Your Go-To Wedding Vendor Checklist (Because You Deserve a Vendor Dream Team)
Your wedding vendor checklist isn’t one of those things you can cut corners with in your wedding planning… Trust me. As a Sacramento wedding photographer, I’ve seen how your wedding vendor team fully shapes your day. So if you want a wedding day that’s smooth, relaxing, and never overwhelming (which, yeah, obviously), see my guide to checking off every main wedding vendor you need!!
The Easiest Wedding Vendor Checklist
Your wedding vendors really impact your experience of your day. Like… A lot! When you invest in professionals who are trusted and reliable, you feel it. It’s the difference between popping champagne, dancing to a killer playlist that morning with your besties, versus running around trying to help set up tables with your bridesmaids. It’s the difference between having easy moments to connect with your lover versus being behind schedule and stressing so much about it that you’re missing the moments that are actually important.
So, if you want the former (duh!), you won’t want to miss this checklist to ensure that everything is simple and easy, where you get to stay completely present and enjoy your day!!
Venue
As a Sacramento wedding photographer, take it from me: your venue isn’t just a pretty space. I know that that’s part of it (because you know I love the aesthetics), but you also have to look at the flow of the day here. Are there indoor and outdoor options? Do they include everything you need in your package? What vendors do they provide versus let you choose? Those are all things to think about before you book.
If you’re getting married in NorCal, here are some of my absolute faves!!
- Cavaignac, A Country Estate – a venue that feels legit like a fairytale. Check out this wedding I captured there for inspo!!
- The Ranch at Silver Creek – invented luxury. This wedding I did here? I cannotttt.
- Grand Island Mansion – the pictures from a wedding I shot here speak for themselves. SO beautiful!!
- Rosewood Sand Hill – it’s giving Italian villa, and this European-inspired wedding I shot here fits the vibes so well.
Wedding Planner
Your wedding planner is quite possibly the most important vendor of your whole day. They’re the ones who contact all your vendors. Who put out the fires you didn’t even know were happening. Who’s steaming your linens 20 mins before you walk down the aisle. And honestly… They’re the best. I don’t know how they do it all, but I know you NEED one as a part of your vendor team!!
Here are a few NorCal wedding planners that I seriously love:
Wedding Photographer
Hi, that’s me!! Seriously though, choosing someone that you not only trust with capturing gorgeous photos of one of the most important days of your life, but also that you get along with is key.
If you want a peek into how I do it: first, I get to know you (and we become besties, duh!), then I capture your wedding day with a candid, documentary-style approach, then I edit your photos with a nostalgic, film-inspired, editorial effect that makes you feel the way your day actually did. And every single part of the process? Fun AF!!
Content Creator
That’s also me!! Wedding content creators are pretty new to the scene and gaining popularity fast, for good reason. Aesthetically edited videos and real moments from your wedding that you get the next day are a game-changer, and it lets you create dreamy social media content that I can’t get enough of.
See more of my content creation services and book me here!
Videographer
For the more traditional approach, you can book a videographer. Honestly, I never see it as a content creator OR a videographer, because they do totally different things. A videographer is like someone who makes a cinematic film of your day that you can watch over and over and over… And I’ll always love that.
Here are a few Northern California-based videographers I love working with!:
Caterer
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably a foodie. And your wedding food might be your Super Bowl. A lot of venues offer in-house catering (that’s usually good AF), but choosing food that you actually love is always the way to go here!! Whether it’s taco food trucks or a pasta bar… I’m SO here for it.
Baker/Dessert
As an extension of food, we’re past the days of wedding cake being the only dessert option. I’m a huge fan of dessert tables + a small cutting cake for the bride and groom, or something like an ice cream truck at the reception!!
Bar Service
Again, a lot of venues have bar services in-house, but if not, choosing a bar service that’ll know the perfect ratios, work with your vision, and keep things from being chaotic is the way to go here. I always recommend reading reviews of other people’s experiences with bartenders before crossing this one off the wedding vendor checklist.
Accommodations
If you block off hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, there are a few things you need to focus on: how easy it is to get to your venue, that it’s a nice hotel that gives your guests a good experience, and that it fits the vibe of your wedding weekend. Here are a few in Northern California that I always love to recommend:
- Nob Hill Hotel in San Francisco
- The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento
- Casa Mani Resort in Napa Valley
Florist
Florals are probably the easiest way to elevate your wedding, and a good floral designer can bring it from DIY to Pinterest-esque!! Floral arrangements everywhere make things feel luxe. Arrangements hanging from the ceiling, structural centerpieces, and ceremony arch florals?? I’m OBSESSED. Here are some of my fave florists around!!:
Hair and Makeup Artists
Your wedding day is your main character moment, and GIRLLL, your glam should show it!! You should feel the most beautiful you’ve ever felt on the day you say I do, and your hair and makeup artist plays a huge part in that. Make sure to look at tons of inspo pictures of work that they’ve done, communicate with them about what you want, and always, always, always do the trial!!
A Good DJ
Look, I’ve seen how a DJ can make or break your reception. If you’re anything like me, you want a PARTY, and choosing a DJ who can keep up with that is key!! This is a crucial part of your wedding planning checklist, so here are a few in the NorCal area that I trust to keep the vibes up:
Bridal Shop
Okay, wedding dress shopping is potentially the most fun part of wedding planning. I mean… Going to a bridal shop with your girls, popping champagne, living out your Say Yes to the Dress moment?! An actual dream.
Choosing the shop that’s going to hold those memories for you and actually create a good time for you and your besties is important. You don’t want to go anywhere that you feel rushed or pressured, because honestly, that ruins it. Be sure to read reviews before you plan your boutiques, and if you’re shopping in NorCal… You know I have some recs:
Officiant
The person who’s literally marrying you needs to know the vibes. Whether it’s a religious ceremony or not, how long you want the ceremony itself to be, if you want it to have some humor or be more serious… And those are all things to talk with potential officiants about!!
Stationer
Every detail of your wedding deserves to be a 10/10, down to your invites. Hiring a vendor who can take care of all of this for you so that you can just sit back and relax with a glass of wine? Iconic.
Rentals
Last but definitely not least is the company doing your rentals. Again, every detail of your day should be hella good, and your rentals play such a big part in the design of your day. Most companies have inventory on their websites that you can browse before you book, so that you can make sure their stuff matches your vision.
Why You Deserve a Vendor Dream Team
I get it… Picking good vendors can add up quickly. Hear me out, though: your day deserves it! This is your big moment. The one day you get to be the main character. So investing in trusted people who will make it a joyful, relaxed experience for you is always worth it.
Not only will it impact your experience of your wedding day, let you stay fully present, and eliminate tons of stress, but chances are, you’ll build connections with your vendors that last. When someone is there as a part of your special day… It means a lot, and that’s a bond you’ll have forever.🥹
Need Help Going Through the Wedding Vendor Checklist? | Sacramento Wedding Photographer
As your Sacramento wedding photographer, know that you don’t have to go through the entire wedding vendor checklist alone. I work with a lot of wedding vendors, so I know which ones thrive on what kinds of days, and I’m always here to help you build your dream team that will execute your vision!!
If that sounds like what you need, you can inquire about booking me right here. Let’s create something beautiful together!
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