Compare wedding and event vendors

Couples and planners choosing vendors for a wedding or an event.

Short answer

How do you choose wedding and event vendors?

When you choose wedding and event vendors, pick vendors who show complete events like yours, put every inclusion and deadline in a written contract, and have a plan if something goes wrong on the day. Compare vendors on full portfolios, what each package includes, contract and deposit terms, availability and backup plans.

The OpenlyCompared guide to wedding and event vendors explains what to compare, which questions to ask and which warning signs to look for. The first companies are being checked before they are listed.

Which vendors are listed?

We are verifying the first companies for this guide. Each listing is built from facts the company has published, and checked before it goes up.

What should you compare when choosing wedding and event vendors?

Full events, not highlightsAsk to see a complete event from start to finish, not only the highlights.

What a package includesHours, staff, travel, setup and cleanup should be listed, so packages can be compared.

Contract and depositKnow the deposit, the payment schedule and the refund terms before you sign.

AvailabilityConfirm your date in writing; a verbal hold is not a booking.

Backup plansAsk what happens if the vendor is ill or equipment fails on the day.

Recent reviewsLook for accounts from recent events, especially ones like yours.

What should you ask before choosing wedding and event vendors?

Can I see a complete event you have done, start to finish?
What exactly does this package include?
What is the deposit, and when is the rest due?
What happens if you cannot make it on the day?
Are travel, setup or overtime extra?

What are the warning signs when choosing wedding and event vendors?

No written contract
Deposits that are non-refundable with no stated terms
Only highlight photos, never a full event
No backup plan for illness or equipment failure

Frequently asked questions about wedding and event vendors

How far ahead should I book wedding vendors?

Popular wedding vendors book up well in advance for busy seasons. Book the venue and the photographer first, then work through the other wedding vendors.

How do I compare wedding vendor packages?

To compare wedding vendor packages, list what each one includes, such as hours, people, travel, setup and deliverables, then compare the price for the same scope.

What should be in a wedding vendor contract?

A wedding vendor contract should state the date, the services, the hours, the price, the payment schedule, the cancellation terms and the backup plan if the vendor cannot attend.

Is a day-of wedding coordinator worth it?

For larger weddings and events, a day-of coordinator keeps vendors on schedule and handles problems on the day, so the couple and their families do not have to.

How this page works: companies are listed by the method on our Methodology page. Companies marked “Toutmark client” pay Toutmark, which publishes OpenlyCompared; paying never buys a position or an award. Request a correction.