Vendor costs, a tricky question to answer

This entry was originally posted back in April, but as this is the most frequently asked question of our vendors, we thought it would be good to repost.

“How much do you cost?” 

It’s a question that’s frequently asked, but tricky to answer.

With bottom lines on the mind, brides are eager to request on the spot quotes for our planning services. Unfortunately, pricing out your unique event is not that cut and dry. Brides – here are a few pointers to keep in mind when “shopping around.”

Photo from Package Perfect BlogFirst, bridal shows like Weddings in Woodinville are not the ideal setting for a quick quote. Instead, these events are created to immerse you in the wedding world and introduce you to excellent vendor sources for products and services. While some vendors – like transportation providers or makeup artists – can give you a direct quote upon meeting, when investing in a wedding planner, capture the contact info of your favorites and follow up with them after the show. It’s this post-show one-on-one time that enables your planner to grow a deeper understanding of your wedding and form a more accurate, personalized quote.

As the foundation for your quote, planners request your day, date, time, guest & wedding party number, ceremony & reception location and your ideal, total budget. Here in the Northwest, Saturdays in June through August are considered prime dates in high demand. Friday and Sunday weddings may incur lower rates, but discounts vary by consultant or may be dependent on other factors. Your ceremony & reception’s location are also hugely significant to the quoting process. For example, a destination wedding on Maui or Washington’s San Juan Islands would require higher vendor and consultant travel costs than a winery wedding in Woodinville. The venue itself may even present challenging working conditions – think: a remote cliff-side ceremony vs. a resort ballroom reception.

Lead-time is another element to consider.  Ideally, consultants welcome 10 - 12 months for proper planning. For a wedding with production beginning 3 - 4 months prior, additional manpower is often necessary and may drive costs up.  That being said, if the wedding is fully planned and a bride chooses a Week-of Wedding Coordinator to implement and execute plans, consultants will sometimes reduce costs if your chosen date is still available.  

How Much Do You Cost? Written by Jacky Grotle of Event Success.  

At Event Success, we offer a range for both Full Planning and Week-of Wedding Coordination pricing, though we still rely on one-on-one time with our brides to determine their unique, precise needs and costs in the process of realizing their dream wedding.