Planning a wedding is a ton of work, right?
How do you know you’re choosing the right vendors?
The Directory is the most-visited section of the NittanyWeddings.com website – it is the engine behind the site. Local and regional wedding vendors pay to be included so that you can find them.
What is the best way to utilize the directory and choose your wedding team?
(Some of this might be redundant – I’m sorry! But as I’m looking through some of my website statistics, it looks like some visitors might not realize everything you can click on. Bear with me! I think there will be some good tips here for you!)
The directory is divided up into categories (alphabetical from left to right). Click on the category you’re looking for, or search for the business by name at the top right in the search area. (Open the directory in a new window so you can follow along.)
Once you’re in a category, you’ll see a list of vendors in alphabetical order. Some vendors are highlighted in pink – those are considered “Featured Listings.” (Basically, those advertisers are paying more so that you see them near the top, and they also get to have a larger text description and a picture included in their listing.) Under the Featured Listings, you’ll see the rest of the wedding vendors listed.
To read more details about a particular vendor, click “More Info.” This is where you’ll read a brief description about the vendor and if they’re a Featured Listing, see a photo of their work. Read the descriptions. The vendors put a lot of thought into what they’ve said there. They try to condense what they do into a few words to help you determine quickly if they might be a good fit for you.
From there, you can contact the vendor via email – click the Email icon. The email will go directly to the vendor so they can reply to you. You’ll see a notice that says your email was sent. Each vendor’s phone number is listed as well. There is also a Map icon you can click on if they have a storefront location. Many wedding vendors work from their homes, so don’t be alarmed if they don’t put a full address down. It just means they don’t want weirdoes showing up at their doorstep – but they’re happy to get a phone call or email from you!
Click on the Web icon to go directly to the vendor’s website. This is one of the best ways to see how the vendor does business. If their website is sharp and professional, there’s a good chance they are too. I caution you, though, not to judge a book by it’s cover (i.e. if their website is lousy don’t automatically assume they’re terrible). But at the same time, a vendor’s website is your first impression. You get a feel for what they’re like by what you see. You’re on the internet all the time – you know what I mean!
At the bottom of the listing you can also click the Recommendation link that lets you email that vendor’s info to a friend. There’s also a Print Version link that opens up the listing in a new window. (It will print the text black on white, but it will print the photo if it’s a featured listing, just to warn you.)
It’s not rocket science, just normal web surfing. But I want to make sure you’re getting the most out of the directory. Here are a few more wedding planning and directory tips as you’re doing your research:
TIPS:
Location doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about what city they’re from. Really. If they’ve paid to be listed in the directory, that means they’re willing to travel to the State College area. Often, they don’t even factor the distance into their pricing. Wedding vendors are looking for work – they’re willing to drive for it. Don’t be afraid to give them a chance just because it sounds like they’re far away. Also, don’t judge a vendor by their area code.
Set up a personal meeting with the vendor if you can (and if it makes sense to). If they’re the type of vendor you’ll be interacting with a lot, you absolutely want to meet them. You want to work with nice, happy people. Jerks can really affect the atmosphere on your wedding day. Choose nice, friendly people!
Take good notes. There’s a lot in your brain right now. I can hardly keep track of dates on a calendar – I couldn’t imagine going through wedding planning again! Make sure you have a good system for keeping track of who you’ve talked to and what you’ve said to them. Don’t be afraid to write down things like your first impression, verbal promises, things you like/dislike about them. Then move that vendor into a different category after you choose to hire them.
Have high expectations. These vendors are professionals and should act that way. Expect that they do. Expect that they return your phone calls and emails in a timely manner. They make you sign a contract. It’s perfectly ok for you to lay out your expectations, too. Be on time, do honest work, let me know if there’s a problem, etc. But at the same time, it’s not the end of the world if something does go wrong. Communicate about it – tell the vendor what you’re thinking/feeling. Don’t let it affect your planning experience. Life is too short – try to enjoy everything even if there are a few glitches along the way. (And there probably will be… sorry!)
Honor your commitments. I talked to a wedding vendor recently that really got stiffed by a bride. If you’re going to cancel on a vendor, give them as much notice as possible. They make a promise to you to reserve that date and they often turn away business. If you’re going to cancel your contract, you’re just losing your deposit. The wedding vendor is losing an entire day’s worth of work – which could be a significant part of their income. If you let them know too close to the wedding date, they don’t have an opportunity to find replacement work.
Tell the vendor where you heard about them. If they’re any good at marketing, they’ll ask you – but try to remember to tell them any way! It helps them a lot if you’re specific, too. “I found you on the internet” is helpful – but it doesn’t tell them if their advertising strategies are effective. “I found you from a Google search” or “on NittanyWeddings.com” or from the” XYZ bridal show.” That information is extremely helpful for a wedding vendor. Smart marketers really use that information.
Do you have any tips for brides? What has worked for you? Do you have a great system? Let us know so I can pass your wisdom along to other brides!
