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A Couple Aspired for the Ultimate Palm Springs Dinner Party for Their Wedding—and Their Vendors Delivered

February 12, 2025 | justine

Jenna and Michael had one main goal for their wedding: to create a celebration that felt more like an unforgettable Palm Springs dinner party than a traditional wedding. Inspired by local favorites like Melvyn’s and Mister Parker’s, they envisioned a stylish celebration that was effortlessly chic, welcoming, and thoughtfully curated. The Parker’s iconic charm and a talented vendor team brought their vision to life. Jenna shared, “We knew that if we were going to ask our families to come all the way out to Palm Springs, it had to be special, and The Parker delivered exactly that.”

They focused on three key priorities during planning: amazing food and drinks, working with a great planner, and creating a beautiful design with the right atmosphere. These elements ensured their wedding felt true to who they are as a couple.

What We Loved About Jenna and Michael’s Wedding:

  • The photography, captured in both digital and film by Junebug vendor Matthew David Studio, brought a timeless and cinematic quality to their wedding gallery.
  • The use of patio umbrellas during the ceremony was both stylish and practical, ensuring guests stayed comfortable while enhancing the overall aesthetic.
  • Jenna’s gown featured an elegant scarf detail, a refined touch that elevated her bridal look.
  • The couple opted for no bridal party, keeping the focus on their celebration while maintaining a lively and intimate atmosphere.
  • The after-party was a highlight, with silver mylar balloons, disco balls, and an electrifying atmosphere that kept guests dancing well into the night.

Featured Junebug Vendor:

Matthew David Studio

Jenna and Michael started their day with a private first look in The Parker’s gardens. In the serene setting of lush greenery, they exchanged heartfelt vows that set a deeply personal tone for the rest of the day.

The couple’s portraits showcased their venue’s stunning grounds. From manicured hedges to mid-century architecture, every location complemented their stylish attire and the Palm Springs aesthetic. The couple’s relaxed energy came through in candid moments.

The ceremony took place beneath sprawling olive trees, with sunlight filtering through the branches. Guests sat on classic white chairs under scalloped patio umbrellas that added a Palm Springs touch. At the altar, a circular platform adorned with greenery and pastel blooms blended beautifully with the natural surroundings. “We wanted our guests to feel comfortable and immersed in the moment,” Jenna said. Thoughtful details, like hand fans displayed in a vintage champagne bucket, added to the guest experience and showed the couple’s attention to detail.

In a touching nod to family and legacy, Jenna also found a unique way to honor her late father, who had passed in 2022. Determined that he would still be part of her special day, Jenna and her maid of honor wrapped their bouquets in her father’s cherished bow tie and cummerbund—a subtle yet powerful reminder that his spirit would forever walk with them.

Music was at the heart of Jenna and Michael’s Palm Springs dinner party celebration, setting the tone for every unforgettable moment. “Our DJ Chris Paul gave us the best advice early on: your ceremony music—both the processionals and recessionals—will set the vibe for the entire night,” Jenna recalled. 

With a deep love for soulful tunes, the couple crafted a musical journey that paid homage to classic Motown and R&B, infusing their day with timeless elegance. The ceremony began with the warm embrace of The Charmels’ “As Long as I’ve Got You,” perfectly echoing their commitment to each other. Michael made his grand entrance with Drake’s “Best I Ever Had,” igniting the crowd before the ceremony even got underway. When Jenna walked down the aisle to Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed,” the mood shifted from exuberant celebration to heartfelt emotion. And as the newlyweds made their way into their future together, Willie Hutch’s “I Choose You” with its cinematic horn intro served as the perfect, soul-stirring send-off.

The reception, held in the courtyard, was illuminated by string lights. Long tables dressed in white linens featured gold accents, textured centerpieces, and glowing candles for a warm, inviting atmosphere.

“We wanted the reception to feel like a Palm Springs dinner party at our dream home.” Personal touches included antique brass bowls holding custom wedding matches, rust-colored fringe lamps flanking the bar, and a vinyl record display—all reflecting their unique style without the stress of DIY.

The after-party, the couple’s most memorable part of the celebration, turned The Parker’s ballroom into a disco wonderland. Designed by Luna Design Studio, the space featured silver mylar balloons, shimmering tinsel, and disco balls. DJ Chris Paul kept the energy alive with music and videos, while late-night snacks and cocktails kept guests fueled for the dance floor.

“Jessica and her team from Beeloved Events went above and beyond. They made sure everything ran smoothly and took such good care of us.” A standout memory was when their planner gave them a private tour of the glowing reception space before guests arrived—a moment Jenna and Michael will always treasure.

Jenna and Michael found that having a clear vision and working with the right vendors made all the difference. Early conversations with potential vendors helped them find trusted recommendations, as the same names kept coming up.  Social media also gave them insight into each vendor’s style, making it easier to choose those who aligned with their vision. Sticking with local vendors not only cut down on travel costs but also meant working with a team that knew the venue inside and out, ensuring everything flowed seamlessly.”

By focusing on food, design, and planning, they created a Palm Springs dinner party that felt effortless and authentic. With a team of vendors they trusted, they were able to relax and enjoy the day, knowing every detail was in good hands.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Matthew David Studio
Event Planning – Bee Loved Events
Venue – Parker Palm Springs
Floral Design + Rentals – Luna Design Studios
Officiant – Fr. Geoff Farrow
DJ – DJ Chris Paul
Invitation Design – Minted
Hair Styling – Jose Neira
Wedding Dress – LOHO Bride
Groom’s Apparel – Canali
Menus + Escort Cards – Tasha Rae Designs

 

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16 Things Wedding Vendors Wish You Knew

June 16, 2024 | kailey

Image by Na Lia Weddings.

Planning a wedding alone can be a daunting task. That’s why it’s so important for wedding-planning couples to assemble their dream team of vendors from the get-go. Hiring vendors early sets you up for a more enjoyable, stress-free planning experience. They not only save you time sorting out details you might be unfamiliar with but also offer invaluable advice and suggestions backed by expertise. Ultimately, you invest in professionals for a reason. So trust in their knowledge to help seamlessly bring your wedding vision to life.

If you’re still in the process of hiring your team of vendors, we’ve got you covered. Get ready for a head start with some insider tips, tricks, and advice straight from the vendors themselves. Here’s the lowdown on everything wedding vendors wish you knew. 

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Extra 

Brittany Ford encourages couples to “Be extra.” Don’t be afraid to “show your personalities in details throughout your day. Remember that it’s your day. Not your bestfriends, not your parents, not your 2nd cousin’s, not your aunt Sally’s. Do not allow anyone to give you an opinion on any of your plans unless they are footing the bill. It’s all about you and the celebration; make it exactly how you want!” 

2. Don’t Ghost Potential Vendors 

When you’re searching for vendors, it’s common to reach out to several that catch your eye. Once you’ve contacted wedding planners, photographers, florists, and others, you’ll likely receive many responses. Your email will be filled with information from these vendors who have taken the time to answer your questions and outline their services. It’s essential not to ghost them. Respectfully let them know if you’ve chosen to work with a different vendor so they don’t have to worry about tracking you down later on. 

3. Budget Realistically

There’s nothing worse than underestimating wedding expenses. Unrealistic price expectations when meeting and booking vendors will result in coughing up more money or rearranging funds to cover unexpected costs. That’s why wedding vendors wish you knew that it’s crucial to do ample research and create a realistic wedding budget from the start. 

