How to Find Your Dream Wedding Vendors with Bri Marbais

Kevin Dennis (0:0.756)

Alright folks, welcome to another episode and now that I'm engaged, how do I get married? And we have the one and only Brie Marbe. Did I say it right? Oh, I did! I was nervous. It's the S, it throws me off at the end. Probably the... Your probably first day of school was kind of hellish. I'm just mad. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So, I have three first names so they would always get my names wrong. They would call me by the wrong name. And I'm like, just follow the ca... Follow the cadence of everybody else's! Yeah.

Bri Marbais (0:8.961)

Yes, yes. Good job. I know.

Bri Marbais (0:18.285)

still is.

Bri Marbais (0:28.600)

what to do.

Kevin Dennis (0:30.306)

So anyway, but welcome Bree before we get going. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Bri Marbais (0:32.749)

Thank you.

Bri Marbais (0:37.227)

Yeah, so I'm born and raised Floridian. I've lived on the same street my whole entire 32 years of living. Yep. Yep. I've only seen snow twice in my life. So I'm definitely for sunshine state girly. Um, went to UCF for hospitality never thinking I would ever get into the wedding industry. And lo and behold, 10 years later, here I am.

Kevin Dennis (0:44.097)

No way.

That's amazing.

Bri Marbais (1:3.933)

I've had firsthand experience as a venue and a vendor and I am currently engaged myself. yeah, thank you. So I understand all sides of, you know, the planning, the execution, the logistics, you know.

Kevin Dennis (1:8.108)

Hmm.

Oh, congratulations!

Bri Marbais (1:20.823)

firsthand as venue vendor and now bride. So it's been great. Now I'm with wedding venue map or a local venue and vendor search engine hyper focused in central Florida. So now I get to not only help couples but the businesses as well. So it's great. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (1:37.934)

All right, well, I'm excited because you're also a bride as well. So that means we can really pick your brain. as we hit pause for a second, do you have the date picked? Are we planning or what?

Bri Marbais (1:40.809)

Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (1:50.233)

Um, so we've been engaged two years and honestly, because I'm in the industry, it's very hard, you know, I've seen behind the curtain. And I, you know, I look at things a little bit more logistically than a typical couple, like the magic's not there necessarily. So, um, we are currently in the process of making headway and planning. So yeah, so I would say in the next year or so. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (1:52.525)

Okay.

Kevin Dennis (1:57.025)

Oh, it's some.

Kevin Dennis (2:13.781)

We'll get that's

Kevin Dennis (2:18.414)

Yeah, good for you. would it's my wife always tells me I am literally the worst person that she takes to as a guest to a wedding because I'm sitting there and I'm like Yeah, I'm like, why aren't they doing this? And why is that person standing over there? They should be over there and why is this going and she's like we and she literally will go to the bar and go have a drink relax and just Yeah, but it's just like it's because we're there and a wedding is work and I can't it's hard for me to relax. So

Bri Marbais (2:27.917)

We'll flip at things differently. I know. Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (2:39.009)

Yeah, calm down. You're not working. Yeah. I know. Yeah.

I know. Yeah, I get it.

Kevin Dennis (2:48.586)

Anyway, alright, well, we're here to talk about how to find the right vendors and which resources to use and why. So I guess as we dive in for couples listening, you know, how do we find the right vendor?

Bri Marbais (2:56.141)

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (3:3.563)

Yeah, I definitely think that couples should tap their friends. You know, a lot of the time, you know, depending upon the age range, you've had friends who have recently gotten married or in the same boat with you. So I think like tap your friends like who did they work with and really enjoy you know, what venues did they look at and, know, pro and con. So I think couples should tap into their friend group.

Kevin Dennis (3:8.224)

Mmm.

Bri Marbais (3:28.001)

And, you know, if you're friends, you more than likely have similarities and things in common. So you might want to work with the same people. And, you know, your friends might have done some of the homework already for you. So yeah, tap your friends first.

Kevin Dennis (3:40.065)

Mm-hmm.

Well that's okay. first as friends, then where do you think we should go from there?

Bri Marbais (3:47.681)

Yeah, I think you know, use your local resources. I think you know, depending upon the city, you know, check and see if there are local directories that you can look into. You know, online listings, you know, the national platforms are great, the knot and wedding wire just because everything is kind of living in one central location.

