Vendor Questions
Food & Beverage
Can we schedule a tasting, and is it included in your pricing?
How customizable is your menu? Can they accommodate favorite dishes, cultural traditions, or family recipes?
What are your most popular menu options?
How do you accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies? Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut allergies, etc.
How do you handle children's meals and vendor meals?
What service styles do you offer? Plated, buffet, family-style, stations, cocktail-style, etc.
What service style do you recommend for our guest count and venue?
How many servers and bartenders will be assigned to our event?
How long does dinner service typically take?
How do you handle guest flow and minimizing wait times?
Do you provide bar service, or do we need a separate vendor?
What bar packages do you offer? Beer & wine, full bar, consumption-based, hosted bar, cash bar, etc.
Are bartenders licensed and insured?
Can we provide our own alcohol? If so, are there corkage or service fees?
Can you create custom signature cocktails?
What is included in your pricing? Linens, glassware, flatware, china, serving equipment, staffing, setup, and cleanup.
Do you handle rentals, or will we need to source those separately?
What is your backup plan for unexpected challenges such as weather, staffing issues, or equipment failures?
When is our final guest count due, and how are changes handled?
Are there any additional fees we should know about? Service charges, gratuities, travel fees, cake-cutting fees, late-night service fees, overtime charges, etc.
Do you have any travel or delivery fees we should be aware of?
Photography & Videography
How would you describe your photography style? (Editorial, documentary, fine art, traditional, candid, etc.)
Have you photographed weddings at our venue or a similar venue before? Familiarity can be helpful but isn't required.
Can we see a few full wedding galleries, not just your portfolio highlights? A full gallery shows consistency throughout an entire wedding day.
How do you balance posed portraits with candid moments?
How involved are you in directing couples and wedding parties? Great question for couples who feel awkward in front of a camera.
How many hours of coverage do you recommend for our wedding day?
Are you available for additional hours if needed, and what is the hourly rate?
What do you packages include?
Do your packages include an engagement shoot?
Will you be the photographer at our wedding, or will an associate shoot it?
Do you work with a second photographer? A second shooter can provide additional angles and coverage.
How do you help couples prepare for photography before the wedding day? Some photographers assist with timelines, shot lists, and planning.
How many images can we expect to receive?
What is your typical turnaround time for galleries?
Will our images be edited and retouched? What level of editing is included?
How will we receive our photos? Online gallery, USB drive, print shop access, etc.
Are you insured? Many venues require proof of insurance.
What happens if you're unable to photograph our wedding due to an emergency? Every professional should have a backup plan.
What is your payment schedule and cancellation policy?
Do you have any travel fees?
Music & Entertainment
How would you describe your style and approach to weddings? High-energy, interactive, low-key, elegant, club-style, etc.
Have you worked at our venue before? Familiarity with the space can be helpful but isn't essential.
How do you customize the music to fit each couple?
Can we create a must-play list and a do-not-play list?
How do you handle guest song requests?
What are your strategies for keeping the dance floor full?
Can you help us choose music for special moments? Ceremony processional, recessional, first dance, parent dances, grand entrance, etc.
Do you act as the emcee and make announcements throughout the event?
Will you coordinate with our planner, venue, and other vendors before the wedding?
How much time do you need for setup and breakdown?
What sound and lighting equipment is included in your package?
Can you provide separate sound systems for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception if needed?
Do you carry backup equipment in case of technical issues?
Are you insured? Many venues require proof of liability insurance.
Who will actually perform at our wedding? Especially important if booking through a larger entertainment company.
What happens if you're unable to perform due to illness or an emergency?
What is included in your pricing, and are there any additional fees? Travel, overtime, setup, lighting upgrades, ceremony coverage, etc.
Floral
How would you describe your floral design style? Garden-inspired, modern, romantic, lush, minimalist, organic, etc.
Can we see examples of weddings with a similar style, color palette, or budget?
Have you worked at our venue before? If not, ask how they approach designing for a new space.
How do you help couples develop their floral vision?
What information do you need from us to create a proposal? Pinterest boards, inspiration photos, color palette, guest count, venue details, etc.
How flexible are you with flower selections if certain blooms are unavailable or out of season?
Can you work within a specific budget while still achieving our overall vision?
Which flowers are in season for our wedding date?
Are there flowers you would recommend avoiding due to seasonality, durability, or cost?
How do you handle substitutions if specific flowers become unavailable?
Do you provide delivery, setup, and teardown services?
Will you be personally overseeing installation on the wedding day?
How do you handle large installations, ceremony arches, hanging florals, or other specialty designs?
What time do you typically arrive for setup, and how long does installation take?
Do you provide rental items such as vases, candles, compotes, arches, or structures?
Can ceremony flowers be repurposed for the reception? This is often a great way to maximize the floral budget.
What is included in your pricing, and are there any additional fees? Delivery, labor, setup, teardown, rentals, taxes, etc.
What is your payment schedule, cancellation policy, and minimum investment requirement?
Officiant
How long have you been officiating weddings?
How would you describe your ceremony style? Traditional, modern, spiritual, religious, non-religious, lighthearted, storytelling-focused, etc.
Can you share examples of ceremonies you've written or performed?
How do you get to know couples and their story?
How much can we customize the ceremony script?
Can we write our own vows? And will you help guide us through the process?
Can you incorporate cultural, religious, or family traditions into the ceremony?
Do you offer unity ceremonies or symbolic rituals? Handfasting, wine blending, sand ceremony, ring warming, etc.
How many meetings or planning sessions are included?
What information do you need from us to create our ceremony?
Will we have an opportunity to review the ceremony script before the wedding?
Do you attend and lead the ceremony rehearsal?
Are you legally authorized to officiate marriages in our state?
What is your process for handling the marriage license and signing requirements?
Will you return the signed marriage license after the wedding, or is that our responsibility?
How early do you arrive on the wedding day?
What happens if you're unable to officiate due to an emergency? Every professional should have a backup plan.
What is included in your fee, and are there any additional costs? Travel, rehearsal attendance, ceremony customization, etc.
Beauty
How long have you been working in wedding hair and/or makeup?
How would you describe your beauty style? Natural, soft glam, full glam, editorial, romantic, boho, etc.
Can we see a portfolio of recent weddings and clients with similar features to ours?
Have you worked with a variety of skin tones, hair textures, and hair types?
Do you offer a hair and makeup trial, and when do you recommend scheduling it?
What should we bring or prepare for our trial appointment?
How do you help clients refine their look if they're unsure what they want?
How many people can you accommodate on the wedding day?
Will you bring additional artists if our group is larger?
How much time should we plan for each service? Bride, wedding party, mothers, flower girls, etc.
Do you travel to our getting-ready location, and are there travel fees?
What is your recommended beauty timeline for the wedding morning?
What products do you use, and how do you ensure hair and makeup lasts all day?
Do you offer touch-up services or stay-on-site packages during photos, the ceremony, or reception?
What is included in your pricing, and are there any additional fees? Travel, parking, early start times, assistant artists, touch-ups, extensions, lashes, etc.