prioritizing vendor meetings

TeamBLT

As though planning an OOT wedding wasn't enough fun, I am doing it in the middle of a move from Texas to Florida!  As such, I'll be driving through New Orleans in the next month and am planning to dedicate a day to meet with various vendors.  I have my venue and associated caterer, but that's it so far!  The next time I'll be back will likely be 6-7 months prior to the wedding. 

Which local vendors are the most important to meet with right now (I'm 10 months out)?  I'm told I need to nail down the photographer, but do I need to be meeting potential DJs and florists and day-of-coordinators as well, or can I spend more time searching online and then meet with them in the fall?  Not worried about dresses or invitations since I will be doing that from Florida.  What would you advise I put on my must-do list while I'm in New Orleans?  

ZeroOrchestra

I woul do a cake tasting and coordinator, maybe florist and photog if you want. I never met my photog prior to the wedding, for it wasn't necessary. I planned from Houston and it was really fairly easy.

ChrissyBeachBride

I recently was in the same position trying to figure out what to deal with on the trip we have planned for next month, and what I ended up doing was hiring my wedding coordinator first and it's made the world of difference!  My schedule is so crazy right now with school and work, I was trying to figure out which vendors to spend time researching in what free time I have.  Scrambling to return calls and weeding through pages of reviews, hitting dead ends.  Now that I have someone coordinating the wedding plans it really takes a huge burden off me.  When we go to new Orleans next month all my vendor choices will already be narrowed down for me so I feel like I'll really be getting the most out of my visit.

Personally, I don't think you need to meet all vendors beforehand but I do think you should at least be tasting cakes, and booking your photographer because the ones in demand book up fast.  I'm going to be doing a hair & make up trial even though we'll be making another trip later like you are, just in case it doesn't go well and I want to try another.  My planner also wisely suggested visiting a few places we have in mind for the rehearsal dinner so later on when we're looking online we'll already have an idea what they're like in person.

So far we're visiting venues, doing cake tastings, meeting with 2 photographers, and likely the minister.  I'm having my hair and make up trial and my fiance is going to the tux shop to try on tuxes.  Oh, it might be a good idea to meet with the florist if you're thinking of one of the ones that work from home or don't have websites.

It's challenging planning in the middle of big life events.  I know!!  So good luck!

NO2012

If you are expecting a lot of OOT guests then checking out potential hotels for room blocks isn't a bad idea this early either. We did this fairly early on in the process and locked in very reasonable rates compared to what the rates were say 6 months out. As pp said rehearsal dinner spot is another wise use of your time at this point. If you feel you need to meet any of the other vendors in person before you book them I would try to meet with them as early as possible and get it out of the way. The more you can get out of the way early on the better in New Orleans.

mnols

Caterer, Hotel Blocks, Photog... then everything else

kbsmom1

we planned from OOT also.....I feel a little differently......a good DOC can help you with all your final choices.....although we already picked a florist by the time we hired Michelle Adams...she helped a lot with making great choices.....always prompt with phone calls, knows the wedding business though out the New Orleans area....we saved more money using her advise than her cost for day of....photograpers and florist get booked early......most of the NOLA brides seem to use Haydels and a few other bakers.....also a DOC can help with your DJ choices...as far as hotels....CAll the Convention Bureau and put out a bid process and narrow those choices down for your rooms...we choose Omni and La Pavillion....you can pick your preferred areas..CBD or The Quarter for ex.  most of the hotels websites are really good and the women that have gone thru the process on this board can give you their ideas also......you can mamage most of your big picks on a long weekend....happy planning

louisianablue

My priorities would be to hire a photographer and a good day of coordinator for your wedding.  You could always add in a cake tasting and hair and makeup trial, but I'm not sure how many times you'll be in New Orleans before your wedding.  I was only able to make two trips back, so most of my vendors I hired by phone or at the recommendation of my coordinator.

coolcatclaire

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_prioritizing-vendor-meetings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:54f1977b-07cb-4283-8798-895148232a9ePost:845b9036-6d30-4a86-b0e3-5bdd89966dcc">Re: prioritizing vendor meetings</a>:
[QUOTE] Now that I have someone coordinating the wedding plans it really takes a huge burden off me.  <strong>When we go to new Orleans next month all my vendor choices will already be narrowed down for me so</strong> I feel like I'll really be getting the most out of my visit. Posted by ChrissyBeachBride[/QUOTE]

I've seen a lot of recommendations that you find your planner first and I've been trying to do that but I don't just want a planner to tell me to go with her favorite vendors.  I want someone to actually do some legwork for me.  Is that what you mean by narrowed down?  What's been overwhelming is the amount of time it takes just to find what I'm looking for, get them on the phone, get some info.  I really want someone to truly narrow down my options based on what I'm looking for.  Do planners do that?  The ones I've spoken to just say they have a list of vendors they work with a lot. 

ChrissyBeachBride

Claire, mine does loads of leg work and she has saved my sanity. =-)
I'll send you some details directly

NikNik2013

I'm also an OOT bride. I made 3 trips to new orleans to meet with vendors. Most vendors don't meet on weekend, so just remember that. I picked the venue 13 months out, and luckily I did because they were already booked for Fri and sat night, but we wanted a sat daytime wedding so our OOT guests could enjoy the city sat evening, and it's a lot cheaper! We are having ceremony/reception at CGT plantation. Next trip we did cake testing(Haydel's) and engagement photos(bnmphotoblog.com). Last trip I went alone and did florist(Bella Blooms) AH-mazing!!! You must look at her site if you haven't picked a florist. Her work is in lots of magazines, and she won an award from "the knot"! I was worried that I couldn't afford her, but she gave me tons of options to stay within my budget. I did my trial run for hair/makeup with SWAK makeup artistry, and really liked the results. Also, transportation! we are having to use 2 different companies beacuse the first is booked for our "going away" limo, and we booked that about 11 months out, and before picking the wedding date, we made sure to pick dates around conventions/sports in the area beacuse that makes it 10X's harder!! Hope this helps!

TeamBLT

it does help, all of your responses have!  I've since ramped up the search for day-of or month-of coordinators, but if any of you have great recomendations (thanks already, kbsmom1!), I would really really appreciate any direction there!  I'm trying to stay in the $1000-$1500 price range, but it's hard to differentiate the planners based solely on their websites! 

ChrissyBeachBride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_prioritizing-vendor-meetings?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:54f1977b-07cb-4283-8798-895148232a9ePost:d2456b5b-2523-405a-8e07-b05717a28fa1">Re: prioritizing vendor meetings</a>:
[QUOTE]it does help, all of your responses have!  I've since ramped up the search for day-of or month-of coordinators, but if any of you have great recomendations (thanks already, kbsmom1!), I would really really appreciate any direction there!  I'm trying to stay in the $1000-$1500 price range, but it's hard to differentiate the planners based solely on their websites! 
Posted by TeamBLT[/QUOTE]



I was trying to narrow down my choices last month too. I just sent you some info. Good luck!