Kevin Dennis (4:5.696)

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (4:6.669)

you know, don't get hung up on what you see on those platforms. There are many other opportunities to investigate that venue or vendor. But I would look into, you know, local resources first if you're where you're at and where your planning has something like that for you.

Kevin Dennis (4:23.374)

And then what about the wonderful preferred vendor lists that are out there that everyone has what do you what do you how do you feel about those?

Bri Marbais (4:31.053)

How do I I honestly love a preferred vendor list truly because they know the property best they know the best they've worked there. There's a reason why they're on that list and they're essentially an extension of the venue. You know, the venue wouldn't just put anybody on there that they didn't trust.

Kevin Dennis (4:38.552)

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (4:50.241)

You know, when I worked at the venue, the rule was you have to work a minimum of three weddings successfully to be considered for the list because we would never refer someone who we wouldn't hire for our own weddings or events. So I think the preferred list is a great place to start.

Kevin Dennis (4:57.578)

Oh.

Kevin Dennis (5:2.584)

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (5:7.509)

You know, and some venues don't require that you work off of that list, but I think it's a really great jumping point because those vendors are going to know the venue in and out and it's just going to be an easy process working off that list.

Kevin Dennis (5:11.756)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (5:21.326)

Yeah, I agree. Well, and it's as someone who is a vendor, know, it's those lists are like gold because once you get in there, you know, it really is. And but but even for for couples, though, it comes a level of trust, you know, like like like even with the friends, you know, like the friends, there's there's a trust that my friends hired these people. Therefore, you know, you know, therefore I'm probably going to have the same connection.

Bri Marbais (5:29.803)

Yeah, the holy grail. Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (5:39.933)

100%. Yep. Yep.

Bri Marbais (5:45.963)

Yeah. Yeah. When you're, know, when you're going to weddings, like if you're attending weddings, you're like, Oh my gosh, I love the food or Oh my gosh, I loved, you know, that DJ or whomever just jot it down, ask your friend like, who did you use? And that way, you know, when the time comes, you remember who that vendor was.

Kevin Dennis (5:51.672)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (5:57.080)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (6:4.204)

Yeah, yeah, I agree. No, and that's the best thing as well. So alright, we you mentioned the knot and wedding wire and few of the few of those kind of sources. Why? Why is one better than the other? Is there one better than the other when they're going through this?

Bri Marbais (6:23.019)

Yeah, I mean, I think that the knot and wedding wire is great. Like I said, because everything is centrally located and those platforms let you sort and source narrow down favorite things. So I think it's just easy because it's all compiled into one place. So it's organized very nicely. And then from there, you know, take the list that you really like.

Kevin Dennis (6:36.462)

Hmm.

Bri Marbais (6:47.359)

from those platforms and check out their social media and kind of dig a little bit deeper from there. I don't believe in letting the listing like completely turn you on or off because you know, there are some venues and vendors that don't they sign up on these platforms and they never touch their profiles and I I always tell vendors when like you are so much better than what's on your online listing. Like I love you so much. Please, please update your stuff because

Kevin Dennis (6:53.878)

Hmm.

Kevin Dennis (7:8.301)

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (7:17.001)

it needs to be cohesive. Like I would hate for a couple to bounce off of a listing because it doesn't look like they've touched it. So I, I don't I encourage couples like, don't be turned away by what you see on the listing, just use it as kind of a way to, you know, organize things and get a list going and then dive deeper from there.

Kevin Dennis (7:30.158)

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (7:37.730)

So it's a good start and then yeah, it's a good way to go. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (7:39.137)

Good try.

It's just an easy, organized wait where everything is typically compiled into one spot.

Kevin Dennis (7:47.468)

Yeah, yeah. And I think if I, it's been a long time since I planned a wedding year, you're going through it. I believe like the knot even has like some planning tools that you might be able to use. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (7:56.777)

Oh, yeah, definitely. I haven't dabbled on them as a consumer as a bride. But I know that the features and the benefits that they've, you know, that couples get now with being on the platform. It's amazing. So yeah.

Kevin Dennis (8:12.430)

Yeah. All right. Cool. All right. So we're looking for a vendor. We're trying to figure it out. Should we read reviews? Should we ignore reviews? Like what, how do you, know, and where should we look for reviews on some of these vendors?

