I was chatting to Sarah, one of our up and coming brides last week,  and she got animated when we discussed the process of choosing a wedding stylist.  Sarah wanted a stylist that looked after all the details for you, but made the process as easy and relaxed as possible, without the celebrity price tag.  

During our discussion Sarah identified some areas that she learnt that she really need to be aware of, so to avoid potential stressful mistakes.  We have shared some of the questions that Sarah felt you should ask the potential stylist of the day of your dreams!

Does this hire fee include installation? Some decorators add a fee on top of the hire price, others have it built into the hire fee.  There should be somewhere on the quote with this information written. Whether it is included in the hire fee, or listed separately, it does not really matter, as long as it is in budget for you.

I am DIY-ing my wedding decorations - when can I pick everything up? If you are DIY-ing your wedding decor, you will often receive the items at a hire fee less than what it would be if you had chosen the decorator to install.  Having said that, it is imperative that you ask the hire company when these items shall be ready to pickup, often the stylists will stipulate that the wedding decorations will be available on a certain day and time.  Please make sure you ask if you will be charged an additional fee if you require to pickup the hire items earlier than specified.  The hire industry generally charges for ‘time out, not time used’.

What happens if (heaven forbid) I need to cancel?  You may have changed your mind, or sadly the wedding may be cancelled.  The reason for cancellation really should not matter.  However, please make sure you are familiar with their cancellation policies.  Some wedding decorators will keep the whole deposit, others will refund a portion depending on notice given.

Next week, we will be sharing a few more potential pitfalls that you need to be aware of. 

Happy wedding planning!