Once you and your partner have settled on a comfortable overall budget, you can decide how much you will spend on each wedding detail, like flowers, fashion, etc. The vendor’s expertise will come in handy for those unsure of the magic number they’ll need for each category. Contact potential vendors with your vision and discuss pricing and package options. Remember, budget transparency is key. 

4. Wedding Vendors Wish You Knew: Don’t Expect a Response 24/7 

When planning an event that’s this special, we know it takes top priority. That being said, it’s understandable that couples get frustrated when emails or phone calls aren’t responded to immediately. But it’s important to respect your vendor’s time and business hours. 

KAZ Events emphasizes the importance of patience, especially when requisitioning quotes from vendors. “When your planner starts requesting quotes, some vendors reply fast, and others take a week or more, especially if it is high season.” While your wedding is important, just remember that vendors “have a life too and family, and will sometimes require a day. In some cases, they don’t reply fast. Sometimes, they will have events during the week.”

5. Remember Pricing Reflects Behind-the-Scenes Work 

Many couples are shocked when they see realistic wedding prices. This includes hiring key vendors like a photographer. But it’s important to remember that “in terms of pricing, wedding photography isn’t just showing up the day of and shooting. Prices reflect photographers’ many services, including location scouting (for engagement sessions), timeline and wedding planning services, editing, etc. You’re not just booking for a day. You’re gaining many services provided to help make your day the best it can be,” says photographer Catie Eovaldi. 

Recommended reading: Wedding Photographer Cost, Hiring Schedule, And…Everything Else

6. Prioritize Quality Photographers Over Cheap 

While there are many ways to save money on your big day, vendors shouldn’t be one of those. This is especially true when it comes to your photographer. Brittany Ford reminds couples to “not cheap out on photography. You want to make sure you hire someone that you relate to, trust with your life and who will be willing to roll with the punches. You want to find someone who has years of experience and will know what choice to make when things go awry to ensure that you are not at all stressed out. Someone who will also be able to understand your body language to know when you and your new husband/wife are done with photos.”

“You only get this day once, so you want to make sure you hire someone that you can trust will hold up their end of the contract and deliver your photos to you in a timely, professional manner.  Wedding days are no joke; they are stressful, and you need to make sure you hire vendors who are reputable and have your best interests at heart, no matter what.” So before you go with the cheaper option, truly sit down and consider what matters most. 

Planned by Junebug vendor The Different Twins, photos by Linda Nari Photography.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up With Vendors 

Videographer Gaetano Di Giacomo finds it important to ensure couples know that “transparency is key, so make sure to check in with your vendors prior to the wedding day. After investing so much in your wedding day, it’s important to ensure you love the services you’re receiving. If you’re not thrilled with the samples or during a trial, speak up! Be honest with your vendors and ask to see different types of examples, such as flowers, table settings, wedding films, or pictures. Building trust with your suppliers and partnering with them is essential. They will be a big part of your day, and you want them to fit seamlessly with your celebration.”

While this is important during the planning period, it’s equally important after your big day. “If your wedding day doesn’t go exactly as planned, communicate your thoughts with your suppliers. Remember, we are all human, and mistakes can happen. It’s important to be clear and work together as a team.”

8. Be Familiar With What You Don’t Like 

When searching Pinterest for inspiration, odds are you’re saving all the ideas that catch your eye. While vendors love it when couples are familiar with what they like, knowing what they don’t like is just as important. Being transparent with both ends of the spectrum will give vendors an idea of what you want and allow them to better tailor their advice and suggestions specifically to you. 

9. Wedding Vendors Wish You Knew to Consider a Weekday Wedding

Your dream wedding doesn’t have to drain your bank account. For those searching for cheaper venue alternatives, KAZ Events recommends couples consider a weekday wedding. While it all depends on the location and venue preference, typically, “getting married during the week can be a bit cheaper than the weekend.” 

10. Once You’ve Made A Decision, Stick With It

Once you’ve made a decision, stick with it. Once you check an item off your checklist, don’t consistently revisit it. Although you pay for vendors’ services, making last-minute changes can sometimes be impractical or inconsiderate. Making changes every week closer to your wedding is a hassle for vendors, especially if they’ve already sorted out the details with other wedding professionals. 

11. Don’t Hold Back Emotions During Your Ceremony 

“The ceremony is this moment of the wedding, is perhaps the most beautiful, emotional, and above all, one of the main highlights,” which is why photographer Josep Maria Garrido puts 500% of their energy into it. And when it comes to this special moment, there are a few things to keep in mind to fully soak up the occasion and make for some stunning images. 

“When walking down the aisle, enter slowly. Nerves sometimes play tricks, and you may go too fast. And let yourselves be carried away by your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry, and if you want to laugh, laugh without fear!” Remember, this is all about you. So focus on one another,  “hold hands, look at each other, kiss each other’s shoulders, caress each other, don’t be shy!”

12. Don’t Use Rice for Ceremony Exit 

Throwing rice during the ceremony exit has been a wedding tradition we’ve seen time and time again. But photographer Josep Maria Garrido reminds couples, “Above all, do not give rice to anyone. It hurts, it’s annoying, and it stains. Instead, use petals or paper cannons (confetti), which give a super cool touch and exit with euphoria and enthusiasm. Plus, the photos turn out very fun!” 

13. You Don’t Need a Full Wedding Itinerary

Many assume you need to have a jam-packed itinerary full of activities. Well, photographer Matlai Photography is helping debunk that theory. She says, “You don’t have to plan lists of activities! Your wedding or elopement day doesn’t have to be back-to-back with events – in fact, giving yourself intentional downtime to be present is probably the best gift you can give yourself. Also, your guests will appreciate it!” 

14. Always Have a Plan B

“Whether you’re eloping or have a more traditional wedding, always be ready for a Plan B scenario.”  Matlai Photography reminds clients that “accommodating for weather or other circumstances can sometimes throw your day for a bit of a loop, but if you are 100% on board with your backup plan (which you should have!), then it won’t be a stressful game-day decision.”  

15. Stick With Your Partner All Day 

Snapping pictures, catching up with loved ones, hitting the dance floor—there are a million things going on during your wedding. While it’s standard for the nearlyweds to stay separate while getting ready, that doesn’t have to be the case for the entire event. After the ceremony, photographer Brittany Ford recommends you “stick together. Some couples split up, causing different memories of the night. Although that may sound like a good idea in hindsight, you don’t have any shared memories of the best day of your life to look back on together.”

16. Plan Extra Getting Ready Time

Junebug videographer and photographer Grand Jour reminds couples to “plan extra time for getting ready, especially for larger wedding parties.” He has captured “many weddings where the getting ready process took much longer than planned, and from there it’s just a stressful day for everyone, running against the clock. Also, plan a 30-minute window of absolutely nothing just before the ceremony, which allows you to catch up with the timeline if the getting ready process goes too long, and if not, it’s a nice wind-down and calm before the storm for the couple.”

Knowing your wedding is in good hands is key to a smooth planning process. While keeping all these things  vendors wish you knew in mind is crucial, ensuring you’re hiring experienced wedding professionals is equally important. For those just starting their vendor search, check out our vendor directory, filled with Junebug-approved vendors from around the globe. From florists to photographers, you’ll find all the wedding experts needed to turn your vision into a stunning reality.

Image by Grace Torres.

