The sweetest bride ever, and how to talk budget with your vendors.

Back in August, I had the pleasure of working with one of the most grateful, warm-hearted people I've ever come across.  She approached me with such a respect for my work as a designer, and knowing clearly that she'd like to hire me.  Her "but"- she was on a budget, and would I be willing to work with her on it?  My answer: Absolutely.  Times are tough these days, but weddings are still happening, although on a smaller budget than they might have been 5 years ago.  Because M approached me with such gratitude it was easy for me to say yes and make her budget work for her; I wanted to, simply because she was such a joy to interact with.

Although I've only encountered a very small handful, you'd be surprised at how many brides (or their mothers) take the bullying route when talking cost.  Some people seem to think that playing hard ball is the surest way to get a vendor to negotiate with you; I'll tell you that for me, that is the opposite route to take.  To be frank, you risk coming across as someone who will be difficult to please and even more difficult to work with.  And while work may be scarce for some, I will pass on a job if I get a sense they're going to be a pain in the you-know-what all the way down the line.  I love my work, as I imagine most wedding vendors do.  We want to create something beautiful for you and make you happy simply because we understand how important a day it is.  My point: don't be afraid to be nice while communicating your budget and needs.  Here's a great article on the topic from Brides.com that's much more informative and eloquent than I could ever be.

Here are a few photos from M's wedding, photography by Amanda Bevington.