Comments on: Vendors, Or Creative Wedding Elves?

By: Getting Inspired Performances from Your Wedding Photographer & All Your Wedding “Vendors” or Artists « Pursuing the Picture Perfect Wedding :: a blog about weddings and getting great wedding photographs by Gia Canali

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:02:20 +0000

[...] Meg over at A Practical Wedding has kindly suggested a reconsideration of the terminology, maybe wedding elves. It’ll do. It at least describes the work ethic and energy most of my colleagues and I [...]

By: One Love Photo

One Love Photo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:35:33 +0000

Thanks for the title switch. I have always hated being called a vendor. I have always loved being called an artist, elf or fairy!!!

By: Meg

Meg — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:19:20 +0000

Good points all Jessamyn! From the mouth of a wedding elf to our ears.

By: Jessamyn Harris

Jessamyn Harris — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:13:48 +0000

great post! I agree that “vendor” seems cold and weird and impersonal (although maybe still better than the faire term of “monger”, heh heh). elves it is!
some other tips on dealing with sane vendors – definitely negotiate (I would much rather a couple say, “this is our budget, can you work within it?” and me try to come up with some options, or let them know gently that I can’t go that low, then to just not ever be asked); just make sure you do it politely and reasonably. i.e., if a photographer lists their starting price at $3K, don’t ask them to work for $1K. feel free to explore trade options if you have a skill you can trade without going crazy after the wedding.
I always emphasize choosing 2-3 priorities to splurge on (even if your “splurge” is way different from someone else’s splurge – I just mean that the biggest places your money and energy will be going should be the things that matter most to you), whether it’s food, location, dress, photography, music, honeymoon, or mortgage payment :)
and please be sure to follow up with your potential “elves” once you’ve met with or spoken with them, to tell them if you are booking someone else. it’s just common courtesy.

By: Kelley B

Kelley B — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:09:06 +0000

I just have to say that out of the all the wedding blogs I read (and dang, I subscribe to a LOT!) yours is the only one that doesn’t make me feel anxious in my tummy. Perhaps I need to UNsubscribe to a few of the others. But thanks for being practical and lovely!

By: Desaray

Desaray — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:29:40 +0000

I really like that last piece of advice, to pay attention not so much to *how much* youre spending, but on who and for what. If you pick the right person for the right thing it will actually be a *joy* to fork over gobs of cash — especially if they are struggling artists, just starting out, or insanely gifted.

By: Golightly

Golightly — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:16:32 +0000

Great tips! Flowers make me crazy so I’m constantly looking for the centerpiece alternative. I’m not the type of person to hand over $1000 to something that I don’t like and the WIC insists I have to make my whenever it shall be wedding a wedding.

I’m so happy to have found your blog – someone who is shedding the light on WIC/vendors

By: Rebecca Green

Rebecca Green — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:48:01 +0000

Ah yes, our dj is one of those wedding elves who I feel we are under-paying. We interviewed him and another DJ, who charged twice as much, and I expected that the other DJ would be a better choice. But alas, the least expensive dj was the one we clicked with the best and now we feel like his services are a steal!
The best piece of advice for brides-to-be searching for good wedding elves is probably not what you want to hear … it involves engaging in one of the WIC’s prime machines … logon to the knot bulletin boards and ask the ladies in your local area who they would recommend and what they’re paying. Before booking anyone, vett them by posting their name/company on the board and see what people have to say. It has really paid off for us and it’s a great way to promote those elves that you love working with, too.

By: Emily Takes Photos

Emily Takes Photos — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:29:44 +0000

Find elves who have worked together and get along, so that if someone needs help, they have a whole team ready for them. One thing you can do is if a friend or family member is going to be one of the elves, see if he/she knows anyone else they trust to be an elf too. My mother made the wedding cake for her coworkers’ low-key wedding, they asked her if she knew of any photographers, and I ended up shooting the wedding. Fun was had by all, it was very much a family affair, and Mum and I were able to help each other out with our specific tasks.

By: kristin @ the fairmount bride

kristin @ the fairmount bride — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:12:40 +0000

One thing I have learned, and continue to learn, is negotiate! When we met our photographer, I loved his work, but he was about $2500 over our budget. I explained this him, without being too specific, and then told him the number that we could afford, and asked what he could do for that. He was totally willing to work with us, which was awesome! I have taken that approach with our dj as well, and talked them down a couple hundred dollars. You never know until you ask, and the worst they can say is “no.”