We’ve all heard the saying, “it takes a village,” right? This phrase usually comes to mind when talking about childrearing and the emotional and physical care involved, but it also rings true in creative endeavors as well. So our approach with other vendors: don’t hate, collaborate!

Collab is Key

As entrepreneurs, we put blood, sweat, tears, and endless time into the development of our craft and artistry, and take pride in the outcome of our labors. Our businesses are our metaphorical babies. So sometimes, overprotectiveness of our business babies can close us off to the idea of working with other creatives. But we need to break this backwards way of thinking! Collaboration is key in learning new information or skills, igniting inspiration, expanding our networks of other creatives, and, most importantly, in providing our clients with a genuinely special experience.

Take a moment to visualize what you think the quintessential wedding/graduation/special event photographs should look like.

What do these images likely have in common? Smiling faces of those you love most? Fun and shenanigans ensuing? Exceptional décor and styling? One thing they definitely have in common is that no one person could have created that moment alone. Just think of all the vendors involved in pulling off a fabulous wedding reception: caterers, musicians or DJs, florists, hair/makeup artists, stylists, event coordinators, photographers…the list goes on and on.

Take this photo from Lauren & Martin’s #notjustsummerlove wedding, for instance:

What do you see right off the bat?  A bride and groom’s mid-ceremony bliss, right? What may not register is allllll the work put in by various wedding industry professionals that contributed to the creation and ambiance of this very moment: music provided by Jenny Z Mobile DJ Service playing softly to set the matrimonial mood, the chairs, arbor, & beautiful backdrop provided by Pond View Farm, floral arrangements and accents from Flowers by Bauers, Lauren’s gorgeous hair, styled by  Fly Away Hair, & makeup done by the fabulous Farren Elyse, along with Lauren’s uncle, Rev. Ron Foster, leading the ceremony. Each of these elements was essential in making this memory.

How about this photo from our Wyndridge Farms Styled Wedding Shoot?

At first glance, this is an image of two people madly in love; however, there were SO many fabulous creatives that helped make this photo happen!

Just look at this list of vendors that collaborated on this project with us:

Venue: Wyndridge Farm

Event Planning & Design: The MaeWood Collective

Onsite Coordinator & Stylist: Jessica Walker

Florals: Love & Luster Floral Design

Bridal Gown: Posh Bridal

Hair & Makeup: Silver Immersion & Cathy’s Hair Designs

Videography: LeMoment Capturer

Stationary: Alpha Graphics

Cake: Baker’s Table

Tabletop Decor: Cork Collection

Jewelry: Marinella Jewelry

BTS Photography: Robin Karman & Jennifer Lowe

Models: Chris & Olivia Fry

So many amazing people gave their time and talents to help bring our vision to life!

Again…it takes a village.

Picture-perfect moments aren’t always created solely by photographers and photographees, especially in cases of styled shoots, networking events, weddings, etc. (just imagine a wedding without flowers, or a promo party without fabulous swag bags…inconceivable, right?!). Truly memorable events require a plethora of professionals, and it is to everyone’s benefit that those professionals work together as a team.

So, here are some of our tips for fostering vendor collaboration when planning an important event:

1. Choose vendors who align with your vibe

This will mean doing some homework and getting to know your vendors better. Preferred vendor lists are AWESOME, don’t get us wrong, and there are all sorts of apps and websites offering vendor information. However, chemistry is important, and YOU are the best judge of who you feel will offer you fantastic services/products, meet your specific needs, and give you an all-around amazing experience. Trust your intuition. Odds are, if they jive well with you, they’ll jive well with each other.

2. Set the tone

Don’t be afraid to send an introductory email to the vendors you know are contributing to your event in some way. This is two-fold: it automatically provides vendors with email contact info for one another and sets the precedent that you are all part of a team.

3. Keep everyone in the loop

Usually, this is coordinator territory, but if you’re the one who’s planning, be sure to communicate your vision for the event with all parties involved. If vendors are responsible for creating a timeline for their specific element of your event, be sure to share that timeline, or ask them to do so, with the other pros. If none of the vendors have specific timelines they need to follow (which is seldom the case), create a rough overall timeline for all to follow. This way, vendors can cross reference each other’s timing needs and work together to adjust any potential issues before the event

Trust us, things will go much smoother if everyone is on the same page at go-time! A great strategy for keeping everyone involved informed and organized is to create an event document to share with the team. Things to think about including: vendor info (email addresses, social media handles, & phone #s.), scheduling info & timelines, important locations, etc.

4. Tag vendors and VIP

When posting official photos from the event, tag all the vendors in your post with their respective specialties + your VIP. Also request that they do the same!. Such a small step goes a looonnng way in showing your vendors some love for their hard work, while simultaneously spreading the word about their businesses (bonus!). Many of your vendors work on referrals, so any shout-outs are sure to be much appreciated!

In the end, vendors all want the same thing – to provide you with services or products that contribute to the specialness of your day. Whether it’s your wedding, retirement party, birthday extravaganza, networking event, bar mitzvah, whatever, our aim is to please! And it is SO much easier for us to deliver a truly meaningful experience if we all work together.

Are you planning your wedding and need more tips and tricks!?! Check out our other helpful blog posts!

1 | Professional Input for Your Wedding Day Timeline

2 | MD Brides: Out Baltimore, MD Dream Team of Vendors

3 | Should I Have a First Look?