Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #159: Insider Tips on Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors
Selecting the ideal wedding vendors is NOT easy. Uncover the secrets to choosing your “Ideal Wedding Vendors”.
The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast
Recognized as one of the Top 60 Wedding Planning Podcasts by Millionpodcasts.com
Meet Sal and Sam, your hosts for The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast. Additionally, this podcast is for engaged couples who feel overwhelmed with wedding planning and family expectations but want a memorable and fun wedding day.
Join us in the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook group
Sal and Sam are your hosts, two professional DJs with over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and thousands of happy couples. Furthermore, they’ll guide you through planning your wedding. As a result, taking you from concern and being overwhelmed, they’ll take you to a memorable, fun, and stress-free wedding.
Also, listen for engaging interviews from event professionals and insightful topics.
In This Edition
Firstly, we discuss how to transform your wedding planning process from chaos to calm by selecting your ideal wedding vendors.
Most importantly, learn about common challenges such as unreliable vendors and emphasize the importance of vetting through questions about experience, backup plans, and emergency handling.
In addition, the significance of trusting your instincts and building a ‘dream team’ of vendors who can ensure a smooth and memorable wedding day.
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Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast #159: Insider Tips on Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors
Host: Sal & Sam
Music: “Sam’s Tune” by Rick Anthony
Join our community for free tips and suggestions – Stress-free Wedding Planning Community
Produced by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England
Transcript
Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors
DJ Sal Fusco: Today’s edition is a game changer. From Stress to Success. Insider Tips on Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors. If you’re overwhelmed with choices or worried about hiring someone who won’t deliver, this is the edition for you. We’ve seen it all vendors who ghost, show up late or just don’t get your vibe. But we’ve also seen the dream team that make your day so unforgettable. So how do you make sure you’re picking the right ones? A great question. And here’s another one. Should you just go with the cheapest option, or is that a trap? And what are the red flags most couples don’t see until it’s too late. Were digging into all that today. We’re also going to talk about DJs, photographers to florist and caterers. We’ll walk you through exactly what to ask and what to look for and how to trust your gut and the facts. Thanks for [00:01:00] joining us. Hi, I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England. We’ll answer these questions and more in today’s edition of the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast.
Sylvester: Welcome to another edition of our podcast. Hi there, I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions. Thanks for joining us today. Allow us to help you from Stress To Success, Insider Tips On Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors. With today’s wedding insider secrets, you’ll have a stress-free, fun and memorable day. Our podcast helps engage couples navigate wedding planning complexities while addressing family expectations. We’ll guide you through the journey of creating the perfect wedding day without unnecessary stress. By the end of this edition, you’ll get concise tips on budgeting, wedding party management, ceremony, reception planning, and more. Perfect for anyone planning a wedding all in 30 minutes or less. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this.
JR: Welcome to [00:02:00] Stress-free Wedding Planning, the podcast that will transform your wedding planning journey from chaotic to enchanting. Sal and Sam bring over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and exclusive insider information to the table. If you’re recently engaged, feeling the pressure of wedding planning, struggling with family expectations, but still dreaming of a joy filled wedding. You’ve come to the right place. Get ready to unveil the best kept wedding secrets. Discover practical tips and strategies and learn life changing lessons for a Stress-free wedding. Your unforgettable wedding day awaits.
We’re here to take you on a transformative journey of love, laughter, and memories, so don’t miss out on the podcast. That just might change your life. This is the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam.
DJ Sal Fusco: On today’s podcast, we’ll explain how to go from Stress To Success, Insider Tips On Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors. I’m Sal of After Hours Events Of New England, the experts in creating a stress-free unforgettable wedding experience. We bring energy, [00:03:00] professionalism, and a passion to making every couple’s big day truly special. Visit us at After Hours Events Of N.E dot com. Again, that’s After Hours Events of N.E dot com. Learn more about our experience and journey to help you with stress-free wedding planning in the trailer or pilot of this podcast.
Sylvester: Listen to this edition. I guarantee it’s gonna help you. Look, this isn’t something that you do every day, but we do, we do this every single day. Help and guidance from two guys who’ve been in the business for a combined 80 years is gonna be helpful.
I’m Sam from the Award-Winning Atmosphere Productions. Wedding entertainment with expert knowledge and the difference in quality. Specializing in live ceremony musicians and cocktail hour string musicians, plus lighting, and an elegant and classy presentation. We have exactly what you need. Visit us at Atmosphere hyphen Productions dot com. That’s Atmosphere [00:04:00] hyphen Productions dot com.
