Wedding vendor checklist
Quick answer
Every wedding needs a venue, caterer, photographer, and officiant; most add a florist, music, and hair & makeup. For each one, confirm your date is open, get the price and what's included, and ask the questions below before you commit. Contact high-demand vendors 9 to 12 months out.
The checklist (with questions to ask each vendor)
Is my date open for ceremony and reception? Site fee and what's included? Capacity and catering rules?
Availability for my date? Per-head pricing and menu styles? What's included (staff, rentals, bar, cake)? Tasting process?
Availability? Coverage packages and starting price? Second shooter? When are galleries delivered?
Available for my date? Do you customize the ceremony? Rehearsal attendance? Fee?
Availability? Can you work my palette and budget? What's the rental vs. fresh split? Setup and teardown?
Availability? Hours and overtime rate? Do you MC? How do you handle the do-not-play list?
Availability? Highlight vs. full-film packages? Delivery timeline? Drone or extra audio?
Availability? Tasting process? Delivery and setup? Dietary options?
Availability and travel? Trial included? Per-person rate for the party? Touch-up coverage?
Availability for the window? Capacity? Hourly vs. flat? Backup vehicle policy?
Let Bridezilla send these
Bridezilla finds and shortlists these vendors, drafts the inquiry emails with exactly these questions, and tracks every reply — you just approve before anything sends. See how →
Frequently asked questions
What vendors do I need for a wedding?
The required vendors are a venue, caterer, photographer, and officiant. Most weddings also add a florist, music (DJ or band), and hair & makeup, with videographer, cake, and transportation as common extras.
What questions should I ask a wedding venue?
Ask whether your date is open for both ceremony and reception, the site fee and exactly what it includes, the capacity, the hours, and whether you must use in-house or preferred caterers.
When should I contact wedding vendors?
Reach out to high-demand vendors — venue, photographer, caterer, band — 9 to 12 months out, because they book a single date and fill quickly. Lower-demand vendors can wait until 4 to 6 months out.