By Theresa Farrage, S.Lukas & Company Associate Planner

Congratulations on your engagement! While it’s important to enjoy the moment, it’s also go-time when it comes to hiring your vendors of choice. Here’s who to hire first!

Top 3 Vendors to hire immediately following your engagement:

1. Ceremony site

2. Reception Venue

3. Caterer

Engagement day, other than your wedding day, is the most exciting time of your life!

The happiness and love that you feel when you say yes is something straight out of a fairytale. While it’s perfectly fine to revel in the moment and enjoy being engaged, it’s also time to make haste and get planning before your vendors of choice are spoken for.

Not sure where to begin?

I’ve ranked the vendors in order of when they should be booked:

1. Wedding planner: Most wedding planners only accept one client per wedding weekend so you’ll want to make sure to get on their calendar as soon as possible. Plus, a wedding planner can help you hire the rest of your vendors with ease.

2. Ceremony site: Whether you’re selecting a church ceremony or an outdoor location, you’ll need to get this secured in order to book a reception venue. It’s important to select a ceremony site that’s close to your reception and can accommodate your guest count.

3. Reception venue: You can’t have a wedding without a venue and most venues only accept one event per day. If there’s a particular venue that you want, you’ll need to schedule a tour soon after your engagement.

4. Caterer: Depending on your venue’s food and beverage requirements, you’ll want to secure a caterer for your event. Some caterers only take on a few clients per day so keep this in mind when conducting your search.

5. Photographer: Great photographers are often booked years in advance so if you have your heart set on a certain one, you’ll need to make that phone call as soon as the ring slides on your finger.

6. DJ/Band: Just like the best photographers, the highly sought after bands and DJs are often reserved years in advance.

7. Bridal salon: You’ll want to schedule consultations at your favorite bridal boutiques as soon as you can get an appointment on the calendar. Searching for the right dress takes time and precision. Plus, with the recent supply chain delays resulting from the pandemic, it could increase the time it takes to get your attire. Don’t forget to give yourself plenty of time for alterations too.

8. Videographer: Just like photographers, the good ones go fast. Do your research and find a videographer that fits within your budget and offers you what you’re looking for.

9. Ceremony officiant: Most officiants book one wedding per day so they can focus on the couple getting married. While there are many officiants, there’s only one that you may have in mind.

10. Florist: Just like caterers and wedding planners, some florists only take on three clients per day. If you’re picking a popular wedding date and you want to work with a certain florist, you’ll need to set up a consultation as soon as possible.

You know we’d love to help you find your vendors and help take some of the stress of wedding planning off your shoulders! Contact us today for a complimentary consultation!

I'm engaged! Which vendors do I hire first?