DJ Sal Fusco: Well, let’s get started with the basics. You can’t just go on Google and book. Anyone can have a pretty website. Dig deeper. Ask for recent reviews. Look how long they’ve been in the industry. Are they insured? This is something that’s very important because if they’re not insured and something could happen at the facility, guess who’s responsible? You are, ’cause you’re the one who signed the contract with the facility. So please make sure you’re DJ, your photographer, your florist, all these companies have proper insurance and get proof of it. Don’t just trust them at their word. Also, do they have backup plans? What are those backup plans? I know as a DJ company we have backup staff just in case something should go wrong. They can hop into the vehicle, get to the event, and make things happen no matter what. Backup equipment always on the premises. So if something should happen for any reason, it’s ready to go. It’s just something that’s quick and makes things keep rolling, [00:05:00] and you don’t have to stress about anything. Everything is under control.
Now, a true pro has a process on how to deliver this information to you properly so you properly understand and that you could feel very comfortable with them. So you don’t want someone who’s just trying to sell you. If you’re talking to someone who’s just talking about sales, sales, sales, it’s probably a red flag and it’s time to go somewhere else.
You need to see how they’re going to listen to you and how they can make your vision come alive for you.
Now, here’s a pro Tip. Pay attention to how they communicate. If it takes them days to get back to you imagine what it’s gonna be like two weeks before your wedding. You don’t wanna have to worry about things like that.
Sylvester: Just a reminder, join us on our YouTube channel. Just search for the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Like, comment, subscribe, and get it first.
Now, here’s some questions that you should be asking. There’s four key questions I’m gonna go over. How many weddings have you done this year?
What’s your backup plan if you get sick or can’t [00:06:00] make it? What’s included? What’s the extra cost? How can you handle emergencies and unexpected timeline changes?
So let’s break that down. How many weddings have you done? Why is it important to ask this question? Because you want to be able to judge how professional they are. If they know what they’re doing, and if they have any experience. If they’ve only done one wedding this year, be very cautious. Look back on their social media, see how much stuff that they’re posting, that’ll give you a good gauge of how many weddings that particular vendor has done.
What’s their backup plan? If somebody gets sick or they can’t make it? Well, I and Sal have different backup procedures that we have, either in company or with other companies.
So you need to know that vendor’s backup plan. What happens if the photographer gets sick or can’t make it? What happens if the cake person gets sick or can’t make it. The video? You have to ask all these [00:07:00] vendors and more what they’re going to do in an emergency. You have to ask these vendors what’s their backup plan and get that concisely, so that you understand it.
What’s included and what extra costs are. You need to know that because you want to have a concise budget that you want to fix to that particular vendor. So having wishy-washy pricing. Be very careful. That’s a big red flag. They should be able to put everything down in a contract so that you can see precisely how your budget’s gonna be hit by this particular vendor. That’s very important.
How do you handle emergencies or unexpected timeline changes. Emergencies come up. Nobody’s perfect. If something goes wrong or there’s some sort of emergency, you need to know how that particular vendor’s going to handle it. And, what about the timeline changes? If they’re early, if they’re late, [00:08:00] if everything is running on time, you need to know what is their timeline? What are they going to do, what’s next?
Now, don’t be so locked in on the timing, you know, 6 23 and then 6 25. Some of that is not gonna make any difference because on the day, nothing goes on time. But you want to know what they’re going to do next. So, what unexpected timeline changes are you going to be used to? What are you going to do if you have unexpected timeline changes?
Those are questions that you need to ask, and if they stumble on this stuff, those are all red flags.
DJ Sal Fusco: If you wanna get a little more information, go back to our Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast 1 0 9. Why couples shouldn’t shop for their wedding vendors as they shop on Amazon.
Sylvester: And here’s a couple of pro tips on questions that you should be asking. What other vendors do you work with? Now Sal, isn’t that a great question? Every, uh, customer should ask a vendor?
DJ Sal Fusco: Oh, [00:09:00] without a doubt. Getting to learn who they’ve worked with in the past and maybe give you some suggestions on someone they could get that, you know, you work very well with. This makes a couple feel very much at ease when they realize vendors could work well together and have worked together in the past.
Sylvester: And another Pro Tip question that you should be asking is, have you worked at that venue before?
Why is that important? Well, it makes it so much easier if the vendor has already worked there before they know, for instance, if they’re photographers where they can go for great shots. If they’re DJs, they know where to set up. They know where the ceremony is, they know where the power is, they know where to go.
It’s very important that every one of your vendors should have worked at that venue before because it means it’s gonna be less stress for you, and you don’t have to worry about those vendors.
DJ Sal Fusco: So far, we’ve just explained about vendor vetting, questions you should be asking your vendors and some red flags you should look out for.
Sylvester: Coming up next, [00:10:00] trusting your gut and knowing the signs. Also, what is the “dream team”? But first, if you have a question or concern, go now to Facebook and join us on the Stress-free Wedding Planning Community, and now in the Connecticut Wedding Advice Community. You can also join us on our YouTube channel. Just search for the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Like, subscribe, comment, and get it first.
