How to Find and Vet Wedding Vendors (Now That You Have a Design Template)
You’ve chosen your Mood & Marry template. You’ve got a cohesive aesthetic, a clear creative direction, and a vendor brief ready to go. Now comes the part where the vision becomes real: building your vendor team.
This guide will walk you through how to find, vet, and confidently book the right wedding vendors—whether you're planning a destination wedding, something local, or a little of both.
Step 1: Know Who You Actually Need
Before reaching out, identify which vendors are essential based on your wedding vision. The most common visually-involved vendors include:
Venue
Florist
Photographer / Videographer
Planner or coordinator (day-of or partial)
Caterer / Bar team
Rental company (tables, chairs, linens, etc.)
Stationer / Signage designer
Having a Mood & Marry design template helps you narrow down where you'll need the most support—especially when it comes to design-heavy elements like florals, lighting, and layout.
Step 2: Start with Referrals and Local Searches
You don’t need to Google blindly. Try these trusted routes:
Ask your venue for preferred vendors
Check who past couples in your area hired (look at tagged Instagram posts)
Use wedding directories (Zola, Carats & Cake, Junebug Weddings, The Knot)
Browse styled shoots and real weddings from blogs or photographers you admire
Pro tip: Search Instagram using both location + vendor type (e.g. “Chicago florist” or “Hudson Valley rentals”).
Step 3: Do a Quick Aesthetic Check
When you’re scrolling through portfolios, pay attention to these:
Do their past weddings feel visually cohesive?
Is their editing or styling aligned with your moodboard?
Do they mention collaboration and creative alignment in their captions or bio?
You don’t need someone with your exact style—but you do want to see evidence that they “get” your vibe and can execute it well.
Step 4: Reach Out with a Clear Introduction
Your initial outreach email should be short, polite, and well-informed. Example:
Hi [Vendor Name],
I’m planning my wedding for [date/location] and working from a design template that outlines our vision and aesthetic. I’d love to learn more about your work and see if we might be a good fit. I’ve attached our visual brief to give you a sense of the direction.
Looking forward to connecting!
This signals that:
You’re organized
You respect their time
You’re not expecting them to interpret a vague Pinterest board
Step 5: Ask Smart Questions
When you start vendor calls or email follow-ups, consider asking:
Have you worked on weddings with a similar style or budget?
How do you like to collaborate with couples on creative direction?
How many weddings do you take on per weekend?
Do you offer site visits, mockups, or previews?
You’re not just hiring a service—you’re building a creative team.
Step 6: Trust Your Gut—and Your Brief
Once you’ve narrowed it down, go with the vendor who:
Understands your vision
Communicates clearly
Respects your budget and process
And remember: your Mood & Marry template isn’t just for inspiration. It’s a practical tool that makes every step of this process easier, from outreach to execution.