How Do I Find My Wedding Vendors?

And Not End Up Crying Into a Champagne Glass While Your DJ Ghosts You

So you're engaged. Congrats!
You’re now officially authorized to stress out over napkin colors, spend four hours comparing font styles for your invitations, and spiral into existential dread because your wedding florist doesn’t text back fast enough.

Welcome to wedding planning — the glittery, champagne-sprinkled war zone.

But let’s talk about the real MVPs of your Big Day: the vendors.
Yes, the humans (hopefully) who make the cake, shoot the photos, slap makeup on your tired face, and somehow orchestrate an event that makes your aunt cry (in a good way).

But First, A Cold Splash of Reality

The average couple hires 14 vendors.
That’s right. Fourteen. As in one short of a full-blown sitcom cast. And you, my sweet, blissfully unaware reader, are the casting director. Choose wrong, and your wedding might turn into a reality show episode titled “Nightmare on Catering Street.”

So how do you pick the right vendors without selling a kidney or losing your mind?

Let’s get into it.

Step 1: Use the Vendor Web You Already Have

Before you start Googling “cheap wedding photographer who doesn’t suck,” pause.
Start with the people already on your team.

Wedding planners are like human Swiss Army knives — full of tools and occasionally stabby when things go wrong. They’ve seen it all and have contacts that are pre-vetted, battle-tested, and less likely to disappear when Mercury goes retrograde.

Even if you don’t have a planner, lean on your venue coordinator or the first vendor you’ve already booked (like your photographer or caterer). They’ve all worked with vendors they trust — or at the very least, vendors they know won’t show up drunk and barefoot.

Step 2: Go Online... but Not Full Crazy

Now, everyone says “Just check The Knot!”
And yeah, do that. Or WeddingWire. Or Zola. They’ve got thousands of vendor listings, reviews, and dreamy pics to scroll through while you pretend to work during your 2 p.m. Zoom meeting.

But don’t stop there. Also creep on Instagram. Search your venue’s tagged photos, stalk vendors’ Reels, and watch how they actually interact with clients. You’ll see who’s legit and who just learned Canva last week.

Bonus points if you join local Facebook wedding groups, where people share very real (and occasionally very salty) reviews of vendors they loved... or loathed.

Step 3: Actually Talk to These People (Yes, Like… on the Phone)

Once you’ve narrowed it down, have actual conversations. I know, it’s horrifying. But trust me — you’ll learn so much more by chatting than by email ping-pong.

Here’s your no-BS vendor interrogation checklist:

• “How long have you been in the wedding game?”

• “How many weddings do you take on per year?”

• “Can I talk to past clients, or are you just going to show me your highlight reel?”

• “Do you have backup plans if your dog eats your calendar?”

• “What’s your actual pricing, not the fantasy number that lured me here?”

If they stumble on any of these, wave a red flag. Or better yet, run.

Step 4: Contracts — Because Hope Is Not a Strategy

Listen, I know you trust people. You’re planning a wedding. You believe in love.
But love doesn’t stop scammers, flakers, or “creative types” who forget your date.

So: get. it. in. writing.

Everything from deliverables, pricing, refund policies, who’s showing up and when, and whether they’re bringing an assistant who will accidentally photobomb your first kiss.

If a vendor doesn’t offer a contract? That's not a vendor. That’s a gamble with a makeup kit.

Step 5: Trust the Locals

You know who’s better than a giant wedding factory that charges you like they’re funding a space program? Local vendors.

Local florists, DJs, caterers — they know the venues, they care about word-of-mouth, and they don’t treat you like Wedding Client #7285.
That’s why so many couples are turning to small, independent teams like Rinlong — a wedding flower brand that specializes in high-quality silk arrangements that don’t wilt, don’t break the bank, and still manage to make your wedding photos look like a Pinterest board mated with Vogue.

Plus, they get it. They’re not here to upsell you roses from Neptune. They’re here to make your life easier, your aisle prettier, and your budget intact.

Step 6: Spot the Red Flags Before They Wreck Your Day

Here’s what screams “don’t hire this person”:

• Prices way below average — sounds like a deal, ends in disaster.

• No contract — or one that’s vague enough to be a horoscope.

• Pushes for cash-only, full payment upfront — scam alert.

• Ghosts your emails, takes days to reply, or sends one-sentence responses.

• Too good to be true. You know what they say — if it smells like BS, it probably is.

Step 7: Book Smart — and Early

Vendors — especially the good ones — get booked faster than Taylor Swift sells out stadiums.

Your booking order should look like this:

1. Venue and catering (the bones of your wedding)

2. Photographer (they’ll make you look hot)

3. Entertainment (because dancing cures stress)

4. Florals and decor

5. Officiant (aka the legal part)

6. Cake (the frosting on your future)

7. Hair & makeup

8. Transportation, signage, rentals, and other chaos

Start 12-18 months in advance if you can. You’ll thank yourself later.

Final Thoughts (a.k.a. The Pep Talk)

Finding your wedding vendors isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.

• Ask questions.

• Compare options.

• Don’t be afraid to say no.

• Read the damn contracts.

• And trust your gut. If someone gives you weird vibes, that’s not anxiety — that’s instinct.

The right team will make your wedding feel magical, manageable, and memorable (for the right reasons).

And if you’re still unsure where to begin, check out sites like Rinlong — because the only thing worse than bad flowers are overpriced bad flowers.

TL;DR:
Treat vendor hunting like dating — ask the hard questions, look for red flags, and don’t settle for the first one who says you’re “chill.”

Now go forth and build the dream team. Your future self — and your wedding photos — will thank you.