Meeting Vendors... Where?

austena · March 2010

How does everyone feel about meeting their vendors at local coffee shops?

Should this send up red flags or is it ok? What are you feelings

[Deleted User] · March 2010

We are meeting our officiant at Panera Bread next month. I assume if we meet with any others that it will be in similar locations. Why would it cause red flags?

spaje · March 2010

eh, so far, I've just gone in to their place of business.... but depending on they type of vendor, I don't think it'd send up any flags... like the photographer as long as he brings examples of his work and contracts and what not...

MyNameIsNot · March 2010

We met a couple of our vendors at Starbucks. We hired several people that ran their own businesses out of their homes. For example, our photographer does everything digital, so she owns cameras and equipment that she brings to the wedding, and then does all her finishing work on a computer in her house. She has no reason to rent office/studio space. It was also so much more convenient to meet at a Starbucks near my job than to drive to her house 45 minutes away. And I wouldn't want to sit around her living room anyway.

So long as you get a contract, work examples, and references, I see nothing wrong with it. This is just how many super small businesses work.

I <3 Seabass · March 2010

We met one vendor at starbucks. The way she explained it is that not having to rent out office space keeps here costs down and her prices lower. We didn't end up booking her for other reasons but I'll admit that I initially I wasn't thrilled about the idea of her not having an office.

SaraAndrew2010 · March 2010

We met with two different photographers at coffee shops. They were both independent photographers (not part of a big group) and didn't have a need to rent office space. Both of them brought a lot of examples of their work, so it wasn't a concern for me. We ended up booking one of those photographers.

aerinpegadrak · March 2010

The only vendor I formally met with was our photographer. His office was about an hour away from where I was, so he came to my local Starbucks to meet us. Hell, I interviewed for college in a Starbucks, the prospect of meeting wedding vendors there didn't bother me.

As long as they bring everything that you need to see (portfolios, references, contracts), then it really doesn't matter where you do it.

jenn.daniel · March 2010

We met with two different caterers at two different panera. One said his office was too small, and the other's office was kind of far outside the city. We met another at a restaurant where her husband USED TO cook - that was weird. One caterer ended up asking us to come to her apartment because her car was iced in - she wasn't exagerating.

We booked the caterer whose office is kind of out of the city. Our second fav was the one we met in her apt.

bbyckes · March 2010

Why would this send up red flags? I met my Coordinator and my photog at a local restaurant and at a Panera. I met my florist at their place of business - but, if they were working out of their home I would totally understand if they didn't want some random strangers coming over to their house.

On_Cloud_Nine · March 2010

I met a caterer and a photographer at a local Panera. We didn't go with the caterer, but we LOVED the photographer. He's a high school photography teacher and does this kind of stuff on the side, but he is amazing and we loved him. He brought all kinds of examples of printed work, and he even let us look through an entire wedding he had on his computer. He also had the contract with him.

I wouldn't be worried about it. Just because you meet with them doesn't mean you have to use them. I'd go, get a feel for them, and then decide if it would be a good decision to go with them.

kaynix21 · March 2010

I met one photog and It's a Grind and another at a Starbucks. One was great, one was not.

I think it's OK especially if their office is far from you or its a time when they're not usually in the office.

lingersoll · March 2010

Definately not a problem and them not having an 'office' helps keep their costs down (good for you!!). We meet with our invitation designer at a Starbucks and so far she has been great! As long as the have examples of their work and a contract, there is no need to worry.

Meeting Vendors... Where?

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