I recently fell into this category! I am so excited yet overwhelmed with the wedding plans. So I can totally sympathize with my Brides. Choosing a vendor is a big deal and being a vendor myself, I have met a lot of talent. Here are some things I look at when booking my wedding vendors....Website: Websites are so important! A website speaks volumes about a company and their brand. Our website: www.mackstylist.com is not for a traditional bride looking for a wedding hair & make-up artist. I spent a lot of time branding Mack Stylist and finding the right team with the same vision. I wanted to gain a Bridal clientele looking for a more artistic stylist, so I made sure my website showcased just that.
When I have been looking for my wedding vendors I feel I gravitate towards a professional edgy site, even for catering. I want an innovative menu and unique presentation, so it's only natural I would look for a website that matched my vision.
Personality: Do you mesh well with your vendors? I feel it's incredibly important for both you and the vendors to vibe well. Weddings cost a lot of money ( as you know) and having someone who makes you feel comfortable and understands your vision makes for a good match.
A wedding can be very emotional for a lot of people. In my line of business we do a trial run, like many vendors who offer consults this is our way of meeting our bride. If the meeting doesn't go well, keep searching as it's never too late. I have had many brides come to Mack Stylist one week before the wedding in search of a hair & make-up artist. They have had several trials and even paid deposits and were just uneasy about the stylist working their wedding. It's only one day, I understand that's a lot of pressure but go with your gut. Vendors make these decisions too, I have had a few brides that I did not mesh well with.... so it's better to be honest at trials rather than have a bad experience for both parties. That leads us to the next topic....
Reviews: How many reviews do they have? Have you read them or just look at the star rating? I am always excited to see a new review for my business. As the owner of Mack Stylist it teaches me a lot about my brides and my business. Reviews show me where I need to make improvements and how my brand is working.
When reading the reviews please keep in mind you can't please everyone. So if you friend recommends a fantastic photographer that has one bad review , please don't let that steer you clear. Now if they have several bad reviews, I think it's pretty obvious so it may be best to move on to the next one on the list.
Thanks to all my Brides I have met some amazingly talented people in the wedding business and have seen some amazing venues ! Here are some of my favorites in Philadelphia :
Venue:
Morris House Hotel - Great for a small wedding or large cocktail hour
http://www.morrishousehotel.com/
Tendenza: Modern & Chic - New York Style Loft
http://www.cescapheballroom.com/tendenza.cfm
Photographers:
Tyler Boye: http://tylerboye.com/blog/
Liz Besanson: http://www.lizbesansonphotography.co/#!__wedding- (picture in blog)
Shea Roggio: http://www.shearoggio.com/
Video:
Cinema Cakes: http://www.cinemacake.com/
Dress:
The Sample Rack: http://thesamplerackpa.com/
I got my Dress here ! This place is absolutely amazing. I shopped around at 4 or 5 other bridal stores and this one had exactly what I imagined and I even got another one, just because :) If you are open and not set on a designer , give the sample rack a call !
Flower girl dresses:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkgiraffebowtique
Hair & Make-up :
Obviously :) - www.mackstylist.com
more to come .....
Happy planning !
-Mack
Tags: Brides,Hair Stylist, Make-up artist, Philadelphia,Freelance hair and make-up artist,Mack stylist, airbrush make-up, couture styling,rustic weddings,engaged, engagement, Wedding dresses, Wedding Photographers,hair and make-up, bridal looks, Wedding venues,on-location services,best of Philly,planning a wedding, wedding planners
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