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Posted by Hurricane Productions on 03/30/2020

Should You Use Your Venue's Preferred Vendor List?

Should You Use Your Venue's Preferred Vendor List?

If you're just beginning your wedding vendor search, your venue's preferred vendor list seems like a good place to start. This list appears to take all the guesswork out of wedding planning, giving you contact information from local service providers that frequently work weddings at your venue.

A company on a preferred vendor list may very well be a good fit for your wedding. But these lists are far from comprehensive or exhaustive; by only considering the preferred list from your venue, you're looking at a small fraction of your potential options.

Why do venues have preferred vendor lists anyway?

Let's clear one thing up: Companies on a preferred vendor list are not necessarily preferred by couples. They're preferred by the venues because they have existing professional relationships. That's not to say these vendors aren't reputable or that they won't do a great job on your wedding. However, it's important to understand why venues have preferred vendor lists in the first place.

Generally, a venue's list of preferred vendors has to do with their own internal policies. For instance, some places impose strict quality control requirements on any third-party that works there. In this case, the vendor list helps couples choose a provider that meets those requirements. Other times, venues will recommend vendors as a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Preferred vendors may pay a fee to be listed by a venue, or give the venue commission when couples book them off the preferred list.

Depending on your venue's contract, you may have to use a certain vendor, such as a caterer or cake baker, if you wish to have your wedding there. If you are not required to use providers from that list, though, you can and should expand your search to include other vendors in your local area.

Whether the vendor you're considering came from a preferred list or not, you should approach the process the same way. Check out their website and social media channels. Look up reviews and, if possible, talk to past clients about their experience. Most importantly, take time to interview each potential vendor and ask detailed questions about their work.

For more insights on preferred vendor lists (including why Hurricane Productions isn't on many of them), check out this post on our blog.

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