Bri Marbais (8:28.529)

I definitely think you should read reviews. I think that it's important to it almost kind of helps with you know, how current are the vendors like if you're you know what I mean? Like if you're you know, looking up a photographer and they haven't had a review for four or five years like that's a red flag. Um, it's kind of like how

Kevin Dennis (8:38.856)

Oh. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (8:46.902)

Oh, time red flag.

Bri Marbais (8:50.269)

I think it's really great to see firsthand experience from people who've worked with them before. mean, Google reviews is great. think that's a you lot of the

online platforms, not wedding wires, Ola, they have the opportunity for couples to leave reviews on those sites as well. But I say lean on Google. I think that's the one place if anyone's going to leave a review anywhere, it's typically on Google. And I say look at the good, the bad and ugly. Don't just look at the most relevant look at the bad ones and then look at the good ones. So you can get a really well rounded picture of the vendor.

Kevin Dennis (9:18.924)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (9:30.306)

And I, and that, think that's some really good advice, Brie, because I think when, as, as a vendor, we, we've all had our bad days or something has happened, but how, how, yeah, we are. And how do we respond to the review? I guess is the biggest. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (9:39.245)

Or human.

Bri Marbais (9:43.629)

Yes, I think that's one of the things too, if people, if the vendors aren't responding, that's always like a, well, like.

Kevin Dennis (9:51.532)

Yeah, good, bad and ugly. I think you need to respond, you know, to all of it. Yeah. Okay. So you're a big Google person.

Bri Marbais (9:54.861)

Yeah, 100%. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (10:1.217)

think Google truly I mean, and you know, ask, you can ask others that have an experience with that venue or vendor or ask your venue, you know, if you're if they're looking at a certain photographer, have you ever worked with this company? You know, if it's someone off of their preferred list, do they have any firsthand experience with them? But Google, Google's king.

Kevin Dennis (10:6.840)

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 10:23

Google's king and everything. really, it's, I, it's, probably use that app more than anything. And yeah, my, and my, even my younger, well, yeah. Am I, and usually now with the AI, I don't know if you've searched lately, that AI thing is amazing. So yeah, it really is. I love it. All right. So we're searching couples are out there searching for that perfect vendor, but what should they be looking for from

Bri Marbais (: 10:25

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 10:29

Yeah. It's real fast. quick.

Bri Marbais (: 10:39

It's wild. Oh yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 10:52

You know, now we've narrowed it down. We've done some searches. So now what should we be looking for when we are having that interaction with the vent?

Bri Marbais (11:0.255)

Yeah, I think you know, you obviously want to work with people that are going to align with you as a couple align with your goals for your wedding. So you would want that what you're finding on the internet to kind of align with that.

you know, you want to have more you want to have the warm and fuzzies when you land on their Instagram, their tick tock, their Facebook, their website, you know, you want to feel comfortable and be like, Oh, they get me they understand me. So I think when looking at photos for inspiration videos, like you, you want to make sure that you see yourself like, I I'm that couple. Um,

Kevin Dennis (: 11:16

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 11:40

So I think it's important to make sure that it all aligns and that it's, sometimes wedding planning can be for up to 18 months and you definitely want to jive with your vendors and it's a lot of money to get married. So, you know, you want to make sure you're working with people who at the end of the day are going to make you feel good. So.

Kevin Dennis (12:0.044)

Yeah, it's funny you hit on something a lot of money so I always I always when I'm talking to my couple sometimes I go well in wedding dollars it's really not that expensive you know in normal if we're talking about everyday dollars it's it's expensive kind of it's funny it when we're going through some stuff so yeah and something else you test you kind of touch on like as a photographer if I'm hiring a photographer go do a photo shoot with them you know like yeah

Bri Marbais (: 12:10

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 12:26

Yeah, absolutely.

Kevin Dennis (: 12:27

Yeah, get out there and that's where I think you really get to know because I've had many of my couples go do photo shoots with a photographer and realize they don't mesh with this photographer. Yeah, and I've had it happen like horror story like we're a bride on the day of like grabs me and goes, can you do whatever you can to just keep the photographer away from me? I don't like him right? And so and it's going to show in her photos like this is her.

Bri Marbais (: 12:36

They don't mess at all.

