YAWT

[Lola]

I am trying to find the best questions to ask photogs, bakers, etc.
Can you guys/girl give me your best questions to ask that are really going to stump my vendors... i want to make sure all our bases are covered!
thanks!

 

[spidey07]

stump the vendors?

They're simply providing a commodity service so simply ask for the price and references. Maybe get one that you like and then figure out what you want?

<---not a wedding planner but bid out work all the time. It couldn't be much different than:

1) here's your scope of work
2) bid on it, any questions call me.
3) pick bid, doesn't have to be the low bidder

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: spidey07
stump the vendors?

They're simply providing a commodity service so simply ask for the price and references. Maybe get one that you like and then figure out what you want?

<---not a wedding planner but bid out work all the time. It couldn't be much different than:

1) here's your scope of work
2) bid on it, any questions call me.
3) pick bid, doesn't have to be the low bidder

not really "stump" them, just cover all my bases when meeting with them. i have been reading books and books and articles and i just want to make sure i have the best questions to ask so if something happens, they cant go back to me and say it was never brought up to us or that issue was never addressed.

 

[CChaos]

Your wedding is a very special thing to you, but to someone like a wedding photographer who probably shoots a couple every week it's not such a big deal. Almost all the little details that you can think of will be quite common to them unless you're very unusual. Just find someone reputable and reasonably priced and you'll be fine.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Ask for &amp; check references. If they are good, they should have good feedback.

 

[blackdogdeek]

make sure you see examples of the photographer's work. they should have sample albums with actual work in it.

bakers, videographers and DJs should also have samples in the form of pictures(of cakes) or video(of previous events).

what other vendors are you employing?

 

[rh71]

For us, the photographer (aside from the DJ at the reception) drove the whole thing. He told us how things would go down... even how to hold the ring when we're about to put it on the spouse's finger. Your photographer should be there with you prompting what should go on. Don't settle for anyone who's more laid back or standing in the shadows. He and the video guy are the two people who are responsible for your memories after it's all over (what else will you have left after the event is over right?) so he has to get the best shots and be the one in charge. Look for that quality and make sure he's got a lot of experience already. He should be the one asking you a lot of questions (before the day and during).

Other than that, question the amount of hours he'll be with you. We had to pay 1.5 hours overtime so he would get the bouquet throwing toward the end. He started with us at 10am and didn't end till 1130pm. We finished at midnight. Mucho importanto.

As for the bakery, make sure everything is written down on the contract. Our guys delivered the cake and decorated it, but they neglected to decorate the table too, which was on the contract. We have to go yell at them about that.