Five Decisions to Make Before Contacting Vendors

A vendor inquiry is only as useful as the information in it. Vague requests get vague quotes, and vague quotes make comparison nearly impossible.

1. A realistic budget range

You do not need an exact figure, but you need a ceiling and a sense of which categories matter most to you.

2. An approximate guest count

Even a range (say, 60 to 80) lets vendors price sensibly and tells you which spaces are worth considering.

3. A date, or a short list of dates

Flexibility is valuable. Three possible dates often open up better availability and pricing than one.

4. The style and feel you want

A few descriptive words or reference images do more than a long paragraph. Formal or relaxed? Indoor or outdoor?

5. Your must-haves versus nice-to-haves

Knowing what you will not compromise on makes negotiation and trade-offs far less stressful.