Bri Marbais (: 12:51

So sad. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 12:58

one moment in time, you know, and it's gonna show in photos.

Bri Marbais (13:2.029)

think if you know, sometimes the internet can be super deceiving. But if you're not even getting a good vibe from what you're seeing on the internet, more than likely you're not going to in person either. So I think make that kind of like hit list and then really dive a little deeper, narrow it down and then schedule you know, schedule zoom chats, go grab coffee. And just make sure that you know, everything aligns.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:13

No.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:24

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:29

Yeah, and I think that's the biggest thing and so with that so now we're looking but how many times like should we try to narrow it down to like 2 to 4 you know vendors per category or you know like how or should. Well yeah, OK I agree with you on that I was just kind of saying because I feel like.

Bri Marbais (: 13:41

I mean, if you want to keep your sanity, absolutely.

Yeah, it's hard. Depending upon where you're getting married, the market could be very saturated. mean, me being in Orlando, we have just under 500 venues just in what's considered central Florida. So I think that it can be very overwhelming. But at some point, you just have to stop you have to stop looking, stop following wedding blog, stop following influencers, like, because it's just you're gonna drive yourself crazy. At some point, you just have to stop looking.

Kevin Dennis (: 13:59

Wow, that's overwhelming.

Bri Marbais (: 14:16

and pick your top two to four that you really wanna take to the next level. Make some decisions, no more FOMO.

Kevin Dennis (: 14:21

Start dating start trying to figure it out. Yeah. Yeah, it's funny you said stop looking. I did that to a bride. I think it was one time we were talking. She kept like kind of reaching out. We've already has her wedding planned. Her wedding was probably about maybe 90 days. We were about 90 maybe 190 to 120 out, know, like so we're close, you know, like we're in the home stretch of her wedding and she kept like looking at stuff on the Instagram and finally I had to tell her I'm like you need to like.

stop looking at Instagram, put on blinders. We have this wedding plan and it's beautiful. You have a beautiful wedding plan and you can't just keep jumping on. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you you really, really do. All right. So when a couple starts communicating with a vendor via like email, what types of questions should they be asking and why?

Bri Marbais (: 14:55

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 14:59

Just gotta get the noise out. just gotta stop. stop. Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 15:15

What types of questions should they be asking? I think it's always interesting to know, you know, how long have you been in the industry? Why did you get into the industry? You know, I've been about page on a website, so my favorite page on a site. So I think it's really cool when vendors are very open with common interest. So you know, maybe tapping into that when you start having conversations with them.

Kevin Dennis (: 15:30

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 15:41

curious too with certain vendors like where have you worked before like what then worked out before just so I can get a pulse on like you know the caliber of vendor particularly you know what type of vendor

Kevin Dennis (: 15:45

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 15:55

So they're working at the Ritz or the Holiday Inn is what you're saying, yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 15:57

like what you know, just to see like, are we the same? Like, am I the right client for you? Are we the right the right fit? I'm always curious to see what are some of you know, what are some of your favorite vendors to work with, you know, asking a vendor like if maybe there's a certain category you're stuck on, you know, ask them for some referrals and references. But I think it's just breaking down that that wall of it being, you know, get a little personal with them.

Kevin Dennis (16:3.094)

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 16:24

Cause again, you have a long way to go with them. So you want to make sure that you guys jive.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:31

It's very interesting you said get personal because it is a relationship. Yeah, and you really have to enjoy talking, you know, you know, going back to that poor bride that did not like her photographer. I'm I'm I'm positive. I'm positive there was like red flags that came up before we even got to the wedding day.

Bri Marbais (: 16:34

100 %

Bri Marbais (: 16:43

I cannot imagine.

Yeah. And I promise you, it's gonna a red flag like it's just not worth it. Like it's not if you're just having to be like, you know, well, it's okay. Well, no, like it's just it's not worth it. There's so much there's so much great talent and everywhere you might be getting married that if they show their true colors in the beginning, it's just not worth it.

Kevin Dennis (: 16:56

No.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:13

Yeah. should, you you mentioned communication. like communication, how do you think couples today are communicating with their vendors?

