When planning your wedding, one of the big decisions you’ll face is whether to hire established vendors or give a chance to newer businesses that are just starting out. While seasoned vendors come with a wealth of experience and a proven track record, opting for newer vendors can offer unique advantages and a few risks worth considering. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of hiring new businesses for your big day, helping you understand how these choices can impact your event’s overall vibe, your wallet, and even your stress levels.
New Vendors
One of the biggest benefits of new businesses is they usually offer steep discounts on their services. They are trying to make a name for themselves and are willing to offer you a great deal just to get their name out there. Vendors such as photographers, videographers, DJ’s, musicians, all thrive on word of mouth and recommendations. They will sometimes offer up to half off their fee just to get their business off the ground. My daughter booked a photographer that was just starting out (or so she thought!) and offered her biggest package at half the price. Of course, there is a story there that I’ll get to in a moment.
Another benefit of a new vendor is their calendar is usually fairly open. There is a good chance that they will have your date open. They also might offer a few extras if you book with them like maybe an extra photo session or playing for an extra hour. They will likely be very flexible and willing to customize their services to fit your needs.
New vendors are highly motivated to make sure your day is exactly what you want. They are very interested in proving their worth and making a great impression on everyone at your event. They are looking for referrals and will be willing to put in the extra effort.
New vendors can bring fresh ideas and styles. They might have some innovative thoughts and are always researching the current trends. While some established vendors might get stuck in a rut, but not always!
There are some drawbacks when hiring a brand-new vendor. They will lack the experience, in some cases, which might show up in their preparation for your event and the day of your event. If you are the type that likes things tied up weeks in advance, they might cause you stress. You’ll need to be willing to go with the flow with new vendors. They may not have a backup plan or their contract may be lacking. Be sure to ask questions and get things in writing as much as possible.
Now, for my story about the half-price deal. My daughter booked her photographer at a discount. It turned out she was not “new” and left my daughter without photos for several months after the wedding. You can read the full story here.
But don’t let my daughter’s story scare you! Supporting a new, small business is very attractive to most so don’t rule them out.
Well-established Vendors
One benefit of hiring a well-established vendor is they can give you many examples of their work. They usually have a list of prior clients they can point you to and have online reviews you can explore.
Veteran vendors will also have plenty of equipment and/or supplies. It’s likely you won’t need to provide them with any extras such as ladders or electrical equipment. Most of them will have standard supplies they bring to every event and will set up quickly.
Established vendors have done this several times before and can help in the planning. They often are a great resource when you have questions and can offer suggestions from their past experiences. They likely have seen many variations and even some extremely unique examples. They will have a network of resources and have worked with several other vendors. Your day will likely flow efficiently and have a high likelihood of quality and reliability.
Whether you’re leaning towards innovation and fresh ideas or sticking with the tried-and-true, the choices are plentiful. Most established vendors are very reliable. BUT, there are many stories out there that contradict this assumption. The best way to try to mitigate this is do your homework. Research as much as possible. Things always turn out in the end. Trust your instincts.
Remember, less is more
~ Melissa
