being photographed can be awkward, so having someone who is really able to make us relax and enjoy ourselves will be very important!

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How do they interact with our other vendors and guests? In the same sense, we really want a photographer who will be a joy to the other vendors on our wedding day: someone who will be respectful of our venue, who will work side-by-side with our planners, and who will get along wonderfully with our videographers. And, a photographer who will also know how to manage our bridal party and family members in a professional yet fun way!

So, which photographer did we choose? We are over the moon excited to say that we are working with the lovely Perry Vaile!! Perry fits all of the stylistic and personal details we desired. Her ability to capture images in a truly creative, artistic, unique manner is breathtaking. Each time she shares a new photo, I get so giddy to know that she will be bringing that same beauty to our wedding day! Her incredibly fun and bubbly personality was the icing on top of the cake. When we had our initial phone call with her, it felt like talking to a new best friend. You can tell how much she really values each of her clients, which is oh so special.

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The funniest thing? I had seen Perry’s work previously, but hadn’t considered her originally as an option for our photographer since she lives in North Carolina. When Becca reached out to us recommending her, and saying that she would love to work with us, we were overjoyed! I would highly recommend not only looking in your city for a photographer, but also surrounding cities and possibly even surrounding states. We couldn’t be happier, and can’t wait for our engagement session with her that we are currently planning!

In case you missed a post…
The proposal
Choosing a wedding planner

Written with love by Emily

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Ask SW: How Do I Find Vendors?

by Emily in Expert Advice on April 23, 2015

For many of us, planning a wedding is the first time we’ve had to hire someone – maybe ever, and almost certainly for something creative! It can feel like a lot of pressure to get it right, because your wedding vendors are the folks who will transform your big, precious ideas into a celebration that can be enjoyed by the people you love most. We’ve got a whole roster of vendors we love for browsing, but today we’re taking it one step further and really breaking down the question “how do I find vendors for my wedding?”

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Use your network. Naturally, some of the best recommendations come from people you trust. Loved the flowers at your best friend’s wedding? Ask her who she used. And remember, negative reviews can be just as helpful as positive ones!

Ask your vendors. Found a vendor you 100% click with? Ask him for other vendor recommendations. Photographers and planners, especially, work with countless vendors every weekend and can have great insight into the best options in your area.

Look to blogs and magazines. Wedding blogs and magazines can be a wealth of vendor leads, in a number of different ways. Search for real wedding or editorials that took place in your area and follow up with anyone whose work you love. Check to see if they have a vendor directory, usually a hand-picked selection of vendors that have been vetted in some way (ours is called the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory). And don’t forget print and online advertisements – if you love a publication, chances are you’ll love the vendors that care enough to advertise with them.

There’s a common belief that vendors and venues charge more for the same services as soon as the word “wedding” is mentioned. Surprise! That’s probably true – but for good reason. A once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding comes with an entirely different set of expectations, pressure, time spent planning, service, and creativity than your average cocktail or bridal party, and a higher price often reflects that. Though it can be hard to justify the expense on the front end of a wedding, talented vendors are worth every penny in the end!

I’d love to hear: how did you find your vendors? Who are your favorites?

We’ll be sharing a quick and simple piece of wedding planning advice based on our most frequently asked questions once a week! Feel free to email us with your own question, or pick up a copy of the Southern Weddings Planner (available in the Southern Weddings Shop!) for all of our best resources in one place!

Written with love by Emily