Bri Marbais (: 17:22

They want it now now now now now Amazon Prime mentality now. It's really challenging. I feel really bad for vendors because there's so many different like you know, there's DM on Instagram there, then messaging through the portal on not wedding wear Zola email.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:25

Okay. Yeah, I agree with you on that. So as of it.

Kevin Dennis (: 17:43

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 17:44

Um, you know, so I think it's vendors or have their work cut out for them because couples are coming from every which way possible. And you have they need to be where the couples are. And it's long gone are the days of, well, I only respond via email. Well, your couples are in your DM. So go get them.

Kevin Dennis (18:1.409)

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (18:5.122)

Well, and even like our, I'm finding some of our couples even want to text message it. Yeah. Because it's because that's, you know, we always get older in the wedding industry, but our, our clients stay the same age and this is where it, yeah, I know. But it's, it's, know, and we're, I was joking. I'm like, we're at the age of text messaging right now. Cause you know, and that, with that said, it's DMs, you know, Instagram, you know, going, yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (18:9.005)

100 % Yeah Yeah Yeah

I know. I'm like, when am gonna age out? When am gonna age out of this?

Bri Marbais (: 18:30

Oh, Quick, and easy. I think it's important as a couple to find out from your vendor, like, what's your preferred method of communication? How should I be reaching out to you? Are there certain things you prefer over email? Are there certain things you prefer over text? Like, how are we going to do this for the next 12 months?

Kevin Dennis (: 18:49

All right, I agree and I think too like as a like as a vendor, I always let my couples know like I have an out of office reply on my email, you know, and I and even even to the point it sounds silly, but we through our phone system couples can text with us and we able to set up a out of office reply for text messaging as well just to let him know like hey, we're working a wedding and.

Bri Marbais (: 18:59

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (19:8.619)

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 19:12

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 19:16

And I think couples need to have that mentality like you you need to let that vendor go work. Yeah. Well, yeah, because I feel like you wouldn't want that vendor responding to other brides on your wedding day. So I think you need to have that respect, you know.

Bri Marbais (: 19:22

You're not the only bride and groom.

Bri Marbais (: 19:35

Yeah, I vendors just have to set the expectation to like couples, they don't know any better. You know, they more than likely have not done this before. So they don't, they have tunnel vision, they think they're the only ones getting married. And, you know, it might be six months from now, it might be 18 months from now. So I think vendors have to do better about setting the expectations and what is the process really going to look like? Just so everyone's on the same level playing field and

Kevin Dennis (: 19:40

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 19:59

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (20:4.447)

No one gets upset when they're not getting responded to fast enough.

Kevin Dennis (20:8.246)

Yeah, yeah, especially like if you reach out on a Friday night and then the vendor doesn't get back to you until Tuesday morning because they've had three weddings that weekend and they take Monday off and Tuesday they're back at it. you know, just I think a little bit of patience, a little bit of grace will go a long way when you're when you're trying to work with vendors as well because you know and with that set, especially I think it comes from more of the people that are artists, know, like.

Bri Marbais (: 20:14

Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 20:23

for sure.

Kevin Dennis (: 20:34

If you're dealing with a rental company, a venue, know, some of the, you know, transportation company, some of these people that have like a whole customer service team outs. Yeah. And I think you have a little bit less grace with them, but if you're dealing with a photographer that, you know, this, know, yep, yep. Yeah. I have a little bit more, uh, a little bit more. Yeah. Patience and grace. So goes a long way. So, all right.

Bri Marbais (: 20:43

They have office support.

Bri Marbais (: 20:51

a one man show, possibly. Yeah. Yeah. I agree.

I agree.

Kevin Dennis (21:2.304)

So this is, should a couple meet with them before hiring them? Why and why not? I know.

Bri Marbais (21:6.573)

100 % I could not fathom booking somebody without meeting them. I when I worked at the venue I worked at I used to have couples booked the venue completely sight unseen and it would just give me the heebie jeebies and it's personal opinion but like I said it's a lot of money you're investing in this in a wedding and I just think it's really important that you're 100 % sure and I really think a minimum a phone call

Kevin Dennis (: 21:39

I it's so it's kind of interesting to like last night. So we're recording this on a Monday last night. I had a wedding and I never met the couple until the day of the wedding because mom and dad planned everything and so that is so. Yeah, and I well and I feel sorry for the couple because there's no I had zero like the bride walked up to me at one point she goes I'm the bride. I'm like I'm.

