Consult Your Michigan Wedding Vendors
Why does finding the right wedding vendors for your day feel so difficult sometimes? Because you’ve never planned a wedding before and have no idea what all goes into planning one (and that’s totally okay)! Hi friend! I’m Catie Eovaldi- a Southeast and Mid Michigan wedding photographer who’s photographed and planned 70+ weddings. Planning a wedding isn’t a one person job. You’re hiring your dream team to execute your wedding vision, and it’s so important to hire vendors you trust.
Part of the booking process for all vendors is hopping on a consultation call. These calls function as a way to get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit, but to also answer any questions and set expectations for the level of service provided. I know hopping on a phone call isn’t our favorite thing to do, but a consultation call is often times the difference between booking that dream vendor and booking one that doesn’t quite align with your vision.
If you’re in the initial stages of wedding planning, save this post to know what questions to ask during consultation calls with your Michigan wedding vendors! These are in the order I see couples typically book vendors in!
Michigan Wedding Vendors to Book
Wedding Venues
Michigan has some of the most stunning wedding venues. Between our lush woods and our sparkling lakeshores, you really can’t choose wrong when getting married here. Every venue is incredibly diverse, not only in nature, but in how they run a wedding day. If you need a list of venues to check out, read this blog post on Michigan Wedding Venues!
Questions to Ask:
- What is the minimum/maximum guest count requirement?
- Are there additional fees for early set up or late tear down? (Some venues allow you in a day early to decorate)
- Do you provide in-house catering/bartending, and if not do you have recommended vendors for this?
- Are there any restrictions on vendors we can/can’t use? (Think catering & bartending when it’s not in-house)
- What decor restrictions do you have? (Think candles, hanging things on walls, drapery)
- Are there any policies on event hours & noise levels?
- Can we get a list of everything included in the rental cost?
- Do you require us to purchase additional event insurance?
- Do you have a bridal suite included, and what hours will be it accessible to me?
- How many events do you host in a weekend?
- How do you ensure our event stays private if you host multiple in a day?
Photographers/Videographers/Content Creators
The next big wedding vendor you’ll want to hire is your photo and video team. The images and video are tangible things you will leave your day with (besides that marriage license)! You’ll have this media for the rest of your life to reflect back on. Call me biased since I’m a photographer, but I believe your media team is one of the most important parts of your Michigan wedding vendor team! And if you’re on the hunt for a photographer, you can check my availability here.
Questions to Ask:
- Are you licensed & insured?
- How do you ensure the safety of our images/videos? (The answer should include backing them up to external hard-drives & using cameras with dual card slots)
- What happens in the event you can no longer work our day? (Think last minute illness or family emergency)
- How long after our event can we expect our photos/video/content?
- How many weddings do you take in a weekend?
- What’s your typical wedding photo/video style? (Think more in regards to super posed & staged moments throughout the day or capturing candid moments)
Floral Team
Florals are such a dreamy design element of many wedding days. You’ll want a floral team that can execute your vision while also staying within budget.
Questions to Ask:
- Do you require a minimum purchase/budget?
- Do you use any sustainability practices in your business? (This is more in regards to environmentally friendly practices aka no floral foam)
- Can you tell us more about your design process & how you will bring our vision to life?
- Are there limitations on the types of florals? (I’m sure spring florals are much different than fall florals)
- Do you provide any other decor alongside florals?
- Can we repurpose our ceremony floral decor to the reception floral decor? Do you assist with that?
DJs
DJs are the wedding vendors that keep the party going ALL night long. A good DJ will play music you choose, but a great DJ can read the vibe of the room and adjust the music accordingly while playing music you choose. They can keep your guests mingling during cocktail hour and on the dance floor all night.
Questions to Ask:
- What are your set-up needs for my venue?
- What is included in your costs?
- Do you offer up-lighting or cold sparklers? (This is totally optional, but a lot of DJs have lighting set ups)
- How do you handle song requests or do-not-play requests?
- What’s your back-up plan in the event of equipment malfunction? (I once had a power outage at a wedding and the DJ had no back-up!)
- Do you provide sound system equipment for the ceremony? (Think wireless mics)
- How much space do you need for your set up?
- What filler music do you play when not at your booth? (Think more about during dinner time- don’t forget to provide a meal for them)
Hair and Makeup Teams
Your beauty team is one you’ll want to have trial services with! You want to make sure you both understand the vision and logistics of your wedding day look.
Questions to Ask:
- Does the total cost include trial services?
- How long have you done bridal makeup? (Bridal services are much different than non-wedding events)
- Do you include touch-up kits?
- How many artists will we need for a wedding party size of x?
- Are you able to accommodate my skin type? (Think sensitive, dry, oil, rosacea, etc.)
- What brands/types of makeup do you use?
- If you are suddenly unable to work on my day, do you provide a replacement?
Catering & Bartending Services
Catering and bartending are one of those Michigan wedding vendors that your guests will remember for a long time! When talking with our friend group, the one thing that I hear all the time is “remember so & so’s wedding? Their food was amazing!”. Choosing the right caterer and bartenders will provide a guest experience that’ll have your people remembering and talking about for years.
Questions to Ask:
- Are you licensed & insured?
- What types of meals do you offer? (Think family style, buffet, plated)
- Do you offer menu tastings & how many people can I bring?
- Do you have options for food allergies & restrictions?
- Do you charge a cake cutting fee? (This is a fee to cut any large cakes to serve to guests)
- Do you provide alcohol, OR do you buy back unused alcohol?
- What additional fees are there?
- When are final menu decisions needed?
Where to Find Your Michigan Wedding Vendors
I highly recommend Google. The search engine will pull up a list of reputable and experience vendors. Google sorts through vendors according to their reviews and work with other vendors, so searching directly is a great idea!
ChatGPT
Feelings of AI aside, a lot of couples are using ChatGPT to make recommendations of wedding vendors. Similar to Google, recommendations are made based on current reviews, years of business, and if you’ve been referenced in other media (like magazines).
Online Directories
Online directories are usually specialized for weddings and you can search by vendor type. Sites like Zola, The Knot, Loverly, and Style Me Pretty all have resources to help you find vendors. My pro-tip is to email a vendor rather than send them a message through the platform. Sometimes messages on these platforms get lost so email them directly to avoid the potential of that happening!
Social Media
Social media is also a great tool for finding Michigan wedding vendors. Look at vendor feeds, see who’s tagged in the photos, and see who’s working with who! Facebook groups are great for asking for assistance. Instagram is great for seeing tagged vendors and proof of work!
Your Already Booked Vendors
As a wedding photographer, I’ve worked with so many wonderful vendors. I am always happy to make recommendations to my couples. These vendors are pre-vetted, meaning we’ve worked together before and I know they have a great service. So don’t be afraid to ask your planner or photographer or venue for recommendations! Connect with me to see if I have your date available or have vendors in mind for your day!
