Hello b.lovelies - are you as delighted as I am that it's Friday? Isn't it weird - although I'll be working to catch up on my email backlog tomorrow, it feels totally different knowing that I'll do that from the sofa, hound by my feet, with the fire on. Cocoon much? All I need now is a pipe and slippers.

Soooo. Today's post is all about finding the suppliers you'll love working with.

I guess in a perfect world, we'd opt to work with people whose products, services and work ethos we love {or at least like} every day. You work hard for your money - why give it to someone who doesn't work equally hard to earn it.

In the real world that doesn't always work out but your wedding day is one of the exceptions where you can {or dare I say should} try to surround yourself with a team you truly love.

I thought I'd throw out some of the basics to bear in mind when venturing into the world of wedding suppliers. It's all just common sense and, as you're all savvy people, I'm sure you'll know a lot of them anyway. Never hurts to repeat them though, so here goes.

The trusty word of mouth
Don't be shy. Ask friends for recommendations of suppliers they used for their weddings - they'll feel flattered if you do. And if you've found a supplier you love and trust, ask them for recommendations for suppliers of other products/services too. It's what we do for a living so we'll have worked with other suppliers and will be happy to recommend the ones we think suit your style and budget. Just make sure whoever you ask doesn't work for commissions so you can make sure their advice is impartial. The same goes for venues and their recommended supplier lists. They can be a fabulous source but personally, I don't like venues who ask their suppliers to pay to be recommended. A supplier's product/service and work ethic should speak for itself - in my book, money shouldn't really factor in here.

Money once more
You'll need to be clear on your budget for each supplier area. Asking 'how much does a photographer cost' is like asking how long that darn piece of string is as there's such range of prices. This is where my advice on priorities comes in. See - it all ties in neatly... Seriously though, there's no point falling in love with the portfolio of a specific supplier if they're way out of your price range. It'll only make you feel frustrated when you look for alternatives. Once you know though (at least roughly) how much you're able to spend, you can put together a list of suppliers that fit your budget and who you like the look of.

It's not a hobby, Darling
This is where your business head needs to come in. You'll want to work with a professional rather than someone who treats it as a 'hobby'. Does the website look professional? Do they have an office address? Do they have a landline or 'just' a mobile number? Is their email address a business address or 'just' a free webmail-based address? Are they covered by insurance such as Public Liability & Professional Indemnity? Will you be able to enter a contract that specifies the services provided and protects both, you and the supplier from misunderstandings? What is their contingency plan if something goes wrong? It'll take a bit of legwork but trust me, it'll be worth it to save you from worrying later on.

He said, she said
Most people will have testimonials from previous clients on their websites. Don't be afraid to ask to speak to them as well though. I always tell couples the best way for them to find out whether my service is of value to them (and whether I'm actually any good at it) is to speak to some of the people I've worked with. You're putting one seriously important day into their hands - it shouldn't be too much to ask to get some reassurance.

Nice to meet you
Take the time to meet in person. The internet and world of social media are an amazing research tool but don't forget that it is quite easy to hide behind a bit of a smoke screen too. You might like someone's website, services/products and the way they present themselves online but are they still a good fit for you when you actually meet them? Not everybody is necessarily everybody else's cup of tea - and that's totally fine. The world would be a boring place if we were all cut from the same cloth. It doesn't have to be love at first sight, although I do have some brides who I (almost) fell in love with and who have become friends later on. It's magical when that happens but you don't quite have to go to that extreme. What you must avoid though is to end up working with someone on your wedding day who you can't stand the sight of.

Get listed
And lastly, make a list of questions to ask before you meet with your suppliers. It will give you an excellent tool to compare suppliers and their services, terms & conditions etc when it comes to crunch time and having to pick the one you'll work with. There are some specific questions you should ask suppliers of all categories (such as venue, catering, photography, flowers). It would take too long to list them here but if you do need a little helping hand, get in touch and we'll happily guide you through them.

Phew. Bit of an essay this week Are you still with me?

Next time, we'll have some crazy fun and look at 'Wedding Etiquette - then and now', and how the rules have changed.

Wheelbarrow loads of love,

- Anna

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Images of bride&glory coordinated weddings Photographed by: Tyson Benton