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This Villa Lena Wedding Inspiration Shoot Was Created By Magic Making Vendors

August 29, 2023 | riley

Image by Veronika Phillipp

When Junebug member and photographer Dan Sauer approached Junebug wanting to collaborate on a styled shoot in the heart of Tuscany, we were over the moon. After putting together mood boards for an engagement session, wedding, elopement, and editorial shoot, we let the wedding vendors take over, and magic was created. This is what Dan had to say about the day:

“When we embarked on this project, our primary objective was to meticulously showcase the craftsmanship of the Italian territory in a vintage and “Dolce Vita” atmosphere through careful planning and attention to detail, aiming to create a genuinely high-value experience for all vendors involved.”

With countless talented vendors coming together, it’s no wonder this Villa Lena wedding inspiration shoot has us craving a trip to Italy. So make yourself an Aperol spritz and get to scrolling because you’re not going to want to miss this styled shoot that proves that Italy really is the Bel Paese

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Veronika Phillipp

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Anna Ascari

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Hans Meyer

Image by Janine Truelove

Image by Janine Truelove

Image by Janine Truelove

Image by Laura Sottoriva

Image by Janine Truelove

Image by Lovise Gard

Image by Janine Truelove

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Veronika Phillipp

Image by Fulvio Bacchiega

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Terese Brandwold

Image by Kit Bøhnke

Image by Ingrid Tjernström

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

Image by Dan Sauer

 

The Wedding Team:

Event Planning – Bianco Bouquet
Venue + Flowers – Villa Lena
Drink Station – Paracelso
Cake – Tuscan Wedding Cakes
Calligrapher and Stationery – The Wedding Letters
Hair Styling + Makeup Artist – Beyouty
Wedding Dress – Ines di Santo + Milla Nova + Berta via Le Spose di Mori
Bridal Hair Accessories + Earrings – Jonida Ripani
Engagement Outfit – Boutique Alex
Engagement Rings – Giacomo Loppol
Groom’s Apparel – Carlo Pignatelli via Le Spose di Mori
Shoes – Mencherini Calzature
Tables, Furniture, Linens, Bars – Sofi Design
Table Set Mise en Place – Ginori 1735 + Mario Luca Giusti
Models – We Are Models IT
Fiat 500 and Vespa – Slow Hills

 

Thank you so much to Junebug member Dan Sauer for organizing and shooting this beautiful Villa Lena wedding shoot! We’re so lucky to have such talented wedding photographers as part of our network of wedding vendors. If you’re looking to make your own Italian wedding dreams come true, check out this guide with everything you need to know about planning an Italian destination wedding–from top cities to legal requirements to incorporating Italian culture into your day.

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This Tambor de Llano Wedding Is Proof That Magic Happens When Wedding Vendors Get Married

April 6, 2023 | kailey

Tambor de Llano Wedding

Opi, a wedding planner, and Joy Zamora, a wedding photographer, have both played key roles in bringing many mind-blowing celebrations to life. When it came to their time to tie the knot, it’s no surprise that the results were nothing short of magical. And to truly plan a celebration authentic to their love, this couple had no choice but to stretch their one-day wedding into a full weekend affair. 

To kick off the weekend the right way, this audacious couple was joined by their guests for an outdoor Indian pre-wedding party at Tambor de Llano. The following day, the same space was transformed into a dreamy venue with cascading orange flowers by Andaluflor and distressed area rugs. The couple added personality with the addition of an arch backdrop they designed together and had hand carved in Morocco. Framing the rolling mountains in the distance, the archway resembled a doorway opening into a new shared experience. 

After sealing the deal with a shot of mezcal, the real party began. The reception space was complete with one long banquet-style table that became the focal point. With pops-of-blue dinnerware, dainty floral centerpieces, and rattan pendant lights, the decor beautifully complimented the rural Spanish countryside. From the fashion to the reception tablescape,  photographer The Kitcheners captured every detail nature-loving couples have been searching for.

The Couple:

Opi and Joy

The Wedding:

Tambor de Llano, Cadiz, Spain

Pre-Wedding Gifts To Kickoff The Day  

Over the years, Joy has surprised me countless times with little unexpected gifts. I absolutely love receiving them, but I am not a big gift-giver myself. So for the wedding, I wanted to do something big for him, not only to repay him for all the thoughtful gifts but because he has always pushed me to become the person I dream of being and have the life I dream of having. So I arranged for a Motorbike to be delivered to our wedding venue, and on the morning of our wedding, I blindfolded him and led him to his surprise. He was shocked and so happy. It felt so good to start our day this way.

Loved Ones Showed Up From All Over The World For Their Tambor de Llano Wedding

I have been planning, designing, and coordinating weddings since 2015, and both Joy and I have been part of many love stories and mind-blowing celebrations, but you never quite imagine how your own wedding is going to be. We invited friends and family from all over the world– there were many small groups and clusters, and some guests even came alone. But after a few hours of meeting, it felt like one connected family. We are so proud of how our friends and family showed up for us and gave us all they had. It was beautiful, and we feel very fortunate to have such an incredible tribe.

Advice From The Bride: Everything Happens As It’s Meant To

The whole weekend was memorable, but the one moment that really stood out for us was our entrance into our Indian welcome party.  A few hours before the celebrations were due to start, Joy fell quite ill, and a thunderstorm teased the summer sky (the whole event was outdoors). This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Now I believe it was. That everything happens as it’s meant to. During the tearful moments walking up the hill to our guests, the dhol drummed through the mountains, and the sky opened up. We were greeted with cheers and an immense amount of joy, something more powerful than we’d ever felt. It was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. Being enveloped in kisses and hugs from the most amazing humans. It was the first time we had experienced the power of energy–all the love literally gave Joy his health back. 

This Nature-Loving Couple Showed Off Their Love For Nature With Hand-Carved Ceremony Decor 

Our ceremony was one of the big highlights for us; emotional, fun, and dreamy. We stood in front of a beautiful archway we designed together and had hand carved in Morocco. The arch was placed in front of the most breathtaking backdrop of mountains. We had water with jasmine flowers at our feet and a fire pit (we couldn’t light it because of being in a natural area in the height of summer). The four elements are an important part of our lives, and we wanted them to be a part of our vows.  

Sealing The Deal With A Shot Of Mezcal 

Our friend Ana Hinojosa, also an incredible wedding photographer, officiated our ceremony in both English and Spanish. After we said our vows, Ana surprised us with a shot of Mezcal, and when we turned to Salud our guests, we saw they all had a shot too. It was an epic moment. A sealing of some sort, and we all got to do it together. It was magic.

Hiring A Trusted Team Of Vendors Was Priority For Their Tambor de Llano Wedding

Hire a team you love and connect with because nothing can go wrong when you have people who have your back. Our videographer, Monika Frias, and photographer, The Kitcheners, created a special moment for us during our first dance. They had all of our guests put their phone lights on, so when we danced to ‘No Stars’ by Rebekah Del Rio, all we could see were stars around us. Thanks to our vendors, it was a magical moment we’ll remember forever. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – The Kitcheners
Event Planning – Open the Door Events
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Tambor de Llano
Floral Design – Andaluflor
Catering – Canela and Clavo
DJ – Aiwaa
Live Music – Abbi Fernandez
Videography – Monika Frias
Invitation Design – Better with Co
Makeup Artist + Hair Stylist – Irene Tavitel
Wedding Dress – Kate Willa
Bridal Accessories – Moonchild Bridal
Groom’s Accessories – Crown of the Vagabond
Rings – Rhodes Wedding Co
Rentals – Be Lounge

 

Congratulations to Opi and Joy on their Tambor de Llano wedding. And big thanks to photographer The Kitcheners for capturing the full weekend of festivities, planned with intention and a whole lot of love. This celebration will have couples re-evaluating their priorities and breaking free of those traditional wedding boundaries.  

