In this episode of our "12 Steps from Engaged to I Do" series, we’re focusing on Booking Your Key Vendors First. We’re diving into why you need to book key vendors like caterers, celebrants, photographers, and videographers early in the planning process. Since many of these vendors only handle one wedding per day, locking them in ahead of time ensures you secure your preferred team for the big day.

Catering can be one of the larger expenses, especially if your venue doesn’t include it, and the type of catering you choose will impact your budget significantly. Similarly, finding the right celebrant is crucial, not only to make your wedding official but also to ensure your ceremony feels meaningful. When it comes to capturing memories, photographers are a must-have, and their unique style is something to consider carefully. Videographers, though often overlooked, add an extra layer by capturing the emotion and motion of your day, allowing you to relive those moments over and over.

When reaching out to vendors, doing a little research first will save time and help you find the right match. Review their work online, check price guides to ensure they fit your budget, and provide detailed information in your initial enquiry to receive a more accurate quote. Also, be patient while waiting for responses, and don’t hesitate to ask about package flexibility if needed. If you choose not to move forward with a vendor, letting them know is a polite and appreciated gesture.

To wrap things up, booking your key vendors early will set the stage for a smooth wedding day. In the next episode, we’ll discuss other important vendors and offer more tips for making the planning process stress-free. Thanks for listening!

Other Episodes Mentioned:
The Role and Value of a Celebrant: A Conversation with Marry Us Mich
https://www.cutthecakepodcast.com.au/episodes/marry-us-mich

About Melanie
Mel is a coffee-loving, too-loud laughing, Melbourne based wedding planner, stylist and coordinator bringing the #skillz approved by Sia to your open-air aisle, outside the city (yes sirly - she has worked with Sia!) Altering managing world-class events in sport and entertainment (think the Australian Open and Sir Paul McCartney), Melanie has rolled that experience in sunshine and hand-delivered it to couples for a personalised dream wedding experience *yes please* Mel's speciality is helping couples across Melbourne & Regional Victoria. She is a couples go-to and wedding day bestie so the whole wedding she-bang doesn’t become a second full-time job. #nothanks

instagram.com/mellyrain.creative
Contact Mel: mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey.

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
Contact Tania: eventwandererco.com.au/pages/contact

In this engaging episode of "Cut the Cake," we dive into the crucial step of sending out save the dates for weddings.

Step three in our Wedding Planning Series highlights the importance and perfect timing for this essential pre-invitation. We explore how save the dates give guests a heads-up on your wedding date and location, especially for those traveling from afar, helping make the planning process smoother for everyone.

We share tips on designing save the dates and discuss the pros and cons of physical versus digital formats. Save the dates are such a fun way to set the tone for your big day while playing a key role in guest management.

From nailing down the timeline and budget to making sure you’ve got a backup plan in case the guest list changes, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we offer practical tips like using CRM systems for email save the dates and ordering extra physical ones just in case!

Resources mentioned:
The Event Wanderer Co. Guest Planning Spreadsheet: https://eventwandererco.com.au/pages/planning

About Melanie
Mel is a coffee-loving, too-loud laughing, Melbourne based wedding planner, stylist and coordinator bringing the #skillz approved by Sia to your open-air aisle, outside the city (yes sirly - she has worked with Sia!) Altering managing world-class events in sport and entertainment (think the Australian Open and Sir Paul McCartney), Melanie has rolled that experience in sunshine and hand-delivered it to couples for a personalised dream wedding experience *yes please* Mel's speciality is helping couples across Melbourne & Regional Victoria. She is a couples go-to and wedding day bestie so the whole wedding she-bang doesn’t become a second full-time job. #nothanks

instagram.com/mellyrain.creative
Contact Mel: mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey.

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
Contact Tania: eventwandererco.com.au/pages/contact

In this episode of The Wedding Planning Series, we’re diving into one of the biggest steps in wedding planning – finding the perfect venue!

Whether you're dreaming of a rustic barn or a chic city warehouse, the right venue sets the tone for your big day.

We’ll break down the process into four simple steps, from creating your vision and checklist to visiting venues and making the final decision.

About Melanie
Mel is a coffee-loving, too-loud laughing, Melbourne based wedding planner, stylist and coordinator bringing the #skillz approved by Sia to your open-air aisle, outside the city (yes sirly - she has worked with Sia!) Altering managing world-class events in sport and entertainment (think the Australian Open and Sir Paul McCartney), Melanie has rolled that experience in sunshine and hand-delivered it to couples for a personalised dream wedding experience *yes please* Mel's speciality is helping couples across Melbourne & Regional Victoria. She is a couples go-to and wedding day bestie so the whole wedding she-bang doesn’t become a second full-time job. #nothanks

instagram.com/mellyrain.creative
Contact Mel: mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey.

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
Contact Tania: eventwandererco.com.au/pages/contact