Quick answer
Ask every vendor the same core questions: are they available on your date, what exactly is included, what costs extra, what the payment schedule and cancellation terms are, and who will actually be there on the day. Then ask the questions specific to their craft.
Availability and fit
Are you available on our date? How many weddings do you take on one day or weekend? Have you worked at our venue, or with weddings of our size and style? Can we see a full wedding you have done, not only highlights?
What the price includes
What exactly does this price include, item by item? What costs extra: travel, overtime, setup, tax, service charges? Is there a minimum spend or guest count? Ask for the answers in writing so you can compare vendors on the same terms.
Payments and cancellation
How much is the deposit and is it refundable? When is each payment due? What happens if we need to change the date, reduce numbers or cancel? What happens if you cannot make it on the day?
Who shows up
Will you personally be at our wedding, or someone from your team? If a team member, can we meet them? How many people will be working, and do they need a meal or a break?
Craft-specific questions
For a photographer: how many photos will we receive, and when? For a caterer: can we have a tasting, and how do you handle dietary needs? For a DJ or band: can we give a must-play and a do-not-play list? For a florist: what happens if a flower is unavailable in season?
How they work
How do you prefer to communicate, and how quickly do you reply? What do you need from us, and by when? Who is our contact on the day? A vendor who answers these clearly is usually easy to work with.
Frequently asked questions
What should we ask a wedding vendor before booking?
Whether they are free on your date, what the price includes and excludes, the payment and cancellation terms, and who will actually work your wedding.
How do we compare quotes from different vendors?
Ask each one for a written, itemized list of what is included and what costs extra, then compare the total cost for your day rather than the headline price.
What should we ask about cancellation?
Whether the deposit is refundable, what happens if you change the date or numbers, and what happens if the vendor cannot attend on the day.