Meeting vendors takes time and effort, so making sure you come prepared will save you time and help you get the most out of every meeting. Without proper preparations, you may end up settling on a package that is over your budget, or not exactly what you want. You might also miss out on the fine print in the contract, or even missing out on important details.

Make the most of all your meetings by doing these five things before seeing your vendors.

(1) Set your budget.

How much are you willing to spend on each item? Will you leave leeway and be open to adding in a few dollars for extra items? Usually during meetings you will get offers to top up to a higher package or get add-ons which will benefit you etc. Either stay firm or come with an allowable amount for these additions.

(2) Be clear about what you want.

As we mentioned, vendors may try to offer add-ons and it’s easy to get swayed if you don’t know what you want. So aside from being clear about your budget, it will also help if you know exactly what you want. This will keep you from getting tempted to add something extra because it “feels like a good add-on” when in fact, you have no more budget for it.

(3) Be ready to listen.

Vendors are artists, too, so come to your meeting with an open mind. Let your vendors make suggestions, after all, they are experts in their craft and may present really good options for you. Be ready to listen to their ideas and who knows, a vendor might have a brilliant idea for your big day!

(4) Be ready to face a little pressure.

When you meet with vendors, you might feel pressure to pay the down payment. Some vendors may put a little stress on settling a deposit right away to secure their services. If you still don’t feel 100% sure of convinced, listen to your inner instincts. Before you come to a meeting, be aware that this might happen and know when to book and when to wait.

(5) Cover ALL the details.

Make sure you talk about ALL the details thoroughly. You can list out all your concerns and questions so that when you meet your vendor face-to-face, you don’t leave anything out. Make sure to go over the contract in detail, too. Read this to learn more about how to manage vendor contracts.