Questions for Vendors!!!!

buddysmom80

Okay so I know there's probably a list to ask vendors before the wedding but I'm too lazy to look it up. I have a "list" of what I want to ask them, but if you guys can add anything to it, let me know!

Florist: confirm number of bouquets, bouts, confirm delivery time.

Photographer: confirm arrival time, if photos will be edited, if all pictures will be shown to us.

DJ: no idea

JOP: no idea

Hair and MUA: confirm arrival time

Venue: no idea

Baker: Confirm arrival time.

ETA: also who do I tip? With the exception of the venue, all the vendors I hired own their own businesses. Do I still tip them???

[Deleted User]

I would confirm the timeline of the whole day with each vendor so they know what's happening throughout the day so they can be prepared.

I would tip bartenders, waiters/waitresses, assistants, delivery people, drivers.

You don't need to tip if the vendor owns his or her own company and is providing the services.

ShallowSeas

I might be wrong so someone please correct me if I am, but I was told by multiple different people that if a vendor owns their own business you do not NEED to tip them.

speakeasy14

Go over a timeline of the day with all vendors

DJ - names and order for bridal party introductions (if doing this), specific songs you want played (for spotlight dances as well as throughout the night), specific songs or type of music you do not want played

Photographer - list of photos you want and who you want in your photos

I have also been told that if a vendor owns their own business you do not need to tip them (a lot of them include 18% gratuity in their fees). 

buddysmom80

@speakeasy14 thank you so much, you just reminded me that we have a whole workbook from the DJ to fill out before our meeting. Gahhhhh another thing to do this weekend.

 

labro

I'd also confirm what you ordered with your baker (make sure you ordered enough cake, or if you need to reduce your order based on # of rsvps). Go over the day of timeline, make sure your photographer has a list of "must-have" shots, including group photos with family/friends that you want to be sure to have. Confirm with your DJ his arrival time, if he needs any equipment and/or what equipment he is bringing/providing (like, do you need a wireless mic for anyone?).

ETA: Tip your bartenders, waitstaff, any delivery people (although I noticed that our bartenders had an unmarked tip jar out at our wedding anyway). Tips are not required for vendors who run their own business but you are always able to tip them if you feel they did an outstanding job. I'm sending a Starbucks gc and a thank you note to our officiant today because he was incredible and I'll probably send some sort of gc to our photographer after we get our pro-photos. I think the best "tip" for your vendors is a positive review on TK and WW.

Peaseblossom55

I got married less than 5 months ago and already I forgot about all of the last minute stuff there was so much of it. 

With the DJ I confirmed the tone we wanted for our reception went over special dance songs we wanted played, the name of everyone they were introducing and set up times.

Florist- We also confirmed delivery locations and times

Photographers/Videographers- confirmed times and locations of where everyone was supposed to be, locations and details for the day

Church- confirmed location and rehearsal, floral drop off times Musicans and cantors for the ceremony were confirmed with dates and times.

Limos- PIck up drop off times.

I feel like there was so much more more.  I stress just thinking about it..... I'm so glad planning a wedding is not a regular occurance. 

We did tip everyone from bartenders, waiters, photo booth people, DJ, Maitre'd, the two photographers, 2 videographers, make up people hair people, florist delivery person.

loves2shop4shoes

What about honeymoon? 

Dignity100

For the JOP - if there are any items you want included in your ceremony (readings, prayers) make sure they can include them.  I know my Officiant had a basic outline he followed and I got to choose 'traditional'; 'religious non-denominational'; 'civil' and from there I could add additional parts to the ceremony (sand ceremony, candle lighting, prayers, reading, etc).  So I guess - Confirm what your ceremony will be like and how long it will take.  Also times they will be there.  Even if you're having a rehearsal, I had mine walk me through the ceremony before hand so we knew what to expect and could practice it in my head.

speakeasy14

buddysmom80 you're welcome, my sister was completely overwhelmed with her list from her DJ so I helped her to get all of that figured out.  

Also, confirm with your venue who your vendors are, so they know who to expect to set things up. 

buddysmom80

@lapeanut1018 so I should tip the waitstaff/barstaff more than what the gratuity on the contrat states? We're paying 20% gratuity for the staff, so should we tip them more?

@loves2shop4shoes honeymoon is all taken care of in regards to the car service picking us up the next day (2:30am, jfc).

@dignity100 good idea about the run-through with the ceremony. We aren't having a rehearsal with our JOP so at least I know what he's going to say/not say.

Thanks ladies

labro

@buddysmom80 If you're already paying gratuity as a line item in your contract then IMO (and a possible UO here) you shouldn't have to pay additional on top of that. If you're dealing with a legit, good quality catering service then that gratuity SHOULD be going to the service staff and bartenders.

ETA: For example -  my hair salon charged us 20% gratuity as part of our contract so that everything was paid up front. I didn't tip anything additional.

minskat30

I tipped everyone (even owners of their own business) but I felt that everyone did a great job and deserved a tip.  I wouldn't tip when the bill included a line item for tip already included but I would clarify that any tip on a line item actually goes to the wait staff.

With the DJ, I confirmed songs I wanted, songs I really didn't want if requested by someone else and clarified how to pronounce everyone's names.

With the venue, do you know how early you can arrive and your vendors can arrive to set up? Do they have a room for you to store stuff or get ready in (and if storing stuff, that can be locked)? Do you have a place for the vendors to sit/a vendor meal?  We just had another table for our vendors right in the reception room but I know some people have a seperate room for their vendors because they prefer that.