Wedding Service Provider - Score Card

Be careful when selecting service providers. Use contracts, testimonials and portfolios to gauge their work.Photo by lockstockb. Photo source www.sxc.hu

Sourcing for a wedding service provider can prove to be a quite mind boggling task this is because you want to get the best wedding service provider and the best price for your wedding day.  I don't blame you I would want the best too for my big day.We often hear of wedding horror stories, like the one about the  wedding planner who never showed up on wedding day, or the one about the caterer who took the wrong food to the wrong wedding, or worse still the photographer who runs a mock with your wedding pictures!  It is very scary. So how do you avoid falling prey to a scrupulous wedding service providers and becoming one of those wedding urban legends?

Well, I think you are better of safe than sorry. It is better you put up a safety buffer and ensure that you have selected the best that there is to offer than you  regret when it’s a little too late. This of course may  entail you channeling your inner bridezilla, and  being thorough . It may take you a while before you narrow down on your list of wedding service providers but that is what the nine months of wedding planning are all for.

Here are a few pointers that you can use for your wedding service provider score card. Use this tips when you are selecting your wedding service providers and I can guarantee that you won't be crying down  the aisle!

Personality test: When any  potential job seeker goes for a job interview they are certain things  that the employer looks for this include punctuality, attention to detail, e.t.c. Upon meeting with your service provider write down a few qualities that you would  like them to have . Use this to shortlist the service provider list. Whomever  you choose has to be easy to work with.

Credentials and qualifications:  I know there are two kinds of people in the worlds those that are book smart or street smart and either have a right to be called expert. If the service provider is relatively new in the industry and you are impressed by their work you can use their credentials to shortlist them. For sensitive categories like wedding catering , wedding planning, wedding attire it is always good to go for service providers that have been certified by  their respectable and reputable organizations.  Note though that individuals that have been certified may come at a higher price but at least you are ensured that your wedding is in professional hands!

Portfolio: All service providers ought to have a wedding portfolio. This is basically a show case of their work. Portfolio's differ from service provider to service provider and from category to category, in terms of their display and content. A service provider's portfolio ought to have the following basic information:

• Authentic pictures of work previously done.
• Client testimonials and contacts.
• Detailed description of the services offered by the service provider.
• All their work contacts.
• A wedding service provider should be able to create any of the works displayed in their portfolio.

Testimonials: Any testimonials presented to you by the wedding service provider should be valid. Authenticate the validity of the wedding service providers by calling up the clients to ensure that they would recommend a particular service provider. You can also do a background check on the service providers by enquiring from other service providers or from other brides about their particular wedding service. Unfortunately for us the Kenyan wedding industry is not too tech savvy but if possible you can use google as a tool for doing background checks.

Samples: Always opt to go for service providers who provide you with a sampling experience. This is particularly critical for wedding service categories e.g. wedding catering, cake and décor. A sample is a good indicator to ensure that the service provider can deliver as indicated.

Field Visitations: Enquire from the wedding service provider whether they may be hosting a wedding soon, and whether it is ok for you to visit them on the grounds. The true test for a wedding service provider is on the ground. Have a look at how they work under pressure and the sort of service they provide and the means of delivery. Do this especially for wedding service providers who supply wedding furniture e.g. tents.

Knowledge:  Are they knowledgeable about their particular area of expertise ! Choose service providers who give you options and provide solutions. Avoid service providers that are quick to offer you a copy cat solution out of their portfolio. You can always tell when someone knows their stuff use your instincts as a great guide!!

Contracts:  Formalize your relationship with your service provider via a contract. In the event that they fail to deliver, they should be willing to compensate you. The contract is just an agreement of all the services and products they commit to offering and delivering. You can come up with an agreement it needn't be drafted by a lawyer but it needs to have a breakdown of services, the terms of agreement e.t.c.  Contracts ensure that you are legally protected. Some service providers will also have their contracts and will require you to sign them, make sure you read between the lines and don't forget the fine print too!!

Instinct: A famous other Malcom Gladwell in his book Blink " The power of thinking without thinking" wrote about the human intuition, and talked about the power of the human instinct in making decisions. Your instincts are more often than not always right.  What feeling or vibe do you get about the wedding service provider?  If the deal is too good and you can't quite place why you are feeling abit uneasy then go with your instincts. They are probably right.