Before comparing vendors, seven decisions set the frame. Until they are made (even roughly), every quote is hard to read.
The 7 decisions
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1. Total budget and who pays what
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2. Target date or season
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4. Venue (city, region, room type)
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5. Format (civil only, religious, secular, multi-day)
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6. Two non-negotiable priorities (e.g. photo + venue)
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7. How you split work between partners
Why order matters
Budget filters venue. Venue filters caterer. Guests filter catering cost. Priorities help you cut elsewhere without regret.
We have seen couples spend 30% of budget on flowers while photo was their stated priority. Writing two priorities down prevents that drift.