If Opi and Joy’s wedding has you feeling inspired to extend your special day into a multi-day wedding weekend, we’ve got the logistics covered. Check out our how-to guide for planning a weekend wedding itinerary packed with Junebug-approved tips and even a sample itinerary.

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200+ Amazing Black Wedding Vendors to Follow on Instagram

January 3, 2023 | Junebug Weddings

Image by Vivian Chen. Planning by A Monique Affair

From Atlanta to London and beyond, Black wedding vendors are producing some of the most stunning weddings on the planet. To help you celebrate your day as beautifully and as true to you as possible, we’ve rounded up over 200 Black wedding vendors to follow on Instagram. These professionals–many of whom have won awards and have features in publications like Junebug Weddings and Vogue–include photographers and videographers, planners and florists, hair and makeup artists, food and drink vendors, DJs, and celebrants, stationery designers, and more. Whether you’re looking for a talented professional to hire in your area or you want to add a little extra beauty to your Instagram feed, we hope this list of amazing Black wedding vendors is a useful starting point.

P.S. In case you missed it, here is our promise to you, our readers, to show up now and always for Black couples and artists.

Update: Due to page load time and the variety of vendor types included in our list, we’re not able to include an image to represent every artist’s work. If you are reading this and want to find professionals who inspire you, we recommend starting by checking out the accounts for vendors located in your area.

Black Wedding Photographers and Videographers

Adonye Jaja – Denver

Alex Tome – Portugal

Alicia Wiley Photography – Baltimore

Amber Marlow – NYC

Amy Anaiz Photo – NYC

Joshua Dwain – NYC

Kesha Lambert – NYC

The DV Image – NYC

Joy And Everette Photo – Georgia + NYC

Love N’ Pixels Films – NYC + New Jersey

Yamean Studios – NYC + New Jersey

Avonne Photography – North Carolina

Andre Brown Photo – Atlanta

Brich Photography – Atlanta

Crystal Artis – Atlanta

Fotos by Fola – Atlanta

LaJoy Photography – Atlanta

Taylor Fields Productions – Atlanta

Michelle Davina Photo – Atlanta

Honey Sage Photo Co – Kentucky

Mo Davis Photography – Louisiana + Alabama

Raphael Lionel Photo – Alabama

YNOT Images – Alabama

Shira Marie Photo – Arkansas + Tennessee

Lininger Rood Photo – Nashville

Averie Sun Photography – DMV + Pennsylvania

Chip Dizard – Washington D.C.

Kiyah C Photography – Atlanta + Washington D.C.

Renee Hollingshead – Florida + Washington D.C.

Michelle Harris Studios – Washington D.C.

Phylicia Willis – Washington D.C. + Connecticut

Rhea Whitney – Houston + Washington D.C.

The Curly Camera Girl – Virginia

Bri McDaniel Photography – Seattle

By Darius – Southern California

The SoCal Standard – San Diego

The Owl Weddings – Los Angeles

Brandon Bibbins – California

Lavishly Lux Studio – Dallas

The Amber Studio – Dallas

The Grace Pictures – Dallas

Chettarat Photography – Detroit

Emily Melissa Photo – Chicago

Savannah Linn Photo – Ohio

Pinxit Photo – St. Louis

Hey Tay Photo – Kansas City

Image by Hellen Oliveira

Seize The Moment Studios – Toronto

Bigg Ayo Studios – UK

Carla Thomas Photo – UK

Clive Blair – UK

Deru Studios – UK

Gione Silva – UK

Igor Demba – UK

Jonathan Ellis Photo – UK

Love Luella – UK

Marni V Photography – UK

Relm Photography – UK

The CA Brand – UK

Tanya Weekes – UK

Vassell Weddings – UK

Josephine Elvis Photo – London

Wolf And Co. – London

It’s Anna Leona – Japan

Black Wedding Planners and Florists

A Monique Affair – Oakland

Flawless Weddings Events – Los Angeles

Florals By Lady Buggs – Los Angeles

Offerings Co – Los Angeles

Your Day Your Way Coordinators – Southern California

Vision Into Reality Events – Southern California

Creative Flow Co – San Francisco

The Road To Marriage – California + Texas

P3 Events – Las Vegas

She Rocks Events – Houston

Truly Ewers Events – Dallas + Atlanta

The Wild Mother – Oklahoma City

Be My Guest Events – St. Louis

Coda’s Events – St. Louis

Divine Events STL – St. Louis

Dejanae Events – Chicago

Event Shoppe Chicago – Chicago

Kesh Events – Chicago

M Dawn Floral – Detroit

Maggie Rose Events – Maryland

Davis Row – NYC

K Belles Design – NYC

Monica Relyea Events – NYC

Envisioned Event By Suzette – NYC + New Jersey

Fallon Carter Events – NYC + Los Angeles

Alisha Simone – New Jersey

ILE Events – New Jersey

Andrew Roby Events – Washington D.C.

