Brittani, of Britt Croft Photography, is back, and this time, the bride-to-be is giving us some fabulous tips to keep in mind when picking your Lowcountry vendors…

Hey ALW readers! I’m back again, this time spilling on some of our vendor choices. Hiring quality vendors is SO important. You really want to work with people that truly care about how important this day is in your life and respect and appreciate your business and budget.

Image via Katelyn James

When choosing vendors…

- Don’t be afraid to meet with a few different vendors in each category that you are looking for. I felt kind of bad about doing this…like I was sneaky and price shopping. But as a bride, it’s your prerogative to ensure you’re finding the best fit for you. Just be honest if anyone asks, and make sure you are polite and kind about it. I knew what kind of food we wanted for our wedding (good ‘ole down home country cooking!), so I inquired with three or four caterers in the beginning. Surprisingly enough, one got back to me immediately, two took weeks to get back to me, and one never did. Obviously that says a lot, and if I had only inquired with one and thought that was the normal wait time for inquiries, I may have hired a company that wouldn’t pay my wedding food much attention. Regardless, it’s always good to meet with several different options to get a feel for who will be a best fit for your type of wedding, your personality, and your budget.

Image via Kathleen Amelia Photographer

- Try to meet in person. Getting a feel for someone in person can be totally different over email or the phone. How do they dress? Are they timely? Are they polite? Do they come prepared and organized? Are they enthusiastic or overbearing? These things may seem silly, but they say a lot about how this person will be on the day of your wedding. Will they be presentable and professional? On time and polite to your guests? This is hugely important!

- Ask to see examples of their work, reviews from past brides, or a taste test. This may seem like common sense, but its crazy how many brides skip on the little things. Tasting the food beforehand or hearing about what past brides felt about the planner you are sitting down with can make a big difference in how your wedding day flows.

Image via Kathleen Amelia Photogrpaher

- Who have your friends used? Ask around to your married friends and find out what vendors they used and loved or wouldn’t recommend. What’s better than hearing it straight from someone who has experienced a service previously?

Image via Paige Winn Photo

So who have we chosen to work with for our wedding? Remember are getting married at The Pavilion at Pepper Plantation, so almost all of our vendors are located in the greater Charleston area.

Image via Britt Croft

- Photographer: Katelyn James, Richmond, VA

- Caterer: The Crazy Dutchman, Charleston

- Florist: WildFlowers, Inc., Summerville

- Cake and Cupcakes: Publix in Mt. Pleasant (Don’t judge – I will be writing more about this later!)

- Rentals: Group Dynamics, Charleston

- Hair and Makeup: Bellezza Salon & Spa, Charleston

- DJ: The Party Music, Roy Palmgren, Charleston

Who have you chosen to work with for your big day? What were some of your challenges choosing or finding vendors that fit your vision? Leave a comment and let me know – I’d love to hear!