You may feel as though you're going to get an education when you sit down to discuss the particulars of this wedding with certain vendors. That's not the case. You should go out of your way to educate yourself before you meet face-to-face with a banquet manager or a baker or a florist. You don't want to be hit with sticker shock while you're interviewing a vendor, and you definitely don't want to end up paying too much for anything.

Pass It On!

One of the best ways to get a line on who's reputable, who isn't, and which vendors offer the best services, is through word of mouth. You can start asking around as soon as your daughter has some idea of what type of wedding she's leaning toward. Don't worry if you don't have any close friends or family members who have recently gone through the wedding process. You can find plenty of advice online at some of the bigger and more local websites. Blogs and local magazine websites tend to have some of the best advice for those beginning their wedding planning process. Some of the bigger wedding planning websites will let local brides talk about their vendors after the wedding as well.

The Internet is especially helpful for finding the latest trends in weddings. For example, if your daughter just has to have wild exotic flowers at her reception, you can send an e-mail with photos from a particular website to the florist before you meet. This way you can see (ahead of time) whether or not she is capable of reproducing such glory. Remember to organize your information and to take a notebook (either paper or your laptop) along with you. You'll have a lot of information thrown at you. In order to make the best decision, you'll have to sort through prices and services at some point, which is going to be difficult to do if you haven't organized your information.

Learn by Example

One last way to do your research is to start making the reception rounds. This will give you a good idea of how a reception venue really handles several hundred guests. Most banquet managers and other vendors will give you dates and times so that you can see their work in progress. Try not to infringe on other brides and grooms to satisfy your interest. Go to the reception site about thirty to forty-five minutes prior to the wedding or reception starting. This way you can see how things look in person but not interrupt or take away from someone else's perfect day.

What Are You Getting Yourself Into?

Once you've met with the vendors, you'll narrow your choices down, and at some point, you'll want to negotiate with them. Be aware that you're really not in a position to negotiate, because most reputable vendors (especially in the busy wedding months, from April to October) have all the business they need. They don't need to give you a break, because there's usually someone else in line right behind you who's willing to pay full price.

The most popular wedding and reception sites are often booked solid a year to two years in advance, so you may well feel as though you're under the gun even if you've gotten an early start in your planning. Don't let pressure blind you. Take a good look at what you're being offered by various vendors, and what you're going to end up paying for. Don't sign a contract until you're completely comfortable with the terms of it.