Should you hire a newbie vendor?

The most anxiety-inducing question anyone asked me in my first year of business was, “How many weddings have you done?” or “How many years have you been doing this?” It didn’t matter how much love and dedication I had for their event: I lacked the experience they wanted.

But here’s the thing: it’s a totally valid question to ask.

With that in mind, I have a few tips when talking to vendors:

• Do ask how much experience they have. Listen to them respond, and make sure they’re being transparent yet optimistic. This will define them from start to finish: you don’t want someone waffling about as they tiptoe the answer “You’d be my first wedding.” And you don’t want a liar either. Active listening helps here!

• Thoroughly read their contracts. This will help you determine if they’re two things: professional and careful. A short contract with a lot of holes indicates that they may not have sought the best advice. They might not be prepared to handle problems as they occur, or they may not have thought of something that could be an issue. If they’re covering themselves, that means they’ve set good boundaries that will mean clear service for you.

• In your first phone consultation, you might be able to gauge how organized they are. If they seem disorganized, it might just mean they’re not quite ready for a client. That doesn’t mean they won’t be ready for you, but it may mean that they’re jumping the gun on that proposal.

• Ask yourself the question, “Do I feel like they cared about me and my vision for my event?” If the answer is yes, then they may be a good fit. Look for the following vibe: professional but cheerful; optimistic but practical; honest and actively listening.

Some things to consider before deciding:

1. If the vendor lacks experience but gives the right vibe (professional but cheerful, optimistic but practical, honest and actively listening; do you feel like they cared about you and your vision?) then they will likely be worth the time and money.

2. Your budget may only allow for newbie vendors: The J Lo’s of the wedding planning world might not be in your budget. This may mean adjusting your expectations a bit: but don’t let this deter you from finding vendors who are a truly good fit.

Most of all, keep in mind this: 

The reality is that everyone starts somewhere, even the most expensive and elaborate vendors out there. 

And who knows? Maybe you’ll hire the next Nat Geo photographer or the next DJ Khaled.

With love,

Katie