Does Your Wedding Venue Charge Vendors to Be on Their Preferred Vendor List?
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals Photo by End Goal Enterprise
When you start looking for your wedding venue, you will probably come across the term “preferred vendors list” pretty quickly. Many wedding venues have a preferred vendor list that includes photographers, videographers, caterers, DJs, florists, bartenders, planners and other wedding professionals they recommend to their couples.
At first, a preferred vendor list sounds like a great thing. And it can be. Your wedding venue has probably worked with a lot of local wedding vendors. They may know which photographers are great at capturing the property, which caterers are easy to work with, which DJs keep the dance floor full and which vendors consistently show up prepared and ready to work. But there is one question you may want to ask before assuming every vendor on that list earned their spot based solely on their work.
Does the wedding venue charge vendors to be on its preferred vendor list?
It is a perfectly reasonable question, especially if the venue also charges you a fee for using a vendor who is not on that list. You are planning a wedding, after all. You deserve to know how the recommendations you are being given actually work.
What Is a Preferred Vendor List?
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals photo by End Goal Enterprise
A preferred vendor list is a collection of wedding professionals that a wedding venue recommends to couples or requires couples to use.
There can be a lot of value in this.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding in Colorado and you are not familiar with the area, your wedding venue may be able to save you a tremendous amount of time by giving you the names of vendors they know and trust.
A photographer who has photographed weddings at the venue before may already know the best places for wedding portraits. A caterer who has worked there may know exactly how the property is laid out and where to set up. A DJ may already understand the reception space and how the sound works at the venue. Your venue will also know who shows up on time, ready to work, every time. That experience can be helpful. The question is how those vendors ended up on the list.
Are Vendors Paying to Be on the Preferred List?
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
Some wedding venues charge vendors a fee to be included on their preferred vendor list. That does not necessarily mean those vendors are not good. A vendor can pay a marketing or listing fee and still be an excellent wedding professional. However, it does mean that being on the list does not necessarily tell you everything you might assume it does.
When a couple sees a list of “preferred” wedding vendors, they may assume the venue has carefully selected each vendor based on years of working with them and knowing that they provide excellent service. That may be true. But it may also be a paid placement.
That is why it is worth asking.
If you are touring wedding venues near Canon City, Pueblo, or Colorado Springs, ask the venue directly whether vendors pay to be included on its preferred vendor list. There is no reason to feel awkward about it. You are not being difficult. You are doing your homework.
Ask How the Vendor List Works
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals Photo by End Goal Enterprise
One of the easiest ways to understand a venue's policy is simply to ask a few questions. You can ask, “Do vendors pay to be on your preferred vendor list?” You can also ask, “Do we have to use vendors from your preferred list?”
Another good question is, “If we find a vendor we really love who is not on your list, can we use them?” And then ask, “Is there an additional fee for using an outside vendor?” How they answer can tell you a lot about how flexible the venue is.
Some venues require couples to use their preferred vendors. Others allow outside vendors but charge an additional fee. Some venues simply require outside vendors to be approved first. Those policies are very different, and you will want to know which one applies before you sign your wedding venue contract.
There Is a Difference Between Preferred and Approved Vendors
Phot by End Goal Enterprise
This is an important distinction when you are comparing outdoor wedding venues in Colorado.
A preferred vendor is someone the venue recommends. An approved vendor is someone the venue has determined is allowed to work at the property. Those are not necessarily the same thing.
For example, a wedding venue may have several photographers they recommend because they have worked with them before. But if you already have a photographer you love, the venue may simply ask that photographer to meet its insurance, safety and property requirements.
That is a very different policy than saying, “You have to choose someone from our list.”
There can be legitimate reasons for a venue to approve outside vendors. A venue may want to make sure vendors carry appropriate insurance. They may need vendors to understand cleanup requirements, property rules, setup and teardown expectations or alcohol policies. A venue may also have a do-not-use list based on previous problems with a particular vendor.
That does not necessarily mean the venue is trying to control your wedding. Sometimes it is simply about protecting the property and making sure everyone working there understands the rules.
What Happens When a Venue Charges You for Going Off the List?
Flowers by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
This is where couples really need to pay attention. If a wedding venue charges you an additional fee for using a vendor who is not on its preferred list, ask why. You may also want to ask whether the vendors on the preferred list pay the venue to be there.
If the answer is yes, that does not automatically mean you should run away from the venue. It does, however, give you important information about how the vendor recommendations work. You can then decide whether the preferred vendors are actually a good fit for your wedding or whether you would rather bring in someone you already know and trust.
It is also worth asking about the amount of the outside vendor fee. A vendor may be perfect for your wedding, but an unexpected $500, $1,000 or higher fee for using them can change your wedding budget pretty quickly. The time to find that out is before you book the venue, not after.
