If there's one thing you can do to make your wedding planning a breeze and your wedding day a dream, it's booking great suppliers. From the big ticket items like the photographer and the caterer, to the aesthetic elements like your florist or your hair stylist, every couple wants to find suppliers that are not only great at what they do, but will give you peace of mind too.

The kind of wedding planner who'll squeeze in the place settings for the cousins who didn't RSVP but turned up anyway. Or the kind of wedding band who know which song will get the most timid guests on the dance floor.

So how do you find such superstar wedding suppliers? Well our Wedding Supplier Directory is a great place to start, but we've also put together tips for finding the best wedding suppliers, and having a great relationship with them to boot. 

How To Find The Best Wedding Suppliers

Image by Katie Parra Photography via One Fab Day

1. Look in the Right Places

If you're getting married in Ireland, our Wedding Book is an invaluable (and carefully curated!) supplier directory with a who's who of Irish wedding suppliers across the country. It's got venues, musicians, makeup artists, bridal boutiques, cake bakers, videographers - and everything in between - all of which we'd be happy to recommend to our friends. So this really is a great starting point to find the best wedding suppliers.

If you're not getting married in Ireland

• Look at real weddings online that align with the style of bash you're having and scout the credits for suppliers.
• Check out TikTok, Instagram, and look for hashtags local to your region.
• Once you find a supplier you love, ask them for recommendations for the other aspects of your wedding.
• Ask your venue for their recommended suppliers.
• Ask your married friends who they used, and if they'd recommend them.

Image by Paola Lattarini via One Fab Day

2. Do Your Homework

Investing lots of time into finding the best wedding suppliers, and more importantly the right ones for you, will save you time in the long run - we promise!

• When you find suppliers you like, look at real weddings they've been featured in, ask for testimonials from their past couples, and request samples or visuals of their work.
• While online reviews are not always the most reliable gauge (the smallest grievances tend to outweigh the highest praise!), do look around for any major complaints or negative news stories.
• Make sure the supplier has an address and phone number listed on their website or email signature, and request one if not - this applies even for independent suppliers who work from home.
• Take a look at their social media too, it's a good way to get a feel for their personality as well as their work, you can see a selection of images, read how they interact with their clients, and spot reviews in the comments section.

Image by Mitt Photography via One Fab Day

3. Be Specific

Your initial enquiries with wedding suppliers are important in sussing out if they're the right fit, so be as thorough as you can in your introductory email. This goes for communications further down the line too, in ensuring a smooth planning process and clear logistics on the day

• Tell the supplier all about your wedding - it will help them - and you - to work out if they're the right person to work on your day.
• Explain exactly what you're looking for - if you want a photographer to shoot just part of your day or if you need a hairstylist who specialises in curly hair, be clear from the outset.
• Send pictures of what you have in mind - this is particularly important for creative vendors like florists, stylists or cake bakers, links to a Pinterest moodboard work well too.
• Let them know your budget - they can create a quote that fits or let you know if it isn't possible.
• Tell the supplier about yourself and your other half too - it's nice to give the people you'll be spending part of your wedding day with a sense of who you are, your style, and what you like so they can best cater to you.

Image by Jayne Lindsay via One Fab Day

4. Prepare Your Questions

From your initial enquiries to the week of your wedding, you'll have a lot of questions for your wedding suppliers.

• Rather than pestering your venue with questions every day, or emailing your ceremony singer every week with different song ideas, save them up and send them in batches.
• Don't make any assumptions - unless you ask, something isn't a given! Our handy list of questions for venues and wedding bands will definitely help you get started.
• Follow up any conversations in person or over the phone with an email afterwards, so you have everything discussed in writing.
• While delayed responses can be frustrating, try not to be annoyed if your suppliers take a while to get back to you. They may have a lot of weddings on at a given time, and will be prioritising couples who are closer to their big day - they'll do the same for you in the weeks before your wedding!

Image by Mitt Photography via One Fab Day

5. Always Be Courteous

This goes without saying, but if you want your suppliers to go above and beyond for your on your big day, treat them with respect and be friendly and courteous in all your dealings with them!

• Remember your suppliers are business people who are making a living doing what they are doing - don't guffaw at prices and always be polite when negotiating rates
• Suppliers have a working week, this often includes weekends, so they may take days off midweek - respect their working hours, and don't contact them outside of them
• Your wedding is obviously a huge deal and every supplier will work their hardest to make your day amazing. But your celebration isn't the only one they're working on, so keep that in mind!
• On the day, provide a meal to anyone who is working for more than a few hours
• Read our guide for which suppliers you may need to tip
• A gentle reminder not to ghost your wedding suppliers—their dates book up fast, so a quick “no thanks” helps them pass the date on to another couple.

Image by Light Creatif via One Fab Day

6. Gut Feelings Are Important

When it comes to deciding what suppliers to choose, gut feelings are more important than you think!

• When it comes to photographers, videographers, makeup artists and hair stylists, you'll be spending a lot of time with them on the day, so a good rapport is crucial. You want to be comfortable around them, so choose someone you have a good vibe with!
• If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is - of course there are deals to be had, but by and large, you get what you pay for!
• If a supplier seems rude, illusive, or leaves you with a bad vibe, be sensible and follow your gut
• Once you've booked a quality supplier, sit back, relax and let them do what they do! Remember, you're paying them to look after the details of your wedding so you don't have to.

Image by This Modern Love via One Fab Day

7. Keep On Top of the Paperwork and the Finances

Hopefully everything will go as you expect on your wedding day, but if you encounter issues, your contracts will come into play.

• Keep a record of emails, quotations, contracts, invoices or receipts
• Read the small print on any contracts (both you and your other half!) - look out for details on cancellation policies, added fees and charges
• Make sure you get a signed contract from every vendor - it needs to specify exactly how much you're paying, what's included, and what the schedule of payment is
• Don't pay any deposits until you're sure you're happy with your choice of supplier and with the details in the contract
• Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on any of the Ts&Cs if you need it
• Adhere to your payment schedule - make your payments on time and in the method requested by the supplier (and make sure you get receipts!)

Listen to our dedicated One Fab Day podcast episode on Top Tips for Mastering your Wedding Budget