8 Tips When Choosing Suppliers for Your Wedding

1. Check the website out (if they have one).  Does it have cookie warnings?  Does it have privacy warnings?  Is it accessible to a wide range of people?
2. Check the coil media profiles - has the business been posting regularly, or is there large gaps between posts?  If there are large gaps…why?
3. Check Google Business listings for an address and Google Reviews.  Social proof is really important in this day and age, and if you are searching for a studio/salon/bakery etc, then Google Maps is your friend for F2F meetings.  Especially if you live in older buildings like my cottage, 270 years old, that shares a postcode with 5 other properties within a 1/2 mile radius.
4. When you meet, either F2F (my preference) or via Zoom then ask every single question you can to make sure you are happy with the service you are going to get, the price you are going to pay in total, and the person themselves.
5. When you get an invoice (and if they only send you bank details to transfer, then my advice is to question it and possibly walk away), check to make sure it has the following?
   • a unique identification number
   • your company name, address and contact information for Ltd or Partnerships
   • An address where any legal documents can be sent if a sole trader
   • the company name and address of the customer you’re invoicing
   • a clear description of what you’re charging for
   • the date the goods or service were provided (supply date)
   • the date of the invoice
   • the amount(s) being charged
   • VAT amount if applicable
   • the total amount owed
6. Make sure you get the contract, and make sure you read it fully BEFORE paying any money (see below). Check each section and if you need to ask clarification questions. Just because competing is in a contract doesn't make it lawful, either. Ensure the agreement has precisely what you are getting, what the booking/deposit is and what the final balance is and when it should all be paid.
   • A contract doesn't have to be signed to be legal.
   • Once you have paid the booking fee/deposit, the law will assume you have agreed to the terms and conditions/contract.
7. Check-in with your supplier to see how things are going; check the website; check the blogs; check the social media channels; check the reviews. In short make sure they are still trading and are doing the same thing that you booked them for!
8. Note down when you need to pay the final balance and make sure you pay it promptly. Small businesses rely on cash flow to keep going!