Communication with Vendors

[savvy]

It has been a few months since I booked the DJ and Photographer and reception hall. I was just wondering what everyone thought the proper/best policy was with communicating with the vendors after booking them. I don't want to seem like a pest by calling and asking silly questions. But I want to make sure they are still in business and havent forgotten about me. I heard about places going out of business and leaving the brides without the service they were supposed to provide. Is this a Bridezilla thing?
Let me know what your oppinions are!
Thanks so much
~savvy

Some brides will call me every couple of months, others will never call.

As your wedding planning is moving along you will have things you will need to call/fax/email them about.

Don’t be afraid to call them and ask questions as well as coordinate with them!

[wedbyjean]

When is your wedding? And how much finalization with these vendors do you still have to do? If your wedding is soon (within a couple months or so) then there needs to be communication going on, finializing menus, song lists and must have photos. If your wedding is still several months away, the immediate need for communication isn't there, unless you've got a major change or addition that they should be aware of. Most finalization occurs in the last month or so, and vendors may be reluctant to schedule appointments much earlier than that, because so much can happen (ideas change, things are added or eliminated . . .) during the planning stage.

If you feel the need to touch base, do so. But have a legitimate question, comment, reason for the call -- not just a "Hey, are you still there, do you you remember me?" The latter can be interpreted in a "Hey, I don't completely trust you." If I was getting this feeling from a bride, I would be feeling defensive and thinking "Hmmm, perhaps you and I aren't the right match, and you would be happier with someone else."

Jean Neuhart
Weddings From The Heart

[831Photography]

As a wedding photographer, I stay in contact with my brides and grooms as we approach the wedding. I send out a checklist to my brides and grooms about 8 weeks before their wedding and we meet about 4 weeks before the wedding to go over all the details.

I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to check in on me. I would personally find e-mail to be the least intrusive if you wanted to check in regularly, but phone calls would be fine too. Just understand that your vendors may be taking care of other clients (especially when it gets busy in the spring) and may not be able to chat every day.

I would stay in contact as much as makes you comfortable, but understand that your vendors have their work to do too.

Hope this helps!
Stephanie

[As You Wish]

You seem to be worried? Is it just the horror stories you have heard or are you second guessing some of your choices? If it is the former, relax; check in ever couple months until the month before the wedding, then once every week or two. If it is the latter, it may not be to late to get out of the contract.

[Am3na]

I don't want to seem like a pest by calling and asking silly questions.

No questions about their service or with concerns to your wedding is going to be silly. They are a lot of wedding vendors that get calls and emails every few months with wedding updates, most will even call you as the wedding date gets close to run over all the planning with you.

Do not hesitate to calling the people you hired, just even to say that everything is still in schudule for the wedding date and to run over the timeline for the day and locations.

Back when I did wedding photography I use to confirm all the details with the couple a month and then a week up to the day of the wedding (if the wedding was in the same year that I booked it, for the ones that were booked a year prior I would call about every few months) to make sure all the plans were in order and asked if they had any questions for me.

I would alway confirm date of wedding, locations and times. A lot of times couples change these or write it down a day off and forget to let all the wedding vendors know. Send them a copy of your timeline so their is no misunderstanding and make sure the wedding ceremony and recepetion location and times are on the contact you signed. This will give you and your wedding vendors peace of mind. :wink:

[savvy]

Thanks everyone for your replies!
Yes the reason that I am worried is because of horror stories. Just this past week on the local news here there was something about a reception site closing with out telling the couples who were booking. Couples lost their deposits. For me, losing a deposit because a vendor "closes" or whatever else could happen is a very scary thought. My fiance and I are paying for our wedding ourselves with what little money we have. His mom passed away 2 days after Christmas last year, so help from his side of the family is not likely. And I am one of 4 girls so help from my parents is very limited.
Anyway, thanks for listening and thanks for the advise!
~savvy

[robindepaula]

Try to sit back & enjoy your planning stages. I check in with my bridal clients once every few months if their wedding is a ways off. Once it gets closer, I check in with them every week during the last month - just to make sure that everything is the same & they don't have any last minute questions for me.

Robin

[Charity]

I can totally understand where you are coming from. Within the last year (maybe two) around here two reception facilities, at least 6 dress stores, and an invitation company all went out of business with no warning...one of them was on the news and all over the papers about not returning deposits and not telling Brides!

I think the "bad seeds" are few and far between, but when dealing with a wedding, and so much money, one tends to go on hyper sensitive trust alert! I would have no problem with a Bride touching base with me, I talk to most of my Brides at least once a week anyway.

I agree with everyone else, it's unlikely that your vendors will get angry because you called - so go ahead and do what you need to do to feel comfortable.

Good Luck!
Charity