JR: This is the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. A podcast for engaged couples concerned about wedding planning and family expectations, but who want a Stress-free, fun and unforgettable wedding.
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Our founder, Carson Fitzner combines technical expertise with a passion of storytelling. Ensuring [00:11:00] every moment from the excitement of getting ready to the heartfelt ceremony is beautifully documented. We offer a range of customizable packages, including drone footage and multi-location shoots tailored to fit your unique vision.
Let us help you relive the romance, laughter, and tears of your wedding day. Visit Fitzner Productions dot com. That’s F-I-T-Z-N-E-R productions dot com.
Sylvester: Are you ready for Wedding Tip Wednesday? That’s next. But first, some wedding advice. Don’t marry someone you can live with. Marry someone you cannot live without. But remember, living with them is still part of the deal.
DJ Sal Fusco: on today’s Wedding Tip Wednesday, planning a Backyard Wedding? Hire an electrician. Hire a professional to assess your electrical needs beforehand, so you don’t have a blackout in the middle of your celebration.
Sylvester: Great advice there, Sal. Hiring that electrician for your backyard wedding could be the best money you spent because you can’t plug [00:12:00] everything into your household sockets. Really, really well money spent. Hire that electrician. And that’s another wedding tip from Sal and Sam.
Adam: Wedding Tip Wednesday is available on the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook group page every Wednesday. Join the group for free.
DJ Sal Fusco: Welcome back. I’m Sal from After Hours Events Of New England. In the first half of our discussion from Stress To Success, Insider Tips On Finding Your Ideal Wedding Vendors.
We explain some red flags you should look out for. We’ll hear some more.
Sylvester: Yes, Sal. I do have some more red flags. I’m Sam from Atmosphere Production. Sometimes it feels off. The vibes just not right. Maybe they talk over you or they just don’t listen. Trust that feeling. Trust your gut. This person that you are interviewing that is not really paying attention to you, may not have your interests in mind. This will be a big problem on your day. Look for vendors that not only have [00:13:00] talent, but they care too. The vendors that take time to know your name, your story, your priorities, what vibe you’re going for. That’s gold.
DJ Sal Fusco: Now, Sam, let’s talk about ” The Dream Team Effect”. When you find the right team, your wedding practically runs itself. They communicate with each other and they solve problems before you even know there were problems. You may not even know at all at the end if this is the real dream team.
So take the time to build your team with intention. It’s not about hiring vendors, it’s about hiring partners who have your back.
Sylvester: Having a dream team is crucial. I work with certain vendors, photographers, cake people, videographers, certain venues I like to go at. Why? Because this team. Is the right team. I feel so comfortable when I’m at a particular venue and I know the photographer, I know the video person. I know what the catering staff are going to do. If you think it makes me feel stress-free, [00:14:00] imagine how stress-free you’re going to be.
DJ Sal Fusco: Yeah, it’s so vital, Sam, you know, having people that you work with that you know what their expectations and what their expectations are, you are, and it just kind of worked enough together. They know what to expect to come next, which is great. And when you’re communicating and making sure everyone knows what’s happening in the order that it’s gonna happen, it’s just gonna be such a smooth run. And it’s something that the couple should just be there, sit back and take the ride and let their professionals lead the way.
Sylvester: So to wrap it up, then ask questions. Check the reviews. Trust your gut. And remember, you are not just hiring people to just show up. You’re hiring people to show up FOR YOU!
DJ Sal Fusco: Before we go, just remember this. Your wedding vendors can either add stress or eliminate it. Take the time to choose people who understand your vision. Communicate clearly and genuinely care about making your day unforgettable. When you surround yourself with the right team, [00:15:00] everything flows smoothly. Your timeline, your energy, your entire experience. It’s not just about checking boxes, it’s about building trust. So don’t rush the process. Do your homework, ask the hard questions, and when it feels right, go with it. Your dream team is out there. You’ve got this and we’ve got your back.
Sylvester: Now as you spend the next week planning your wedding, if you want me, Sal, or our community of stress-free engaged couples and wedding experts to answer any wedding related questions, then join us in the Stress-free Wedding Planning Facebook
DJ Sal Fusco: group. Once you’re in, go ahead and share your concerns and worries, and we’ll let you know if you are on the right track or if there are some.
Things you need to work on. The link to join us is in the show notes of this edition, or go to Facebook and search for the stress-free wedding planning community.
Sylvester: Remember to do something nice for someone today, and if you can’t, then do something nice for yourself. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve just heard, leave a review and share it with a friend or [00:16:00] someone who would benefit from this information.
Until next time, it’s TTFN, Tata now.
DJ Sal Fusco: Thank you for listening to this edition. A new edition is released every Wednesday. Subscribe and get it first. We’ll catch you then. Ciao!
Wayne: The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast is produced and copyrighted by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England.
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