Lily V Events – Pennsylvania

Oniee’s Engagements – North Carolina

T. Michelle Weddings And Events – North Carolina

Michelle Harrison Events – Georgia

S&K Event Design Rentals – Georgia

Atlanta WEP – Atlanta

B. Moore Events – Atlanta

CM Productions ATL – Atlanta

Enraptured Events – Atlanta

Events By Jes – Atlanta

Events By Mesita – Atlanta

Fabulous Fox Designs – Atlanta

Imperial Events Inc – Atlanta

J. Hill Events – Atlanta

Kaycia Rhone Events – Atlanta

My Party Divas – Atlanta

The Perfect Creation – Atlanta

Michelle Norwood Events – Louisiana

Petals Studio – Tennessee

Just Wright Event Planning – Florida

Oh Niki Occasions – Florida

Royal Events And Services – Tampa

Jamaica Wedding Concierge – Jamaica

Celebration Events – Canada

Teantona Event Connoisseurs – Ontario

Latitude Concierge Travels – Toronto

Liv Chic Events – Toronto

Tems Delight Events – Toronto

Chic By Nicole – Toronto + Paris

Keep In Secret Paris Wedding – Paris

image by @alex.tome

A Flair To Remember Event – UK

Afmena Events – UK

By Chenai – UK

Events On Wheels – UK

Kate Wren Flowers – UK

Manola Luxe Weddings – UK

Memories 4 U Weddings – UK

Mrs Wedding Planner – UK

Natalie Solanke Weddings – UK

Queen Of Hearts Floral Design – UK

Roe Weddings – UK

Winz Loves Events – UK

Soiree & Co – UK

Benessamy Weddings – UK + The Caribbean

AVE Creations – London

Carmela Weddings – London

Pearline Events – London

Perfectly Planned 4 You – London

Nulyweds – Portugal

Blue Olive Events – South Africa

Infinite Luxe Weddings – South Africa

Dure Events – International

Black Wedding Hair and Makeup Artists

T’Nique J Hair – Los Angeles

Salon Philosophie – San Francisco

Beauty 2 Behold – Atlanta

Blushed By Naomie – Atlanta

NXB Studio – Edmonton

Brides By Aina.M – UK

Charis Hair – UK

Chatel Noire Hair – UK

Joy Adenuga – UK

Hair 2 The Throne Bridal – London

Joyce Connor Makeup – London

Makeupology – London

Kemi Kings Makeup – UK

Triphina Michelle MUA – DMV

photo by @alex.tome

Black-Owned Cake, Catering, and Beverage Businesses

Bubbles And Brews CA – Temecula

Nicole Bakes Cakes – Los Angeles

From Scratch With Love Catering – Bay Area

Sophisticated Delights – Texas + Louisiana

Word Of Mouth Catering – Austin

Sugar Spoon Desserts – Minnesota

La Patisserie Choquette – St. Louis

De La Crème Studio – St. Louis

Bubbles And Brews Philly – Philadelphia

Groovy Deliciousness – Philadelphia

Woodstone Bakery & Cafe – Fayetteville

Lyght House Cocktails – Atlanta

Not A Crumb Cakeist – Atlanta

Sweet Details ATL – Atlanta

Cakes By La’Meeka – Georgia

Let Us Toast JA – Jamaica

Elegant Fruit Events – Toronto

Fifi’s Gallery – Liverpool

Raamona Makes Cakes – Cheshire

Berry And Brie – London

Cakes By BIMS – UK

Little Cake Garden – UK

Monannie Cakes – UK

Plumb And Rabbitts Cake Studio – UK

The Hunters Cocktails – UK

Black Wedding Officiants and Celebrants

Your Custom Ceremony – Southern California

Choose Human Weddings – Atlanta

Married By Rev Roxy – NYC

Hold Fast Ceremonies – UK

Jamie Walker Celebrant – UK

Jennifer Patrice Celebrant – UK

Michelle the Funky Celebrant – UK

Sharon Burt Your Celebrant – UK

Black-Owned Wedding Fashion Businesses

Pantora Bridal – NYC + LA

Julie Harris Designs – Los Angeles

Maggi Simpkins – Los Angeles

Dreamers & Lovers – California

Naama & Anat Bridal – Austin

SuReina Bridal – Houston

Dolly Couture Bridal – Detroit

LeeAnne’s Luxury Bridal – Detroit

Joy Abendmode Bridal – Michigan

Elite Secrets Bridal – Baltimore

Garnish Boutique – Baltimore

Curvaceous Couture Bridal – Maryland

Jean-Ralph Thurin – New Jersey

Brides By Nona – Atlanta

Kosibah – NYC + London

Kate Edmonson Bridal Couture – London

Rita Colson – London

Kabiru Abu – London

Ange B Designs – London

Naomi Deru Bridal – Kent

Felisiti Greis – UK

Black Wedding Bands, DJs, and Emcees

DJ Will Gill – Los Angeles

DJ Chuck D Supreme – California

Honey+Vinyl – NYC + LA

DJ Trumastr – NYC

Mobile DJ Services – Dallas

DJ Antron ATL – Atlanta

Exquisite Sounds Entertainment – Atlanta

One Sound And Entertainment – Georgia

DJ Blitz Events – UK

DJ Dave B – UK

Black-Owned Stationery Businesses

Amanda Reid Designs – Austin + Online

Lepenn Designs – Detroit + Online

Robbins Nest Design Studio – NYC

Papered Wonders – Atlanta

Mademoiselle D Design – Canada + Online

Ivelisse Designs – Online

Sandi Spells – Online

If you’re looking for even more Black wedding vendors, check out the Black Experience Expo, a showcase of artistry and sophistication by Black vendors. And if you’re a Black wedding professional who wants to join our vendor directory, learn more and apply here!

Image by McKenzie McNeil

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Why You Shouldn’t Negotiate with Wedding Vendors

August 18, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

Have you noticed the infinite amount of wedding planning information on the internet? Yeah, us too—it’s kind of our thing. The Junebug team made a commitment to equip our couples with real, honest advice. So, when we read articles about negotiating with wedding vendors—specifically how to “ask for discounts like a boss” and “friendly haggle”—we wanted to set the record straight.

If you don’t read any further—though we hope you do—here’s a simple summary: You really shouldn’t negotiate with wedding vendors.

Stay with us here. You can and should discuss your budget with them. In fact, you can definitely ask vendors—especially wedding planners—about their best wedding budgeting tips. Some vendors may even be willing to help you brainstorm ways to adjust your budget. However, we never recommend you ask them to devalue the cost of their services.

We Feature Vendors

You should also know Junebug proudly features a carefully selected bunch of photographers, planners, florists, DJs, and more. We work with them to curate helpful advice we can provide to our readers (you!) at no cost. Whether you stumbled upon this blog post wondering if it’s ever okay to negotiate with the team responsible for creating your day, or you’re simply interested in our two cents, we hope you’ll find the—seriously—unbiased answers you’re looking for.

A Few Tips to Consider Before Meeting With Vendors:

  • Research the market. There’s a vendor for every budget, style, and experience you’re looking for—it just takes time to find them. Not sure where to start? Visit our vendor directory for a carefully curated list of wedding industry pros. 
  • Determine your must-haves. Make a list of your priorities. Vendors will help you know where to allocate the majority of your budget and where you can cut back.
  • Make a budget. When making your budget, keep in mind must-haves and market research. Know what you can afford before making any calls. 

Once you’re ready to meet with potential vendors, we recommend reading these tips for making the most out of your meetings—even if they’re virtual.

Professional Vendors Will Enhance Your Wedding Experience 

We know you care about working with the best-of-the-best wedding vendors. Keep in mind, these vendors are small business owners. Your payment keeps their business running, feeds their family, and allows them to serve you with the professionalism and attentive care that inherently comes from working with a small business.

We understand it can be difficult to think of a vendor—especially a solo person—as a business, so here are a few scenarios to help frame your thinking:

  • It’s the end of the month. Your boss asks if they can keep a portion of your paycheck because they can’t afford to give you the full amount this month. Your boss really loves the work you do for them and hopes you’ll continue to work for their company regardless of how much you’re paid.
  • There’s a local restaurant in town everyone’s been raving about. The chef has even won awards for some of the restaurant’s specialties. Would you call beforehand to ask for a discount because you want to try their food but can’t afford the price?

If you’ve found a wedding vendor whose business would make your dreams come true prepare to pay the price for the expertise, time, and value they bring to your wedding experience. 

Vendor-Client Relationships are Important

There are certain vendors who you spend a great deal of time with on the day-of—and before—your wedding. For example, you’ll likely spend more time with your photographer and videographer than anyone else on your wedding day. It’s important to choose vendors you enjoy speaking with and can form a genuine relationship with before your big day. 

The fastest way to make sure you’re starting off right is also the most simple. Kick off your client-vendor relationship on the right foot by showing you respect the price of their invaluable services.

Surely you don’t intend to, but when you ask for a discount or try to negotiate with wedding vendors, the message you often inadvertently send is: “the value of your service or the work you will do for me is less than what you think it is.” Ouch.

Being Upfront About Your Budget is Okay

If you love a particular vendor’s work, you can reach out to them and be upfront about your budget. It’s pretty difficult to offend someone by telling them you admire their work! Keep your message short and sweet by letting them know you’d love to work with them and what your budget is. If they aren’t able to meet your budget, they might be able to recommend another vendor with a similar style.

Don’t Negotiate with Wedding Vendors, Balance Your Budget

Remember earlier when you prioritized the services that are most important to you? Let’s revisit that list. We are confident you’ll find wedding professionals who match your dreams, needs, and budget. It might just take a little rearranging in your budget plan. 

For example, if lush, enormous floral arrangements overflowing with the world’s most stunning blooms have been something you dreamed of since you were 12—we want you to have those super stunning floral creations. However, the right florist for the job might fall outside of your original budget. 

