The world of wedding services – Disneyland , where the fragrance of innocent lilacs is deceptively dizzying and at every step a new offer to celebrate love is lurking , one better than the other?

How not to get lost in this wonderland full of mirages and distinguish between what you really need and recognize in the crowd the wedding professional who will become a strong player in your trusted team? A little about that in this article.

VALUE THE EXPERIENCES OF FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES

Although at first it seems that it is impossible to navigate in the sea of wedding service offers and you are a complete stranger here, in reality there are not so many service providers in Latvia that work only for weddings. Outside of the wedding season, a large number also offer their services for other celebrations and events. Therefore, even if there haven't been many couples celebrating a wedding among your acquaintances recently, there is a good chance that one of your friends has recently used, for example, the services of a caterer for their corporate , or a couple of acquaintances recently posted really unusual photos from a photo session on their Facebook profile, and it is worth asking about their photographer. Also recall the best anniversaries and work parties you've been to, and try to find out which service providers were hired to organize them.

However, be careful and do not rely on the opinion of your friends unequivocally. People have memories and impressions of the event for various reasons, and perhaps due to the positive emotions experienced at the celebration, your girlfriend has completely forgotten how difficult it was to communicate with caterers and how many stressful situations it initially created.

GOOGLE

Although each case is individual and it would be hasty to judge the professionalism of a photographer or florist from the words of other, especially anonymous, people, you can learn a lot of useful things in the reviews on the world's largest network, which you should pay special attention to when talking to a potential service provider.

THINK IN YOUR BUDGET CATEGORIES

Remember that the excuse because you're worth it promoted in advertisements is just a trick calculated on human psychology and the worst possible advice to take into account when organizing a wedding. Without a doubt, you are worth millions of euros in a wedding dress, but does that mean you have to buy one? Will you make those around you understand what kind of bird you are just by buying everything you're worth?

A much better helper here will be the question Can I afford it?

That is why you have a carefully planned and thought-out budget with clearly defined limits for each position, so that it becomes your most reliable assistant and support in attracting wedding professionals.

REMEMBER – NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU

Yes, even if you have met the dear end of the best photographer, whose reputation has never been spoken of and who is wanted by absolutely everyone, unfortunately there is a possibility that the necessary chemistry between you simply will not arise . If, when meeting or discussing the nuances of a transaction, you cannot help but notice that instead of the expected excitement, there is an inexplicable and as if unreasonable feeling that something is missing ,

trust yourself and don't try to use logic to drown out your inner voice.

WHAT NOT TO DO

You don't need to meet with all the photographers, florists, caterers and other wedding professionals to check each and everyone in person. It is unlikely that during the meeting you will learn something completely unique about this person, which he has diligently hidden on his website, in his portfolio or in a phone conversation. In addition, the first meeting will not always allow an objective assessment of either professionalism or personality - the first impression is often wrong. Respect your time and theirs, because people working in this field are really busy people.

HOW TO AGREE ON THE PRICE

One possible tactic is to be direct and speak plain language. A clearly expressed question at the very beginning I have such and such. What can you offer me? will save you time and allow you to cross off from the list of potential service providers those that you cannot afford, without wasting time and without dreaming about things that are still out of reach.

Everyone, including the best of the best photographers and the most sought-after florist, will not remain indifferent, receiving a sincere appreciation and hearing in your words true excitement about his work. It is not said that this alone will get you the desired discount, but if this professional is really important and special to you, tell us why you want him to participate in your wedding. People have a tendency to be kinder to those they like, and any professional will feel honored to learn that he was not chosen just because is currently on the wave or because it is prestigious to say afterwards that Liepiņš photographed this wedding. Yes, yes, the same Liepins. Even more so, a personal approach works in Latvia, where the border between private and professional relationships still tends to be quite blurred.

If your set amount differs only slightly from the service provider's request, try to get a small discount by selling your wedding a little, by saying upfront why your wedding could be particularly interesting or profitable for this professional.

Perhaps it is a never-before-seen theme or an atypical photo session location (the rye field does not count) that will intrigue the photographer, or a bold wedding concept that would allow the decorator to apply the most daring ideas that other couples would never sign ? But maybe these are quite practical things - the wedding takes place here, in the city center, and the photographer will save the time spent on the road.

If your chosen wedding professional does not agree to reduce the price, see if you can agree on additional bonuses instead. It is often easier and more profitable for the service provider to offer the client something extra that will not require a lot of work and costs, than to lower the price. In addition, the more you order and pay, the more you can claim - a bigger discount, more bonuses, more adaptation to your situation. But like everywhere else, no special comments are required.

Be smart and show that you know how this game is played. Before talking to the service provider about specific numbers, do your homework -

study the situation in the market - how much others ask for this service, which affects the price of the service and how big the offer is.

The fact that you will be prepared will certainly be useful to you, allowing you to distinguish between what is really an offer made especially for you and what is just an attempt to present a standard discount as a big welcome. For example, almost all traditional wedding venues offer a room for newlyweds for free, so it's worth knowing that such a discount is more the norm than the fruit of your skillful bargaining.

Immediately, that is, before signing the contract, find out exactly what is included in the offer at the specified price and what additional expenses will be. Will I have to pay extra for the hours spent at the venue decorating and cleaning the premises, or does the venue provide all the necessary crockery, cutlery, tablecloths, chairs and tables at no extra charge? How many of all the wedding photos will be individually processed and how many will be in total? Does the caterer's price include waiter service? These issues must be clearly defined both in the expressed offer and also in the subsequently concluded contract.

CONCLUDING THE CONTRACT

It is important to include as much precise information as possible in the contract - what the executor undertakes to do, what is included, how much and when it will be done.

How will the payments be made - will there be 100% prepayment or when will the final payment be made? What happens if an order or reservation is cancelled? Also, during all communication with the service provider, it is best to receive written confirmation, for example by email for each new appointment. Even if there is no doubt about the integrity of the wedding professional, there is always a risk due to the human factor. After all, we all think and perceive information in a different way, and even if we mean no harm, we can misunderstand each other. In the event of a disagreement, clearly worded written evidence can truly save the day.