Bri Marbais (: 21:52

Yeah, yeah, I had that happen a lot at the venue.

Bri Marbais (22:2.263)

to.

Kevin Dennis (22:8.578)

the DJ nice to meet you. know, like it was just kind of like, I'm like, this is awkward. I'm like, I've never had, but I've never, until the last maybe 12, 13 months that this is the first that I've been dealing with it. So couples don't let your parents plan your wedding. Um, I guess this is my point that I'm trying to make because it's just like, because you're not going to get what you want. You're going to get what they want or what they're planning with as well. So I think you,

Bri Marbais (22:9.579)

Hi. Congrats. Yeah.

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 22:31

Yeah.

Yeah. I think especially for the vendors that are providing like an in person experience, right? Like a DJ photographer. Like if it's a rental company, I mean, obviously you can go online, you can see their inventory, you know, maybe picking your chargers online and never like meeting the rental person is one thing but

Kevin Dennis (: 22:40

Yeah

Kevin Dennis (: 22:53

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 22:54

But never set foot on your vent at your venue until you know you've signed a contract or never have had a phone call with your photographer. I just I couldn't. It's not worth it. It's not worth it. Just make the time.

Kevin Dennis (23:7.168)

No, I really I really agree with you on that, especially especially when it comes to venues, because the way a venue looks in photos may be told. 100 % like there's a it's funny, we just had this conversation last night. There's a venue in my market that was 15 years ago. The primo primo vendor venue here, right? And they still are showing those same photos of this beautiful landscaping.

Bri Marbais (: 23:10

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 23:15

It can be so deceiving.

Bri Marbais (: 23:33

Oh yeah, I've got a hint for a too.

Kevin Dennis (: 23:36

Yeah, and then and then you go to that venue now and there's crabgrass and just weeds and no more flowers and the buildings are painted a different color than they were on the website. So if if someone ordered the you know, just book that venue site unseen and you show up, it's you're going to feel like you got duped because it you know, it's almost like you ever seen the abandoned amusement park or you know, like we use it. It's almost

Bri Marbais (: 23:45

Yeah, it's wild.

Bri Marbais (: 23:54

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (24:0.491)

she has.

Kevin Dennis (24:2.234)

That's the feeling I get when I'm on this property because we used to work on this property so much, but now it's just like I'm like it's like someone just abandoned it and let it go bad. So it's so sad.

Bri Marbais (24:6.284)

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 24:10

I know. You know, with what I do now with wedding venue map, a big part of what we do is we attend all the wedding shows. And we talk to the couples in our booth to try to help them find venues and vendors and that we were just at one yesterday. And this bride made a list of her top 10 venues that she wanted this was that she wanted to potentially tour. She drove by her bottom five, knowing that the curb appeal mattered so much to her.

Kevin Dennis (: 24:21

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 24:32

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 24:39

So she drove by unannounced on a whim past five of them and she knocked four of them off the list just because of that. So yeah, the internet can be deceiving. So please go in person.

Kevin Dennis (: 24:46

Wow. Yeah. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 24:54

Well, no, yeah, and that's even even the same I think for all the categories as well So yeah the one thing I will say that I would do remember that my my wife and I messed up on is When we were visiting vendor we did all the cake tasting in like two days and that was the wrong thing to do because Well, and it was all so much we got it was too much sweet It was yeah, I got I'm like this is I was getting disgusted by like the third person

Bri Marbais (: 24:59

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 25:11

Hmm did it all blur together

Bri Marbais (: 25:17

Oh yeah, yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 25:23

It's like I was like this is a bad decision. I think we needed to spread these out because we kind of we went in with the mentality which I think we just was like alright, we're going to knock one, you know. Yeah, yeah, and that's yeah, and I think that's you know, take your time, you know and don't go crazy and do them all back to back so. Alright, breathe anything that we may have forgot having mentioned about hiring a vendor that you can.

Bri Marbais (: 25:26

Yeah, break it up a little bit.

Bri Marbais (: 25:33

We're gonna check it off the list. Let's go.

