Deciding which vendors you want to hire for your wedding can be a daunting task! They will set the tone for what your guests see and experience from the moment they arrive at your wedding.

Luckily, I’ve had a lot of experience in the wedding industry and have learned a thing or to about the dos and don’ts to look for in wedding vendors! Today I’m going to share with you some mistakes to avoid when hiring your wedding vendors, and how to know you’re getting the best vendors around.

DON’T Hire a vendor you haven’t met

Make sure you meet every vendor you hire in person or via video chat before hiring them to work your wedding. They might have an impressive resume or online portfolio, but it’s so important to make sure your hired vendors match the personality and professionalism you want shown at your wedding.

DO Ask the right questions when you meet your vendors

If a potential vendor doesn’t have an extensive online portfolio (on social media or a website), ask them to show you their past work. An experienced vendor should be able to produce past work without a problem and allow you to see exactly what they’re capable of.

DON’T Hire a vendor just because somebody told you to

This is your wedding! You don’t need to hire anybody for your wedding day that you don’t feel comfortable with. Just because your best friend’s sister’s husband has a catering company on the side doesn’t mean you have to hire him. In fact, I strongly recommend to all my brides that they don’t hire family members or friends as vendors for their big day. This will allow those people to be just like every other invited guest at your wedding.

DO Trust your gut

If you meet a vendor and something feels off, listen to those feelings! Even if they came highly recommended from a friend or family member, your wedding vendors should make you feel comfortable and taken care of.

DON’T hide your budget

If you have certain budget restrictions, you need to communicate that with your wedding vendors from the first meeting. Be upfront and ask if they’ll be able to help your vision of your wedding within the budget you’ve set. If they can’t, move on to another vendor until you find your perfect fit.

DON’T micromanage your vendors

Hired professionals know what they’re doing. They are trained and have experience in their individual field. Trust the people you hire to bring your wedding dreams to life to do so with their desired level of freedom and creativity.

DO make sure every vendor is crystal clear on your wedding date

I really can’t imagine anything worse than showing up to your wedding venue on your big day and realizing there was a miscommunication with one of your vendors. Make sure that everybody you hire knows exactly what day and time they need to arrive.

DO Double (and triple) check the contracts

All reputable wedding vendors will have you sign a contract for their services. Going over the contracts with a fine-toothed comb will make sure you know exactly what to expect from your vendors. Make sure you know what will happen in the event of an accident or illness, on your part or theirs. If the vendor requires a deposit, make sure you know if any part of that deposit is refundable. And definitely find out if there are any fees associated with changing aspects of your contract once you’ve signed with them.

I hope these tips will help you pick the absolute best wedding vendors you can find. Your big day is going to be wonderful with the help of willing and capable vendors on your side!