As you start planning your wedding, you probably have a million questions swirling around in your head, and one of the biggest is which vendors you need and how to find the right ones.
Well, you’re in luck. As a wedding photographer myself, not only do I get to see the ins and outs of wedding days all the time, but I’ve also had the chance to work with some pretty incredible vendors.
So, to help make planning your wedding just a little bit easier, I’ve put together a wedding vendor checklist of some of the most important vendors you’ll most likely want for your big day. Plus, I’ll give you some of my preferred vendor recommendations for each of them for your North Shore wedding!
What Are Preferred Vendors?
Before we jump into the checklist, I wanted to go over a term that you’ll see throughout this post and most likely across some other vendors’ websites and information: preferred vendor. So, what is a preferred vendor?
Generally, these vendors are pre-vetted by the person/group recommending them. This most likely means that whoever is giving you the rec has worked with this vendor before, trusts them, and is confident that they will give you a great experience on your wedding day.
With so many options out there, preferred vendors are a great way to narrow down your choices and ensure you get the best fit possible.
As we go through this checklist, I’m going to be giving you some of my top preferred vendors for North Shore weddings. All of these vendors are absolutely incredible and will help bring your dream wedding to life!
Wedding Vendor Checklist
Wedding Planner/Coordinator
Your wedding planner/coordinator is the person who will help piece together all the different parts of your wedding day. They are going to help you stay on track and on budget, and make sure all the things you didn’t even know you needed to know are taken care of.
Your wedding planner is also a great person to ask for recommendations on other vendors. Most of the time, your planner is going to coordinate with almost all, if not all, of your other vendors. So, they’ll have plenty of experience and can help point you in the right direction and find the best fit for you and your partner.
I would definitely recommend this as one of the first vendors you book for your wedding!
Here are a few of my preferred wedding planners/coordinators:
- Happily Events (Lily)
- Pure Event Planning (Mary)
- True North Weddings (Desi)
- Piece of Cake MN (Erica)
Wedding Venue
Your wedding venue will be one of the biggest vendors you book. This, along with your planner, should be at the top of your list when it comes to your wedding planning.
There are so many different options when it comes to wedding venues, so my suggestion would be to think about two main categories first:
- Do you want an indoor wedding or an outdoor wedding?
- What vibe or aesthetic do you want for your wedding?
These two questions can help you narrow down what you’re looking for in a venue and what will make your day exactly what you want.
Photographer/Videographer
You can’t have a wedding vendor checklist without including a photographer. Regardless of whether you are planning a big wedding, an elopement, or anything in between, you are going to want to capture the day and the memories that are shared.
Your photographer and videographer are going to be a massive part of your wedding day, so it is super important that you find someone you are totally comfortable with. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when it comes to finding the right wedding photographer/videographer:
- What style of wedding photography are you looking for?
- What energy do you want them to bring to the wedding day?
- Do you feel comfortable having this person with you throughout the entire day?
Remember that your photographer is going to be with you from start to finish on your wedding day, so they are one of the most important vendors when it comes to who you click with on a personal level!
If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to connect! You can get in touch with me here 🥳
As for videographers, here are a few I would highly recommend:
- Jasper Meddock Productions (Jasper)
- Meadow Lark Films (Janna & Marissa)
- Chris Rinehart Productions (Chris)
Florist
Florals are a great way to add small bursts of color and some unique visual elements to your wedding day. Even if you are having an elopement, you may still want a bouquet or boutonniere for the day!
Florists are incredible people who can help you navigate the sometimes complicated world of flowers and create stunning pieces for your big day. Plus, they’ll be able to help source different types of flowers and help educate you on what the best options are, depending on the time of year you are going to be getting married.
If you are looking for a florist for your wedding along the North Shore, I would definitely recommend checking out Superior Blooms (Alissa)!
Dress
Finding the perfect wedding dress for your big day is something that you are probably super excited about, but also maybe just a bit stressed about, too. There are so many different options, styles, colors, and dresses to choose from that it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Finding the right dress shop can make all the difference, and Bella Rose Bridal (Emily + Misty) is one of the best in the area! They can help you find the perfect style for your wedding and make sure you look and feel your best on your wedding day!
Hair & Makeup
Now, while you may be used to doing your own hair and makeup and may even be able to do it on your wedding day, having a professional do it for you will take so much off your plate.
There is most likely going to be a lot going on that day, and being able to take the morning and sit back and relax while someone else gets you aisle ready can help make the day feel so much less stressful.
Plus, you can even have them do everything for your wedding party so everyone looks and feels their best!
Here are a few of my top recs for hair and/or makeup:
- Up North Beauty (Nicole) – hair & makeup
- Elevated Studios (Kaitlyn) – hair & makeup
- Dev Moss Mpls Hair (Devyn) – hair only
- W.Bass Bridal (Whitney) – hair only
Officiant
There are two routes that you can take when it comes to your officiant. First, you can ask a friend or family member to marry you. This can be such a special way to incorporate someone you love into your wedding day. If you do go this route, you just want to make sure that they are legally able to marry you!
Alternatively, you can hire a professional officiant for your wedding. This is a great way to make sure that everything during your ceremony goes off without a hitch, and they can work with you to create a ceremony that is truly personalized to you.
Mary Me in the Northland is an amazing option for professional officiants, and they have multiple team members who can help make your dream ceremony a reality!
Rentals
This is one that you may or may not need, depending on your venue. Some venues will include everything you need in your package, or may offer the option to add everything on-site.
However, you may need to rent additional items for your wedding and reception. This can include everything from an arch for your ceremony backdrop, the centerpieces for your reception, string lights, tables and chairs, and more.
If you are looking for good, quality rental options, I definitely suggest checking out these two:
- The Vault (Ellen)
- The Decor Lab (Kate)
DJs
Finally, we have the entertainment for your wedding reception. Finding the right DJ can help ensure that your wedding reception is as fun and high-energy as possible. The DJ really sets the vibe for the night, so it’s important to find someone who understands what you are looking for at your reception.
This is more than just having a playlist of songs that you like. Your DJ will also most likely act as the MC for your reception. They’ll help introduce everyone, move the reception from one stage to the next, and keep everyone on the dance floor.
Here are a few of my preferred recommendations for DJs:
Ready to Create Your Dream Vendor Lineup?
Hopefully, this wedding vendor checklist will help set you on the right path to creating your dream vendor lineup. Regardless of which vendors you have for your wedding, the most important thing to remember is finding people who understand your vision and are committed to helping bring it to life.
And, if you are still looking for the perfect photographer for your big day, I’d love to help do just that! You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or head over here to get in touch!
Check out these posts next:
Enchanting Fall Wedding at Bluefin Bay in Tofte, MN
Tips from a Wedding Photographer for Planning a Backyard Wedding
