We thought it was time to give you an ultimate guide to choosing wedding suppliers. Choosing your wedding suppliers can be as much as a chore as it is exciting. So, we’ve put together all the information you’ll need, as well as some top tips for your search. Whatever stage you’re at in your wedding journey, we hope this stress-free four step guide will offer some help and inspiration. Let’s begin…

An Opening Note
It’s likely that you’ve been repeatedly told that the earlier you book your wedding suppliers the better. This is true, especially since many wedding professionals get booked up a year (or even two) in advance. However, it’s equally important to not rush the process.
Taking some time to sit down and work out what’s important to you as a couple is incredibly important. Setting your priorities from the start will actually make your lives a lot easier when it comes to making decisions (we’ve got some ideas of what to think about below).
1 – Research
This is where you need to establish your visions and main priorities for your wedding day. Once you’ve got these, they’ll help to guide you through the process of choosing your wedding suppliers. Here are some ideas of what to think about:
What Wedding Type and Style are You After?
Would you like a marquee wedding? Is an outdoor drinks station a must? Questions like these are also important as these decisions could require additional wedding suppliers (for a marquee wedding for instance, refrigerated trailers and toilets are needed). If you’re interested in a marquee wedding, check out this great guide.
Does an understated, elegant affair take your fancy, or does an extravagant celebration sound more like you? Would you prefer a relaxed atmosphere, or a formal do?
What’s your Wedding Budget?
It’s important to think about this before embarking on your research of wedding suppliers, because your price range will affect which suppliers you’re interested in.
Which Locations Interest You?
While you may not have picked out a venue yet, having an idea of the general area you’d like to get married in will be helpful. This is because some suppliers are unable to travel beyond a certain distance/ charge extra for this. Your location doesn’t have to be a deal breaker for suppliers, just be sure to check what their travelling policies are.
A TIP: Once you’ve got a better idea of what sort of wedding you’d like, try to formulate some keywords (eg luxury/ eco-friendly) to use when searching for your wedding suppliers.



Where to Research Wedding Suppliers?
Pynes House Guides
Here at Pynes House, we’ve carefully crafted a supplier list with some of our favourite suppliers. We also have a recent blog post on Wedding Cake Suppliers. Our Real Weddings Blog series is a great place to hear about the suppliers our couples have used too – have a look at Ben & Frankie’s Autumnal Country House Wedding, or Charlotte & Ben’s Bespoke Country House Wedding of Understated Elegance.
The Internet
The internet is a great place to start your research. On the internet, you’ve got wedding directories (check out Coco Wedding Venues and Hitched), wedding blogs and real weddings at your disposal.
Recommendations, Wedding Fairs and Magazines
Looking further afield, recommendations from friends and family can be a trustworthy source of advice or inspiration to base your searches. Wedding fairs are also a great way to meet suppliers from a range of industries. They’re also sure to give you some inspiration for your big day. Wedding magazines can be useful for learning about different suppliers too – we’ve had the pleasure of working with Wed and Exeter Living here at Pynes House.
What to Look for When Researching Wedding Suppliers?
When you’re researching, remember to always bring it back to your wedding priorities (as described above). Keep asking yourself if this supplier matches your vision and whether they fit your budget.



2 – Contacting Wedding Suppliers
Once you’ve done some research and found potential suppliers, it’s time to get in contact.
When you’re sending an enquiry, it’s a good idea to include key details such as:
Your name and contact details
Your wedding date and venue (if already decided)
The service you require (eg. cake/ florist)
Some information about your wedding (eg. style, themes, colour palettes)
It’s a good idea to enquire about their availability, prices/ packages, terms and conditions and booking procedures. The more prepared you are, the better.



3 – Shortlisting Wedding Suppliers
By the time you’ve reached the shortlisting stage, you’re nearly there! This step is where you’ll use the research and enquiries you’ve carried out to shortlist around 2/3 suppliers for the categories you feel are the most important in your wedding (eg. cake, floristry, photography).
What Next?
Do some more research into them. Social media, testimonials from past couples and reviews can be a great way to get a better idea of what they’re all about.
It can be a good idea to book a consultation with them. This can be via phone/ email, or even in person if you’d like to get to know them slightly better.
What to Do in the Consultation?
Think about whether they’re easy to communicate with, if they seem organised and easy to work with and whether you feel that they understand your vision.
A TIP: try to set yourself a goal each week and congratulate yourself for each small decision/ research task you complete. After all, everything you do is bringing you closer to making some decisions.



4 – Decisions
You’ve made it to the final step of your wedding supplier journey. This is where all the hard work you put into the last few steps will pay off.
By now, you should have a good idea of what your shortlisted suppliers can provide. Ask yourself if you could imagine working with them and if you think they match your established priorities. At the end of the day, follow your instinct – you should have a fairly good idea of what you do and don’t want by now.
Once you’ve made your decisions, be sure to inform the suppliers you won’t be using, so that they can release the date to other couples.

That concludes your ultimate guide to choosing wedding suppliers. If you’re newly engaged, check out our Guide to Choosing your Wedding Venue. Or, if you’re looking for some theme inspiration, have a look at our blog posts on Colour Inspiration for a Pynes House Wedding and Using Luxury Floral Design. As always, if you’d like to book a viewing of our beautiful Exeter Country House Wedding Venue, please do get in touch.
Image Credits
Image 1 by Rebecca Goddard Photography / Gallery 1 by Rebecca Goddard Photography / Gallery 2 & 5 by Imogen Xiana / Gallery 3 & 4 by Katy Jones Photography / Image 2 by Joshua Gooding Photography.