At Lost Pond, We Have an Open Vendor Policy
Flowers by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
This is one area where we have intentionally kept things simple at Lost Pond. You can bring your own wedding vendors to Lost Pond, and there is no outside vendor fee.
We do not have a preferred vendor list that you are required to choose from. We have worked with some wonderful wedding professionals over the years, and we are happy to give you suggestions if you need them. If you are looking for a photographer, caterer, DJ, florist or another wedding professional, we can tell you about vendors we have worked with and know to be reliable. But there is an important difference.
You do not have to hire them.
If you already have a photographer you love, bring them. If your favorite caterer is someone we have never worked with, that is okay. If you found an amazing florist in Pueblo and want to use them for your wedding at Lost Pond, go for it. If you have a DJ in Colorado Springs that you have heard at another wedding and absolutely loved, you can ask them to be part of your day.
You are not limited to a list. That is what we mean when we say Lost Pond has an open vendor policy.
Why We Think an Open Vendor Policy Matters
Flowers by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
Planning a wedding is personal. Your wedding vendors are going to be a big part of your day. Your photographer will be with you for hours. Your caterer will feed your guests. Your DJ or band will help set the tone for your reception. Your florist will help create the look you have been picturing.
You should be able to choose the people who fit your vision, personality and budget. Maybe you have a friend who is an incredible florist. Maybe you have been following a photographer on Instagram for two years. Maybe your family has a caterer they absolutely love. Maybe you simply found a vendor whose personality clicked with you during your first conversation.
Those things matter. Your wedding should not feel like you are selecting items from a pre-approved catalog. At Lost Pond, we would rather give you information and suggestions and let you make the decision.
Does an Open Vendor Policy Mean Anyone Can Work at the Venue?
Having an open vendor policy does not mean we completely ignore the practical side of having vendors on the property. We still want vendors to understand what is expected when they work at Lost Pond. We care about our property, our guests and the experience everyone has at the venue. If there is a reason a particular vendor cannot meet our requirements or has been placed on our do-not-use list, that is something we would address.
But that is very different from requiring you to choose from a paid preferred vendor list. Our goal is simple. We want your vendors to be reliable, professional and respectful of the property. We also want you to have the freedom to choose them.
What Should You Look for When Comparing Colorado Wedding Venues?
If you are comparing wedding venues near Colorado Springs, Pueblo or Canon City, do not just compare the rental price and how pretty the property looks in the photos. Ask about the policies. Ask about preferred vendors. Ask about outside vendor fees. Ask whether you can bring your own caterer. Ask whether you can choose your own photographer. Ask whether the venue has a required vendor list. Ask whether vendors pay to be on that list.
These questions can help you uncover costs and restrictions that are not always obvious when you are looking at a wedding venue's website. A beautiful venue is wonderful. A beautiful venue where you also have the freedom to create your wedding your way is even better.
Choosing a Wedding Venue Should Not Mean Giving Up Your Choices
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
When you are searching for an outdoor wedding venue in Colorado, it is easy to get caught up in the scenery. And we understand that. At Lost Pond, you have a pond, stream, waterfall, bridge, mountain views and a reception area beneath our tented awning with string lights. It is the kind of rustic, magical setting that makes it pretty easy to start imagining your wedding before you have even finished the tour.
But the policies matter too. You should know what you are actually allowed to do once you book.
At Lost Pond, our open vendor policy is designed to give couples flexibility. You can bring the wedding professionals you want, and there is no fee for bringing in outside vendors. We are happy to recommend vendors we know and trust, but there is no required list.
Whether you are planning a waterfront wedding near Canon City, a rustic outdoor wedding for guests coming from Pueblo, or a Colorado wedding that is convenient to Colorado Springs, you should be able to make the vendor choices that make sense for you.
Because your wedding is not a package deal. It is your wedding. And we think you should get to choose the people who help make it happen.
Your wedding venue should be the place where your wedding comes together, not the place where your choices get narrowed down. At Lost Pond, we believe you should be able to choose the people you trust, the vendors you love, and the details that make your wedding feel like yours. No paid preferred vendor list. No outside vendor fees. Just an open vendor policy and a beautiful place to get married. Because when you find the right venue, you should not have to give up the freedom to make the rest of the day your own.
Choose your vendors. Choose your vision. Choose your venue. At Lost Pond, you are never required to choose from a preferred vendor list, and there is no fee for bringing your own vendors. If you are looking for a rustic outdoor wedding venue near Canon City, Pueblo, or Colorado Springs, come take a look. Schedule a tour of Lost Pond and see what your wedding could look like here.
Florals by Ellie Mae’s Florals and photos by End Goal Enterprise