Now is the time to look through the list and see if there’s another area of the wedding that you can cut back. Maybe those top-notch ceremony chairs (a detail you and most guests won’t notice on the big day) are worth sacrificing to make your floral dreams come true. Don’t be afraid to get creative and check out the advice from our real weddings to see what couples remember most about their wedding day.

We hope this advice has been helpful to you. Navigating wedding etiquette is stressful but it doesn’t have to be—that’s why we’re here. Our dream is that you hire a wedding team who will be a perfect fit for you and your budget. Wondering whether or not you should tip the vendors you hire? Work those tips into your budget ahead of time. We cover all of your questions in this post about tipping your wedding vendors here. 

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Should I Tip Wedding Vendors?

August 4, 2020 | Junebug Weddings


photo by Karra Leigh Photography

Imagine this: It’s the end of your wedding night. You’ve just exited the venue and said “goodbye” to all of your guests. A getaway car whisks you away—hopefully headed to a cozy hotel or maybe out to a bar with the closest members of your crew. You did it! Whew!

Back at the venue, your photographer and videographer are packing up their things, the florist scurries around to gather leftover arrangements before everyone has to get out (your vendors will refer to this as the strike time). There’s still a buzz of excitement in their hearts—and, realistically, a bit of relief and exhaustion from the diligent work they’ve done to make your wedding dreams come true. In the middle of the hustle and bustle, your planner hands them an envelope.

What’s in the envelope? A tip. Or, maybe a handwritten note. We’ll get into those details in just a minute.

We Feature Vendors

Before we continue, we wanted to make it clear that Junebug proudly features a carefully selected bunch of the world’s best photographers, planners, florists, DJs, and more. We even talked to a few of them for the purposes of writing this article. So, whether you stumbled upon this blog post wondering about the etiquette of tipping the team responsible for your beautiful day, or you’re genuinely interested in our two cents, we hope you’ll find the—seriously—unbiased answers you’re looking for.

In this article we cover the following questions about tipping your wedding vendors:

  • Should I tip my wedding vendors at all?
  • Which vendors should we tip?
  • How much do we tip each vendor?
  • What are some alternatives to cash tips?

You should leave this article feeling confident about tipping—or not tipping—your wedding vendors.


photo by Los Ébano; see more from this real wedding here.

Tipping Wedding Vendors Internationally

When we sat down to write this all-encompassing totally helpful article for you babes, we got to thinking about our international couples and jetsetters who tie the knot abroad. Since Junebug is based in America—Austin, Texas to be precise—we took to our trusted planners around the world to provide their two-cents on tipping. As expected, tipping varies quite a bit by country.

Wherever you choose to get married (have we mentioned we love destination weddings?), make sure to familiarize yourself with the country’s tipping practices. Ask your planner, venue, or other vendors about gratuity expectations. If you’ve chosen your team responsibly, we’re sure they will provide you with all the information you need—without taking advantage of you.

Here’s What Some of Our International Planners Had to Say:

Henny, The Wedding Mood — Bali, Indonesia
The wedding and event industry in Bali doesn’t get tipped at all. As an independent planner, we can’t rely on tips, and since the entire wedding is fully paid off before the event even starts, neither the guests nor the couple carry cash with them.

“Cash and carry” beverage bars on private, high-end events are an almost unheard of thing. The guests of a destination wedding pay so much for their flights and accommodation to celebrate with the couple that it’s an unspoken rule that guests would never be expected to pay for their drinks at the bar, for instance. I could imagine that a guest or couple would tip maybe the wedding singer, DJ or other performers if they were absolutely over-the-top amazing, but again, if it’s an expat I don’t think they would do that.

Mango Weddings — Riviera Maya, Mexico
Tipping is an ambiguous topic here in Mexico. While everyone of course is happy to get tips anytime, it’s not a common practice by local customers. What we tell our international clients usually is that they are welcome to tip anyone they feel provided exceptional service.

Transportation drivers do rely on tips to survive. Tip depends on the distance, but anywhere from $5 to $10 USD per trip is considered generous.

Marie Alsleben Wedding Planning & Design — Düsseldorf, Germany
Well here in Germany, it’s very relaxed. It’s common that you tip the service in the venue. Normally, in Germany it is 10% in a restaurant, but as we are talking of thousands of Euros, it’s common that the couples give about 3-4€ per guest. So, if they have 100 guests, they would tip the service with 300/400€.

A lot of couples invite the photographer, DJ, and wedding planner for the dinner, so that can be seen as a kind of a tip. Also, a lot of couples write a short letter to the vendors and give them a little present.


photo by Madison Katlin Photography; see more of this real wedding here.

Wedding Vendors You Should Always Tip

If you’ve ever gone to a restaurant or enjoyed a drink at a bar, you probably didn’t think twice about tipping your server or bartender. The same should apply for those services at your wedding. Some companies will include gratuity in their bill—be sure to thoroughly read all contracts!

Vendors who expect a tip:

  • Hair & Make Up Artist (15-25% per person)
  • Officiant (donation up to $300 to their organization or a tip of $50 to $100)
  • Caterer (usually tip is included as part of the service fee but if it’s not, 20% of the bill—before tax)
  • Wait Staff (15-20% of the total bill)
  • Bartenders (10-15% of the pre-tax bill)
  • Transportation (15-20% of the bill)
  • Band ($25-50 per band member)
  • DJ ($50-150)

Some Vendors Aren’t Listed Above

There may be some wedding vendors who don’t require a tip, but would be honored to receive one. Here’s the thing when it comes to tipping your wedding vendors: a tip, or kind gesture of appreciation, is always appreciated.

Photographer and Videographers

When thinking about whether or not you should tip wedding vendors, you likely thought about the vendors who are with you the entire day—the ones who you likely spend the most time getting to know. Depending on the size of your wedding, they might have hired staff to shoot the wedding with them. They put in effort to be physically present on your big day and then do more work after to ensure the images they captured reflect the beauty of it. Their work is reflected in their invoices, but tips or other gestures are always appreciated.

Wedding Planner

Your wedding planner and team are also likely to be your saving grace throughout the entire wedding planning process. They are there to make your lives easier, and we hope they exceed your expectations with flying colors. Again, they would greatly appreciate a tip or kind gesture of appreciation of their hard work—especially if you feel they went above and beyond to make your day special.

Florist

If you’ve invested in florals, especially large floral installations, your floral team will be hard at work to make sure they look picture-perfect for your day. In some areas, it’s expected to tip the installation crew (the people who load everything in and out). However, your florist likely covered that in your bill. A tip would surely be appreciated, as would a “thank you” letter or small gift.


photo by Catalina Jean Photography; see more of this real wedding here.

Cash Tip Alternatives for Wedding Vendors

For other vendors, sometimes a cash tip just isn’t in the budget. That’s okay! We get it, and so do they. After years of talking to thousands of wedding vendors, we can confidently say there are things that can mean even more than a tip. For example, a handwritten thank you note.

You’d be surprised how many wedding vendors—especially those who own their own small business—will hang on to these notes and revisit them often. Expressing gratitude and appreciation truly does go a long way.

If you’re trying to think of a few other ideas, here are ways to show appreciation for your wedding team:

  • Reserve a seat for them at your reception.
  • Send them a thoughtful thank you note.
  • Leave a review on their website or vendor profile.
  • Gift a spa day or your favorite relaxation candle.
  • Recommend their services to family and friends.
  • Share about their business on your social media accounts.
  • Tag them in social media posts about your wedding.

