What to Look for in a Photographer, Florist, DJ, and the other wedding vendors needed for your big day
Your venue sets the stage. Your wedding vendors bring the day to life.
The difference between a wedding that runs beautifully and one that leaves you stressed almost always comes down to the quality of the team you have assembled. A great photographer, a florist who understands your vision, a DJ who knows how to read a room, and an officiant who makes the ceremony feel personal rather than generic: these are the people who will shape your experience of the day itself.
Here is what to look for in each key category, based on years of hosting weddings and watching what works.
Photography and videography: do not cut the budget here.
Your photos and video are the only things you will have left when the wedding day is over. The flowers will wilt. The cake will be eaten. The music will stop. But your photos and film will be with you for the rest of your life.
When evaluating photographers, review full wedding galleries, not just highlight reels or Instagram feeds. Any photographer can produce 20 beautiful images. You want to see what an entire wedding day looks like in their hands, from getting ready through the last dance. Look for consistent editing style, natural expressions, and strong work in low-light reception settings. A photographer who produces beautiful outdoor portraits but muddy reception photos is not the right fit for an indoor evening event.
Ask how many weddings they shoot per year and whether they bring a second shooter. Confirm they have backup equipment and a plan if they become ill before your wedding. These are not paranoid questions. They are professional ones.
For videographers, watch full-length films, not just trailers. Pay close attention to audio quality. A beautiful film with muffled vows or a distorted ceremony is a disappointment you cannot fix after the fact. Ask whether they use wireless microphones on the officiant and groom.
Florals: style match matters more than portfolio size.
Look for a florist whose portfolio includes weddings in a style similar to yours. A florist who specializes in lush, garden-style arrangements may not be the right fit if you want something sleek and architectural. The best florists are not necessarily the ones with the largest Instagram following. They are the ones who listen carefully, ask good questions, and translate your vision into something real.
Ask how many weddings they take on per weekend. A florist delivering to four weddings on the same day as yours may not give your event the attention it deserves. Ask who will be on-site for setup and whether they return at the end of the night to collect rentals.
Catering: always request a tasting.
If your venue does not include catering, you will need to hire an outside caterer. Ask for a tasting before you sign any contract. A caterer who will not offer a tasting is a red flag. Confirm whether they handle setup and breakdown, whether they provide serving staff, and what their policy is on leftovers.
Ask for a complete per-person price breakdown that includes service charges and gratuity. Catering invoices often look very different from the initial quote once those fees are added. Make sure you are comparing the full cost, not just the per-person food price.
DJ or band: see them perform before you book.
Ask to see a performance video or, better yet, attend a live event where they are performing. A DJ's online presence tells you very little about how they read a room and manage the energy of a real crowd.
Confirm they have backup equipment and ask about their process for taking song requests and do-not-play lists. Discuss how they handle the flow between ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception so the transitions feel seamless. A great DJ is not just a person who plays music. They are a timeline manager and an energy curator.
Hair and makeup: always do a trial.
Book a trial appointment before your wedding day. This is not optional. A trial lets you see the finished look in advance, make adjustments, and arrive on your wedding morning with confidence rather than anxiety. Ask how many people they can accommodate in your getting-ready window and whether they bring an assistant for larger wedding parties.
Your officiant: meet them before you book.
Your officiant sets the tone for the most important 20 minutes of your wedding day. Meet with them in person or on video before you book. A good officiant will ask about your relationship, your story, and how you want the ceremony to feel. An officiant who sends you a generic contract without any personal conversation is not the right fit.
Ask whether they are legally ordained in Georgia and whether they handle the marriage license paperwork or whether that is your responsibility. Learn more here.
One rule that applies to every vendor: get it in writing.
Every vendor you hire should provide a written contract. Read it fully before you sign. Confirm the date, time, location, scope of services, payment schedule, and cancellation policy are all clearly stated. If something is promised verbally, ask for it to be added to the contract in writing. Verbal promises do not hold up when something goes wrong.
CTA:
Our preferred vendor list includes photographers, florists, DJs, caterers, and more, all vetted professionals who know our space and have earned our trust. It is yours when you schedule a tour.
