4 reasons you should use a preferred supplier for your wedding
There’s no doubt about it organising a wedding is stressful, which is why so many wedding venues have a preferred supplier list. This is a list of suppliers they recommend you use and often includes caterers, florists, wedding videographers and photographers.
Some couples shy away from using preferred suppliers as they worry they will end up being charged over the odds or that suppliers have simply paid to be on the list and aren’t actually that good! This can sometimes be the case, so it’s always worth asking the venue how they select their preferred wedding suppliers, so you are fully informed.
If their preferred supplier list is full of people who are there because they are great at their jobs, then it is definitely worth considering using them.
We take a look at why using a preferred supplier could work in your favour.
It will save you time
Organising a wedding is time-consuming, especially if you need to spend hours looking for reputable suppliers. And even when you’ve got a short-list, you will still need to go through the rigmarole of interviewing them, checking they are available for your wedding date and ensuring everyone works well together on the day.
Using your venue’s preferred supplier list will not only save you lots of time, but also heartache if, heaven forbid, you choose a supplier who isn’t as good as they made out.
Of course, if you do choose suppliers from a preferred supplier list, you still need to make sure you get on with them, especially those who will take a more active role, such as your wedding videographer. That’s why I always have a face-to-face or Zoom meeting with couples beforehand, so we can get to know each other. After all, you don’t want a complete stranger attending your wedding day!
You can be confident their work is good
“On the day Mark was very discreet (lots of our guests didn’t realise we even had a videographer!) But he captured so many lovely moments of us and our guests” Emma Lovett, London – wedding at Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire
Venues are only going to recommend suppliers who they trust to do a good job and will keep their clients happy. After all, a poor recommendation will ultimately reflect badly on the venue.
That’s especially true for wedding videographers and photographers. Their work could be showcased all over the web, and if they show a venue in a bad light (excuse the pun!), they may well cost the venue future wedding bookings.
Also, by using a preferred supplier, you have the peace of mind of knowing they will remain professional throughout the day. The last thing you need is for you wedding videographer to be a little too merry at the free bar at the end of the night!
They will know the venue intimately
Winters Tale Country Barn, Buckinghamshire, Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire – three of my favourite venues and also where I am delighted to be listed as a preferred supplier.
If you use a preferred supplier, chances are they’ve attended a number of weddings at that venue which means they will know the venue inside out. And that can make the difference between a great cinematic wedding video and one that is just so-so.
Having attended a number of weddings at Stoke Park , I know exactly where all the good spots are for some great video opportunities. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining, snowing or a beautiful sunny day, I will quickly and effortlessly know where to go to capture those all-important moments against the most stunning of backdrops.
You won’t have any stress on your wedding day
One of the biggest concerns about any wedding day is ensuring everything goes to plan and that all your suppliers work seamlessly together. Working with preferred suppliers, who know the venue and the other suppliers, means everything will be taken care of. All you and your guests need to do is relax and enjoy yourselves.
Using a preferred supplier also means you’ll be able to see examples of how your wedding could look at your chosen venue, which can help alleviate some of your pre-wedding concerns. Just take a look at this cinematic wedding video from the Winters Tale Barn. Absolutely stunning!
Find out more about my cinematic wedding videography
Ultimately, whether you choose to use a preferred wedding supplier or not is entirely up to you, and I am delighted to say that I feature on a number of preferred supplier lists based solely on merit and not on kickbacks!
Whoever you choose, I would recommend that you look at their work, their reviews and if possible talk to someone who has used their services. I am more than happy to put you in contact with some of my happy couples, so why not get in touch to talk through your wedding plans.
