The Best Ways to Research Your Wedding Vendors in the US

When starting out on your wedding planning journey there are many different routes you could take when researching your wedding vendors in the US. As well as hunting for the perfect vendors to achieve your ultimate wedding vision, you need to be able to build relationships with them too. These are the people you are going to be working closely with over the coming months so it’s super important that you find vendors who fit in with your personality, gel with your values, and that you can trust implicitly.

One of the first things couples can do is hire a planner. As well as expert knowledge and expertise, planners have access to an indispensable network in the industry and will effortlessly be able to curate the wedding of your dreams. They will know who the best vendors to hire are, and they will also know who not to hire. Which is just as important when it comes to such a high stakes day! If the budget doesn’t stretch to allow for a planner there are still plenty of places you can head when researching your vendors in the US.

At this point it's worth holding off on committing to any other wedding vendors until you’ve secured your venue. This is a big element of your day (and budget) and could end up dictating other aspects of your wedding plans too. Many venues have their own preferred vendor lists so make sure you get that information and give it some careful consideration. Like planners, venues work with various wedding professionals so will be confident and well-versed in recommending the best for your event. The US is home to some of the best wedding blogs and vendor directories out there. So if you’re ready to get wrapped up in all things weddings the blog route is key in researching your top wedding team. From The Knot to Junebug Weddings to Carats and Cake – these are BIG wedding platforms that come with an abundance of wedding planning hints and tips, inspiration and yes, you’ve guessed it, vendor directories. Search by US state and filter by category. From planners, to venues, to décor rentals and bridal dress designers. These websites, and many others like them are well-renowned, much-loved resources for a wedding planning couple.

If you’re on the lookout for something a little more bespoke don’t be afraid to niche down and search for wedding blogs that fit your specific style / taste. Consider gay wedding blogs, colourful weddings, or fine art aesthetics. Have a deep dive on Google and see what you can find, chances are someone’s got it covered!

Are you even getting married if you don’t have a wedding Pinterest board or saved collection on Instagram?! These free platforms are bursting with incredible and varying wedding inspiration in every colour, style, vibe you can imagine! You’ll probably see a bit of a theme starting to emerge when you’ve pinned / saved a few things which is great. From these saved posts, have a little dig around and find out who the photographer / florist / planner etc is and make a note. This is a great way to find vendors who really fit with your wedding aesthetic. Location isn’t even much of a factor anymore, vendors travel all over the world for their ideal clients so don’t let that be an obstacle, it’s always worth a conversation.

Last but not least, and possibly the most traditional, old school (but trusted) resource you could use when researching your wedding vendors in the US is referrals. Talk to your married friends / colleagues and find out who they hired and who they would recommend. Remember though, everyone selects their vendors based on their own relationship with them, their own personal style or wedding ideal, and you have your own. So while you might get some brilliant referrals, they might not be right for you.

Overall, when it comes to the best place to find wedding vendors, there’s no one right answer. It takes a combination of consulting your planner, married friends, wedding blogs...and social media feeds (of course) to assemble your wedding day dream team.