Determine your dream team of wedding pros, how to find them, and when to book to lock in the best team of professional vendors for your big day.

So you’ve started on your wedding planning journey—congrats!

Now it’s time to buckle down and get to the mad dash to the big day. While the glow of engagement is cheery at first, many brides are quickly overwhelmed by the stack of tasks that come with planning every minute detail. It doesn’t have to be such a battle, though! Building out a team of pros for your wedding day can make the process go smoothly and effortlessly.

Putting together the right all-star team can take a little digging, but it’s worth it. With a solid team of wedding pros on hand, you can rest assured that your big day will go off without a hitch.

Important Members of Your Dream Team of Wedding Pros

Many first-time brides don’t realize how many people actually go into pulling off the big day. Consider just a few of the critical roles:

• Officiant
• Jeweler
• Photographer
• Wedding Venue
• Wedding Planner
• Hairstylist
• Makeup artist
• Musicians/DJ
• Baker
• Caterers
• Florists
• Videographer

And that’s just the top of the list! This is why it’s important to start outlining your plans early.

Of course, not every spot needs to be filled for every wedding. It depends on your vision for the special day. But they all need at least consideration. You also shouldn’t feel pressured to hire your whole team of wedding pros at once! Pace yourself and hire assistance when the time is right by proactively planning. This can help you put your money where it’s most needed without overspending or misusing your time. Also, if you’re considering fewer vendors or suddenly have to scale back plans, having a determined set of MVPs on the team ensures that you prioritize their roles.

Afarose Bridal Buzz: Three most important vendors to hire asap are a venue, photographer, and makeup artist. These are more time-sensitive vendors. If you don't hire asap, you might end up not being able to hire the vendor you really want.

Before Your Big Day

You can consider your team in two waves—the day-of team, and then the key players you need well beforehand. For example, it’s best to not wait until the last minute to book a jeweler for your rings, a venue, a photographer, a seamstress or tailor, and a make-up artist. Locking in these valuable wedding pros well in advance will ensure the most pertinent wedding planning elements are taken care of.

The Venue

Scoring a great site for your wedding is especially important. Venues tend to book up quickly and in advance, so aim to make your choice as early as possible—this should be one of the first things on your mind. Consider a venue that fits your wedding style, budget, and guest list. Planning something outdoors? Be mindful of the weather and time of year, and perhaps search for a spot with both an indoor and outdoor option.

A great wedding planner can also help with this stage, as they should be familiar with all the best venues in the area you’re looking at!

The Photographers

Photographers are another set of MVP wedding pros that book up quickly. Ensure you have someone available on your desired date by booking early. If you have specific shots in mind (sunrise, sunset, or any pre-wedding activities), remember to ask your photographer about these during the vetting process. If possible, visit the venue beforehand with your photographer so as to get a sense of lighting, angles, and photo ideas, and clearly articulate your photo preferences. For added peace of mind, inquire about their inclement weather or backup pro policies.

The Seamstress/Tailor

Many forget about a seamstress or tailor until the last minute and then pay exorbitant fees to get hasty alterations. Your big day will be here before you know it. Make sure your attire is ready for it!

Wedding dresses are delicate and require great care in handling. This is why alterations are best left to the pros, who know what will and won’t look flattering on your wedding day. The more complex your dress is—think ruching, multiple layers, or beadwork—the earlier you want to make these changes. These alterations tend to take longer than most, and you don’t want to rush the process or compromise on quality. And always, always ask to see some photos of previous work before you entrust a vendor with your precious pieces!

Of course, another way to get around this is by ordering a bespoke wedding dress. Afarose makes all their dresses to order, so you can be sure of a custom fit every time. Not to mention that alterations are quick and easy, and they offer multiple consultation appointments beforehand!

Important Wedding Day Team

As you get closer to the big day, it’s time to beef up your team with the day-of essentials. Whether it’s officiants, catering, or music, these elements all serve as a critical part of your wedding, so it’s best to hire the pros.

The Officiant

Your wedding is a party, but there’s also a point to it! Your officiant is the individual who signs off on the marriage license, and any other certificates as well. They make your marriage official! You can find either religious or secular officiants, depending on your wedding. In the rush to plan the perfect party, this is one key team member you cannot forget about.

The Caterers

People may not remember the napkins you had at your wedding, but they’ll certainly remember if they had to spit their food into one! Be sure to choose reliable and dependable bakers and caterers who are wedding pros.

If any of your guests have specific dietary needs to be aware of, inform your caterer ahead of time and ensure that they can accommodate these concerns. The last thing you’d want is for your vegan guests to be hastily served bolognese, your gluten-free guests to only have wheat pasta available.

Music and Entertainment

The music, entertainment, and decor you choose for your wedding will set the tone for the whole event, so you don’t want to skimp! Spend all the time necessary to find pros who understand your wedding vision and can make it a reality (within your budget of course).

Express clearly and in as much detail as possible the type of atmosphere you're envisioning. Your vendors, entertainment, and musicians are here to make your wedding as hype or as chill as you want, but they need the direction.

When planning the music, consider not just your own must-haves, but also the guests’ tastes. Also, make sure your DJ is reliable and understands the assignment. It would be a major faux pas for the DJ to forget to play your requested couple’s song! Similarly, if the music isn’t good and the course of events by the MC isn’t smooth, your guests will leave disappointed.

When assessing DJ and musician choices, don't be afraid to ask to hear a sample music mix that reflects your asks. The same goes for a video mix of any performers you’d like to book. After all, you want to know they can deliver!

How To Find The Best Professionals And Vendors For Your Wedding

Word-of-mouth suggestions are always helpful places to start when it comes to finding vendors. After all, they worked for your friend’s wedding; you know they can meet expectations!

However, it’s important to remember that no two weddings are the same. Vet suggestions carefully to see how they fit into your vision. Local vendor lists and industry websites like The Knot and WeddingWire also provide a good jumping-off point, with vendors validated by real customer reviews and wedding experience.

For example, Afarose is listed on these vendor sites, and as an online store, can be anyone’s “local” vendor!

Wedding expos are another great place to spark ideas, where you can experience live demonstrations from DJs, view cakes, and see dresses. Consider checking out a live expo like The Big Fake Wedding during your planning process! This is an easy way to experience multiple vendors at once without scheduling hassles or monetary commitments.

Wedding Planning With a Team of Wedding Pros

When planning your wedding, you want to have the best of the best by your side. Whether it’s the photography team, the entertainment, the decor, or the attire—your wedding day will benefit from the support of a team of wedding professionals.

When it comes to finding a pro for your wedding dress, Afarose has you covered.

Afarose is your one-stop shop for designer wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and more! Years of experience in the wedding textile industry married with an innovative eCommerce operation means that shoppers get designer gowns at a fraction of the cost in a brick-and-mortar store.

Sign up for a virtual consultation today!