While we’re on the topic of showing appreciation, it’s always great to learn about common wedding vendor etiquette before the big day.

When and How to Tip Your Wedding Vendors

Prepare your tips in advance! Trust us, you don’t want to be scrambling around for cash at the end of your wedding night. Grab a few envelopes—we really love these compostable options—and label them according to each vendor. You could choose to include a note with the money or simply stash the cash and seal the envelope! Some vendors might also have an option to tip on your final invoice (if they use a system like Honeybook), however, it’s not required to add the tip there. Feel free to wait until the night-of to hand them a cash tip.

While we like to assume every boss is a responsible one, we have heard stories of tips not making it to the appropriate person. If you’d prefer to tip your vendors at the end of the night, we recommend having someone you highly trust hand the envelopes to each vendor. This could be a parent or your wedding planner—just make sure you trust them with delivering the tips accordingly and simply remembering to do so.


photo by Daniela Nizzoli

Junebug Reader Questions about Tipping Wedding Vendors

Question: Do I need to tip my wedding vendors who offer small specialty services (bar rental, coffee car, photo booth)?
Answer: For services such as bar rentals or coffee cars, we recommend you tip as you would if you were a patreon of their establishment. So, yes.
It’s also important to inform your guests if there will be a cash bar and tip jar. If you don’t want your family and friends to worry about tipping for their beverages, make sure you take care of the vendors directly. For photo booths and other small, specialty vendors, use your discretion. If they totally knocked your socks off and provide an exceptional service, a tip or kind gesture is going to be appreciated.

Question: Do the bridesmaids tip the makeup/hair people or is that the bride’s job?
Answer: This depends on who’s paying for the services. Have you asked your bridesmaids to pay for their own hair and makeup? If so, they’re responsible for tipping. It might be nice to remind them that’s common practice—especially if they haven’t been a part of a wedding before!

Question: Should independent vendors be tipped differently than those who work for an owner of a company?
Answer: Follow the guidelines based on the vendor category for this one. For example, if the vendors are working for a large catering company, it’s likely more appropriate to tip each member of the wait/catering staff versus the owner of the company. Use this same rule-of-thumb for the other vendor categories, keeping in mind the size of the business. Small businesses may have employees working for them, but the owner of the company likely contributes just as much to the day as their staff. 

We hope you’re feeling confident about tipping your wedding vendors appropriately. As always, feel free to reach out to us on social media with more questions, and be sure to stay tuned for our weekly wedding advice posts!


photo by Karra Leigh Photography

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Everything You Need to Know About Hiring Your Wedding Vendors

August 4, 2020 | kailey

Image by Rachel Black. See more of this real wedding here.

Between family, friends, and wedding vendors there’s a lot of people involved in bringing to life your dream wedding. That’s why your guest-list and wedding vendor choices shouldn’t be taken lightly. And lucky for you, we know a thing or two about wedding vendors—being one of the top resources for finding wedding professionals from all around the world. 

If you’re currently in the process of hiring your wedding vendors, we’re here to help. From costs to expect and red flags to look out for, here’s everything you need to know about hiring your wedding vendors with as little stress as possible. 

Wedding Vendor Costs 

Before searching the internet for your dream wedding vendors, it’s crucial to finalize your wedding day budget. Sit down with your significant other and figure out a number that’s comfortable for you both. With that number in mind you can better understand how much money you should set aside for each wedding day element. If vendors are a top priority for you—hint: they should be—you’ll want to allocate more money to that area. 

Junebug Tip: 

You should discuss your budget with any potential wedding vendors but don’t try to negotiate pricing with them. If you’ve found an industry pro you want to work with, be prepared to pay for their time, expertise, and the value they bring to your wedding. 

Recommended reading: Wedding Photographer Cost, Hiring Schedule, And…Everything Else and How Much Does A Wedding Videographer Cost 

Image by Eastlyn & Joshua. See more of this real wedding here.

When Should You Start Looking For Wedding Vendors? 

After finalizing your wedding budget, selecting a date, and booking a venue it’s time to start assembling your dream team. Every wedding planning timeline is different from person to person. But, a good rule of thumb is to kickstart your vendor search ten to thirteen months before your wedding. We think you deserve the best and the best book up quickly. 

Getting an early head start in your vendor search is also a great way to reduce your wedding planning stress and avoid having to make any rash decisions.  

How Do You Find Trusted Wedding Vendors? 

If you’re searching for top-notch wedding vendors, congratulations you’ve made it to the right place. Junebug Weddings is your first stop along your vendor search. Whether you’re looking for a photographer you just click with, a planner fit to bring your vision to life, or a videographer that’ll turn moments into memories—we take pride in connecting you with trusted professionals in our vendor directory.

On top of our vendor directory, we recommend sourcing vendors on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. All of the images you save for inspiration didn’t come out of thin air. A group of talented vendors worked together to bring every element—the table setting, bouquets, wedding cake, and ceremony backdrop—together. When you find details you appreciate, take the time to visit the professional’s websites. 

What To Look For In Vendors 

When starting your vendor search, you might be surprised by the amount of options you have. With endless choices this wedding planning task can quickly become overwhelming. On top of trusting your gut instinct, here are a few things to look out for when sifting through wedding vendors. 

The first thing is, do they have a website? If the professional doesn’t have a website they may lack experience or professionalism. Once you’re on that website, there are a couple of important pages you should browse—their portfolio and About Me page. Their portfolio gives you an idea of the types of weddings they capture, as well as a feel for their overall style. You may notice a consistency in their work, and if it resonates with you keep them on your list. 

There are a lot of red flags to look out for when hiring your wedding vendors. A few of those being poor communication, no reviews, and not having galleries of their work online. To avoid hiring vendors you’ll later regret, check out these red flags to look out for. 

Image by The Family Films. See more of this real wedding here.

Interviewing Potential Wedding Vendors 

Once you’ve officially narrowed down your list to just a few top vendor prospects the next step is reaching out for an interview. While you don’t need a sit down with every one of your wedding vendors, meeting the key players you’ve chosen to prioritize—like your photographer, planner, or videographer—is crucial. 

Meeting face to face will give you a space to clearly communicate expectations and figure out logistics. But, it’s also a great way to gauge your comfort levels with the person behind the business. Much like any interview, the vibe you get from the person is just as important as the questions you ask. Hiring vendors you trust and feel comfortable with is the best way to eliminate wedding day stress. 

When meeting with potential wedding vendors, “winging it” simply won’t do. Come prepared with a list of questions you and your significant other want to ask. In addition to questions, it’s also a great idea to bring along a mood board complete with details you want to incorporate on your day. This leaves no room for miscommunication—and during your wedding planning process that’s exactly what you want!

Recommended reading: What to Ask your Potential Wedding Photographer (And What Not to Ask)

You’ve hunted down, interviewed, and hired your wedding vendors—congrats! Now that you’ve assembled your dream team, it’s time to think ahead to your big day. From tipping your vendors to providing a catered meal, there’s still a lot of behind-the-scenes details that have to be prepped. Lucky for you, we’ve created a guide filled with the wedding vendor etiquette you need to know.

Image by Amber Vickery Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

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Red Flags to Keep an Eye Out for When Hiring Your Wedding Vendors

June 30, 2020 | Junebug Weddings

photo by Kape Photography

Wedding planning should be as fun and stress-free as possible! One important way to reduce anxiety from the start is to only hire professionals you trust. Sounds obvious, but some couples end up regretting their vendor choices for things like mediocre customer service before the big day, or worse, an unsatisfactory performance on the big day or even after all is said and done. To avoid one of those horror stories of your own, we recommend keeping an eye out for these red flags when hiring your wedding vendors.

