Even though it’s hard, you will have to trust your wedding vendor to do their job. After all, it’s what you’re paying for. Here’s why micromanaging could be your downfall.

By Olivia C. Frazer

Trusting another person to complete a task can be quite difficult, especially when it comes to special occasions like your wedding.

With such a high-stakes event, it is understandable to want to supervise each detail. Most people have a vivid mental image of how everything should be. Yet, when hiring a wedding vendor, the goal is to find a person that you know can successfully do their job. While it may seem tempting to micromanage, we all must accept that our areas of expertise may not cover every category. The professionals are professionals for a reason. Florist Jeri Solomon, owner of Jeri Solomon Floral Design, says that “You are trusting that your wedding vendor is going to execute your vision, but things tend to look better when you leave some space for magic.” Allowing an artist to execute their craft without too much interference can help them not just meet but exceed your expectations. Here’s why:

Different vendors have different styles

We all have our own personal style and that extends to vendors. If you’re looking for a florist whose specialty is long and wispy arrangements, don’t go to someone who is more geometric and structured. Jeri says that “You have to see something you like” in a vendor’s visual designs rather than asking them to do the antithesis of their usual work. While they may be able to attempt your vision, Jeri says, “You wouldn’t ask a sculptor to paint.”

Getting stuck can cost you

Jeri stresses that: “Clients get into trouble when they’re really stuck on a vision.” Demanding that a flower be a very particular shade of pink, for example, can limit creativity as well as make it difficult to execute with budgetary restraints. In addition, overlooked factors like upcoming holidays, trends, and seasonal availability can all affect the final cost on your bill. Professionals will take these factors into account.

They should have your trust

After selecting your vendor, remind yourself — when feeling anxious — that you chose them because you trust them. As Jeri says, “We earn our client’s trust by listening.” After all, this is why the consultation process exists — for you to be listened to. While it is harder for some people more than others to let go of control, have confidence in your judgment and in the talents of your vendor. Ultimately, you’re paying them for peace of mind: Jeri says, “Weddings are stressful, flowers shouldn’t be.”

Life happens

If your vendor needs to substitute for something that is sold out or unavailable, they should feel confident that whatever they chose as a substitution will not upset you. Life happens. And things rarely go entirely as planned, even for something as meticulously planned as a wedding. But Jeri explains that this can be a good thing: “A client success is when they say, ‘this is everything I wanted and better than I could have expected.” Yet, how could that have been possible without leaving space for the magically unexpected?

If you’re interested in hearing more from Jeri, pick up her book co-written with Edna Dratch-Parker — Guide to Smart Wedding Planning.