How did you find your Wedding Vendors?

Question

I am a photographer in Dallas, Texas and I am wondering how most of you brides out there have found your photographers and other key vendors. What sources were the most important to you? Which online and magazines/free publications did you trust more when looking at vendors? Thanks for the imput and good luck on your upcoming wedding!!!

I currently advertise on theknot.com, weddingchanel.com, pictage.com, wedplan.net

My site is lightlyphoto.com if you care to look at it and give me a critique

I am thinking of advertising in theknot local magazine when it comes out twice a year and doing bridal shows. Who sponsored the bridal shows you liked (newspaper?)

Answer 1

One of the most important things I wanted to do when I was planning my wedding was go to the Bridal Show they have every year. I think that was a good place to get contact info from wedding vendors. If you go, I would hand out pens or magnets with your name on it. Everyone gives out cards and they are easy to lose. You can also do a giveaway (maybe do one wedding for free but you get to use the pics in your advertising). Lots of potential brides who go to these things come with stickers that have their names, addresses and phone numbers already filled out so they can easily enter the tons of giveaways that take place there.

If you have a local Bridal store, like David's Bridal, I would see if they allow advertising in their store (bulletin boards? business cards left on counter?). Again, maybe advertise a giveaway or a percentage off for all of their customers.

A really good way I found a great photog (and reasonable too) was through Mary Kay. I was selling Mary Kay at the time and we had to go to weekly meetings. One of the events that was planned was a "glamour shots" night. The leader contracted with a photographer to take the photos (he set up in a back room with his equipment, lights, etc.). Then, in the front room, the leader and a couple of other women set up tables with makeup (they have plenty of this because they sell it) and helped make people up for their photos. They brought in feather boas and some sparkly jewelry people could wear for the photos. The photographer used soft lights or filters or whatever to make everyone look nice. The consultants (those of us that sold the product) were allowed to come for free, but for $10, we could bring another person with us. Some chose to bring daughters, etc, but some brought potential clients. It helped the consultants but it also helped the photographer.

In a couple of weeks, we got our photos from that night (he gave them to the leader and she sorted them out and handed them out at the meeting).

They came with his name and phone number on the back. I think it would have been best if he had given out price lists with his contact info. The women selling Mary Kay often come into contact with potential brides. They also see daughters getting ready to graduate, etc... Lots of potential for a photographer.

If I were you, I'd go to the Mary Kay website and search for a consultant in your area (www.marykay.com and enter your zip code). They only put top sellers on the website. Then, contact the consultant and tell her that you are interested in setting up a glamour night. Ask her who leads the meetings in her area. I can't remember what they call the managers (it's bee a couple of years since I sold). Offer the consultant and any of her customers 15% off a wedding photography package for helping you. Then, get in touch with the manager and see if you can set this up. If so, promise everyone who comes to you for wedding photography as a result of this contact 10% off services. :) Have special cards printed up (at someplace like vistaprint.com) that have a special CODE on them that people can use. Take these cards (you can get 250 or 500 really cheap online) with you to the glamour night and let consultants take them with them to hand out to customers.

Hope that helps! :) Good luck! :)

Answer 2

I shopped around a lot, looked at theknot.com and weddingchannel.com, and attended a bridal show. Some vendors were referrals or word of mouth, but I did find my hair/makeup place on the knot. I did contact some of the photographers on theknot, but the one I actually used I found via an email I received, I think they were affiliated with perfect wedding guide? I also would recommend getting on preferred vendor lists for reception sites or with caterers.

Answer 3

You can use personal celebration and get bigger outcome than anniversary celebration. When you boil it down what's a reception? Its a gigantic celebration to have fun you getting married. There is a call for participation record this means that it is personal so you're wholly telling the reality. If you declare it is an anniversary celebration however it is the marriage ceremony then you're mendacity. This is a absolutely first-rate tactic with one exception: The photographer. Shooting a fundraiser and capturing a marriage ceremony require 2 absolutely diff. ability units so that you wish to make certain you get a photographer who does WEDDINGS. Otherwise in relation to matters like meals, plants, and chairs...its the entire equal irrespective of the role. The factor approximately "marriage ceremony" or "anniversary" is the seller is aware of that is most probably a one time deal. Sure they will get a few phrase of mouth refrences, however total they do not have any motiviation so that you can come again once more so that they could as good make their earnings now. The thing more is that they KNOW the emtional attatchment to such milestones and that couples are bombarded with crap like "It's valued at it! You are making an investment on your reminiscences!" and so they use that as a tug. The additionally assume for the couples to be so bombarded with main points they are going to simply shrug and take delivery of the fee due to the fact "weddings are highly-priced". There is not any authorized rationale why you must inform them it is for a marriage ceremony.

Answer 4

You should utilize personal celebration and get better outcome than anniversary occasion. Whilst you boil it down what's a reception? Its a massive celebration to rejoice you getting married. There's an invite record which means it is confidential so you might be fully telling the truth. For those who claim it's an anniversary celebration however it's the wedding then you might be lying. This is a utterly first-class tactic with one exception: The photographer. Taking pictures a fundraiser and taking pictures a marriage ceremony require two totally diff. Talent sets so you wish to have to ensure you get a photographer who does WEDDINGS. In any other case in relation to things like food, vegetation, and chairs...Its all the same regardless of the function. The object about "marriage ceremony" or "anniversary" is the seller is aware of that is likely a one time deal. Sure they'll get some word of mouth refrences, however total they wouldn't have any motiviation so that you can come back again so that they could as well make their profits now. The opposite thing is they recognize the emtional attatchment to such milestones and that couples are bombarded with crap like "it can be valued at it! You're investing in your reminiscences!" and so they use that as a tug. The additionally assume for the couples to be so bombarded with small print they're going to just shrug and accept the fee for the reason that "weddings are highly-priced". There's no legal rationale why you have to inform them it's for a marriage ceremony.

Answer 5

I used theknot.com and weddingchannel.com as websites. I also got information at local bridal shows. I also asked around to people I know who have recently gotten married. Ultimately I believe I found my photographer on weddingchannel.com

Answer 6

Word of mouth was most important to me. As far as online or magazines, I use theknot.com and a friend got me subscriptions to Modern Bride and Brides. Also, many reception sites have lists of vendors that they have worked with and trust.

Answer 7

The Knot

Outer Banks Wedding Association website

Answer 8

Word of mouth is not only the cheapest form of advertisement, but its also the best referrals I've used thus far. Maybe you could have something where you let your brides know if they refer a friend you'll give them a free 8x10 from their wedding shots??

Answer 9

i really used theknot.com a lot but mostly i went off of referrals. i always find it more comforting to have someone i know tell me it's a good vendor!

Answer 10

I'm getting married in Vegas and my photographer comes through the hotel, sorry. My biggest choice was the hotel - and that was heavily influenced by their website - http://www.mandalaybay.com/thingstodo/Weddings.aspx