Before you read on, here’s a quick roundup of red flags to keep an eye out for when hiring your wedding vendors:

  • Poor Communication
  • No Reviews
  • An Out-of-Date Website
  • No Full Galleries of Their Work
  • The Feeling in Your Gut

photo by Phylicia Willis Photography

Red Flag #1 – Poor Communication

During the planning process, you should always feel that your wedding vendors are treating you as a top priority. It is especially important to be on the lookout for red flags for poor communication during the inquiry period because it can be a sign of underwhelming customer service to come. If your vendors are taking weeks to email you back or are flaky about setting up Skype meetings, you may want to go another direction. Do keep in mind that the vendors you’re talking to are running businesses and may not be able to always respond within just a few hours, but if you’re following up with them before they follow up with you in a week’s time, that’s not a great sign!

photo by Lilly Red Photography

Red Flag #2 – No Reviews

No reviews to be found across the entire Internet is a major red flag, but it’s equally unsettling if a vendor only has reviews available on their own site. It’s awesome if a vendor wants to highlight the great experiences of some of their past clients on their personal website; however, it is very important that you can read reviews on an unbiased platform. It usually isn’t as malicious as this sounds, but what are they hiding as a professional if they don’t allow public reviews?

photo by Melissa Marshall

Red Flag #3 – An Out-of-Date Website

Professionals should be keeping their website up-to-date for many reasons. First, a seriously out-of-date website can be a sign that a vendor is no longer providing services, which isn’t great news for you! Second, it’s important that you are seeing the latest work from the professional as their style may have slightly changed since they last updated their site. A professional’s website helps you set a certain level of expectations about them and their work, so the hope is that these expectations are based on what is current and not what used to be.

photo by Jordan Voth

Red Flag #4 – No Full Galleries of Their Work

When it comes to hiring your wedding photographer, be sure to request full galleries to get an idea of how they capture the entire wedding day. Just because a professional produces beautiful work on Instagram doesn’t necessarily mean they have consistent coverage throughout a wedding. You should know that you are hiring someone who will provide the same attention to detail on candid photos of Grandma from your reception as the images they post on Instagram.

While non-photographers may not have full galleries of their work to show, it’s still important to have access to a more in-depth look at their work than what social posts can provide. For instance, for a florist, what does their full wedding design look like versus weddings where they only designed the bridal bouquet? Remember, you aren’t asking too much of vendors to see more of their work before making your decision!

photo by For Love & Light

Red Flag #5 – The Feeling in Your Gut

Above all else, you have to trust that feeling in your gut if you sense something is off. That’s the biggest red flag of all! Does something about the professional’s work turn you off? Did they make you feel unimportant or like you weren’t “cool” enough during your Skype call? Would you not be friends with this person in real life? You may not end up being best buds with every one of your vendors after the I do’s are done, but there is something to be said for feeling comfortable around a person and being a good fit personality-wise.

Looking for credible vendors with rave reviews!? Be sure to check out our vendor directory!

RECOMMENDED READING:

Everything You Need to Know About Hiring Your Wedding Vendors

15 Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid Before Your Big Day

photo by Peyton Rainey Photography

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8 Tips for Productive Video Meetings with Your Wedding Vendors

April 23, 2020 | Junebug Weddings


photo by Love, Anneliese Photography

It’s official! Video meetings with your wedding vendors is the next big thing. Well, at least until we’re all able to leave our homes again. We’ve been quite impressed with how quickly wedding vendors of all kinds—from florists to planners and even catering teams—have adapted to keep their couples’ afloat during this crazy time. If you’re new to video meetings, or just unsure where to start, we’ve come up with eight helpful tips to have you rocking video meetings with your wedding vendors!

Here are our eight tips for video meetings with your wedding vendors:

  • Create a vision board
  • Write down a list of questions, and send it beforehand
  • Test your video conference system
  • Ask for samples
  • Determine an appropriate time limit
  • Speak up about concerns or ask for more images after the call
  • Set post-isolation meeting goals
  • Trust your team

Be sure to scroll all the way through for explanations and additional advice!

Create a vision board.

We love vision boards! If you’ve been dreaming of all the little details for your day, now is the time to head over to Pinterest or Instagram and start grabbing all the inspo. Having a mood board will help you articulate your desires to your team and gives them something to “take away” after the call.

RECOMMENDED READING: 5 Steps for Making a Wedding Mood Board


photo by Adri Mendez

Write down a list of questions, and send it beforehand.

Take the time to write down questions you have for each of your vendors so you can stay on track. As a courtesy to them, it’s a great idea to send over your questions via email beforehand so they can prepare accordingly. If you don’t know what questions to ask, that’s OK! Most vendors will know the general things to go over with the two of you during the call. And, if nothing else, just get to know them and see if it’s a personality fit.

Here are a few common questions to ask that are related to COVID-19: 

  • Have you updated your contract to cover future pandemics or situations similar to COVID-19?
  • How are you currently handing rescheduled wedding dates?
  • Can we put a soft-hold on our date until more certainty comes surrounding recent events?

Test your video conference system.

Whether you’re using Zoom, FaceTime, or any other video conferencing system, it’s helpful to test it out beforehand so you can work out any kinks to the system! Make sure you’re in a room without too much background noise so you can hear each other clearly. Bonus tip: If you’re video chatting during the day time, face toward a window (so that the light is shining on your face versus behind it). That way, they can see your beautiful faces most clearly!

Ask for samples!

When it comes to vendors like catering, cake, and cocktails. Ask if your preferred vendors have any offerings for delivery. Then, set up a date-night table and get ready to video conference your tasting! Keep in mind that vendors may require a fee for this, but it’s a great way to support your wedding industry team (and get a totally amazing date night meal).


photo by Sean Money and Elizabeth Fay, cake by ABCD Cakes; see more from this wedding here!

Determine an appropriate a time limit.

It’s safe to say we’re all grasping for human contact these days, and it is easy to chat wedding planning for hours! To respect everyone’s boundaries, determine a time limit you all are comfortable with before the call. That will help you stick to the most important information and, hopefully, still leave a little time for some extra conversation!

Speak up about concerns or ask for more images after the call.

When it comes to meetings with your design teams (planner, rentals, florist, venue, etc.) make sure you speak up if you’re having a hard time viewing something on the video call. It’s totally OK to ask for more images of the examples when you’re finished with the video call.

Set post-isolation meeting goals.

Start planning on tentative in-person meetings with all of your vendors so that you can get things moving once stay-at-home orders are lifted. This will also help you have something to look forward to and know the big decisions you’ll need to make as soon as you can.


photo by Michelle Agurto Photography; event planning by Etica Events; see more of this wedding inspiration here!

Trust your team.

At the end of the day, we’re all in this together. Your wedding vendors are in this industry because they love to see your day become everything you dreamed of. When it comes to video meetings with your wedding vendors or any decisions that may follow, trust your gut and trust your team!

We hope you’re feeling confident as ever for video meetings with your wedding vendors! Looking for more COVID-19 related content? We’ve got you covered:

Wedding Planning During COVID-19: Advice for Couples

Change the Date Cards + Tips for Announcing Your Wedding Postponement

Bridal Loungewear for Comfy Wedding Planning at Home

 


photo by Love, Anneliese Photography

 

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