I will be the first to tell you that perusing social media is a great way to find your ideal wedding vendors, but you should also be aware that a pretty social media page doesn't always equate to quality vendors. In order to help you navigate the murky waters of social media, we have put together 5 things to look for in a quality wedding professional's social media page.
1. REAL WEDDING PHOTOS: A big trend in the world of wedding professionals is 'styled shoots.' Nearly all wedding pros are putting together these gorgeous inspirational shoots to help guide couples and to showcase their ideal look and style. While these are a wonderful additiona to any portfolio (and should be!), they shouldn't be the ENTIRE portfolio. Be sure you are regularly seeing photos of REAL weddings on their social media, and be sure that you are just as in love with these shots. After all, your wedding is going to be a REAL wedding, not a styled shoot. If styled shoots are all you are seeing, then chances are, you are looking at a very new wedding professional and I suggest you move forward with caution.
EXPERTISE: Social media is MUCH more than solely images. Are you getting useful information, and are they teaching you along the way? For example, an experienced wedding planner should be sharing their insight on tips and tricks to planning your wedding. If you are learning from their social media, then that is just the tip of iceberg as for what you will be learning after you book them. Paying attention to this expertise will, once again, help distinguish between new vendors and more established wedding pros.
PAY ATTENTION TO VOICE: Most social media accounts are written by the owner, and their social media 'voice' is a quick glimpse into their personality. After reading through their posts, do they sound like someone you would like to work with? Do they seem like someone who is experienced and passionate about what they do, and do they seem like someone you could fully trust with you wedding?
STYLE: Taking a look at a vendors style is extremely important for those 'visual' wedding vendors. If you are hiring a florist or a wedding designer, does the wedding style of their social media profiles match your wedding style? It's not enough to think "it's pretty." It should be in-line with your vision for your big day. If you are looking at a very glamorous page, which is absolutely stunning, but you are looking for a very rustic wedding, then that vendor is probably not going to be the best fit for your wedding. Make sense?
CHECK REVIEWS - Once you find a few pages that you absolutely love, get off social media and go check their reviews. You will be amazed at how much you learn here! Some vendors will have a stunning social media presence, but zero reviews. Interesting, huh?! Pay attention to the number of reviews they have, and be sure that there is feedback related to the service you are looking for. For example, if you are looking to hire a full service planner, every review you see should discuss how the planner was an amazing day-of coordinator.
I hope that helps find your perfect vendors through social media.
Also, if you are a social media junky be sure to share this article with all your followers to help them navigate social media as well. Oh, and be sure to follow along with us on your favorite social media platform. (Instagram is our favorite! :) )
Cheers!
Ashley
