2010-03-24 07:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Wedding Advice: Preferred Vendor Lists - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Everyone loves to see their name in lights and when another vendor or person admires our work enough to refer us to potential clients we can't help but be flattered!
Whether you refer to them as preferred vendors, VIP vendors, or approved vendors; they’re all vendors that show up on referral lists within a specific region or city.
As a bridal couple you will visit venues, caterers, florists, and photographers, and these are just a few examples of the hundreds of different vendors you may visit during your planning process.
How much weight do you give to preferred vendor referrals you’ve found on lists?
The Good
I know I'm going to get flack by cautioning you about vendor lists because I'm a Wedding Planner and it's my job to give clients access to such lists! Clients look to me to recommend vendors whose quality and standards are impeccable, whose services match their needs the best, whose reputation is about more than just a pretty cake or a flower arrangement. My job is to source out the best of the best and to keep my client’s interests at heart rather than my own.
The Bad
I'm not saying all vendor lists are bad or ugly. In fact, they can be a great starting point for your vendor search. I do however, urge clients to think about the reasons why particular vendors and services have been recommended and to always ask questions before they buy anything.
This begs the question; What is the purpose of preferred vendors lists and are they valid if they’re supplied by vendors? What makes one vendor preferred over another? Has the vendor paid a fee to become part of a referral list or do they provide spectacular service? What criteria were used to determine that these vendors were good enough to make it onto a list?
The Ugly
If a vendor’s product or service doesn't meet your expectations, needs, or budget then speak up and tell the person who gave you the referral how you feel. This provides the ‘list maker’ with vital feedback about the businesses they're referring and encourages them to adjust their preferred list accordingly.
At Distinct Occasions our preferred list is more of a trust list. We recommend vendors we know and love, and vendors who have excelled in their chosen field. We have met and worked with these vendors and continue to keep in touch with them. These are people we would trust with our own weddings as well as yours. Our preferred vendor list is priceless because it is based on TRUST & RESPECT.
Consider that...
Happy Planning,
Crystal Adair-Benning
--
About our Guest Blogger: Crystal Adair-Benning
Distinct Occasions is a proud boutique Wedding Planning firm based in Toronto, Canada, but with satellite offices in Glasgow, Scotland and soon Perth, Western Australia! Providing worldly inspired, creative, detailed, luxurious and intimate weddings, Crystal and her team will help you get the "ohhh" and "awww" for your special day.
More Distinct Occasions Wedding Advice from Crystal:
- How can I personalize my wedding without it looking like everyone else's "personalized wedding"?
- What are the upcoming trends in colour? Should I look to them or avoid them?
- My bridal party is all different shapes & sizes. How can I find a look that flatters them all?
- How can we save during the recession without looking cheap?
- Combining different cultural traditions for your wedding
- Opinion Management
- Is it possible to find a meal that meets everyone's needs?