Bri Marbais (: 25:39

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 25:52

Yeah, I think, you know, I think on the venue side, something to keep in mind, you know, depending upon the type of property, maybe like a hotel or not your like mom and pop privately owned. Some venues have no control over their own social media. Some of them, they have a marketing company that might not even ever step on step foot on property. And they're just using images that

Kevin Dennis (26:7.884)

Hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 26:16

someone is providing to them. So I think it's important to look at tag photos on Instagram also, because more than likely planners, you know, photographers, they're sharing the work that they've done at that space. And it's possibly going to be better than what you're seeing on the feed of that venue. So I always say, obviously, look at their feed. But sometimes, you know, for example, one of our venues is our performing arts center, and

Kevin Dennis (: 26:22

Mmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:35

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 26:46

there are never, there's never wedding content on the feed just because it just gets buried with all the other things. And I always tell couples just look at the tag photos, just take a glance at the tag photos also because you're going to find a lot more inspiration and availability of content on the tag side of things. Same with vendors. I say look at the feed and look at the tag photos.

Kevin Dennis (: 26:50

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (27:9.090)

Yeah.

Yeah, and that's that I think that's some really great advice because some of these you think of like like a Marriott Hilton a lot of yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 27:18

Yeah, it's Carlton Four Seasons. they don't, you know, sometimes they don't even have the capacity to go after photos after weddings to get updated content. So I always say, just make sure you're looking at the tagged photos as well, because it tends to be a little bit more current and a little bit more recent than what can be sometimes found on a feed for a venue or a vendor.

Kevin Dennis (: 27:27

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 27:37

Mm-hmm.

Kevin Dennis (: 27:42

Well, yeah. And even even like you were mentioning the performing arts, you know, like they probably they have a beautiful building, but they're they're they're more about the art, not about the venue space. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 27:52

The wedding is a very small piece of the puzzle. Get buried, which is so sad because it's chef's kiss gorgeous. But they have no control over their social presence.

Kevin Dennis (28:4.758)

Yeah, and I even thinking about like city ran venues as well. Like there's. Yeah, yeah, because they're their least least priority is these beautiful venues that some of these cities have as well. Yeah, that was that was some great advice. All right, anything else?

Bri Marbais (28:7.713)

Yep, same thing.

Bri Marbais (: 28:14

100 % Yeah, tag Thank you Just be patient be um, there's a lot of outside noise when it comes to planning a wedding so just try to stay true to who you are as a couple and Enjoy the process take your time Yeah

Kevin Dennis (: 28:35

Well, okay, it's fun. It's funny. You just hit on something outside noise. I think that's something that couples really need to really because it's going to be coming at you. I remember. Okay, so Bree, you're getting married and you're engaged. So you're getting advice, unsolicited advice from people like crazy. And I'm sure you are because it happened to me, but it only gets it. So you got it. And the one thing I always tell my couples is all this unsolicited advice because

Bri Marbais (: 28:57

for real?

Kevin Dennis (29:4.014)

I just met with a couple and they were like, yeah, this girl at work is making us think twice about doing X, Y, Z. And I'm like, no, stop. Don't let this outside person influence you. I, cause they, I forget, I even forget what it was, but it was a good idea, you know? But I was like, no, it's a great idea. You know, like, I'm like, no, don't, so don't let this person ruin or taint your view of what you're doing. But

Bri Marbais (: 29:16

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 29:20

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 29:27

just brings out a really interesting side of people like it's crazy

Kevin Dennis (: 29:33

It really is. So it's it's it brings out the good, bad and the ugly in people. And it's just from from who you have to invite to all that kind of stuff. So it's almost you as a couple have to have you knighted front and you have to have. Yeah. And you have to have some thick skin in order to get through this, because if you choose to have well, because if you choose to have children, it gets even.

Bri Marbais (: 29:37

Uh huh, it sure does.

Bri Marbais (: 29:42

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 29:47

100 %

Bri Marbais (: 29:51

Mm-hmm.

Bri Marbais (: 29:54

Get ready.

Kevin Dennis (: 29:59

Like take the wedding advice and then someone that has a data three, the kids you get the like the wedding is preparing you for having children if you choose to do so because you'll get unsolicited advice from everybody like more advice than you got about the wedding. You're going to get from people because they see you with a baby or they see you it. Oh, the grocery store is the worst place. I got the worst advice from because

Bri Marbais (30:8.493)

what's become. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 30:20

The lady at the grocery store, you know, anywhere. No.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:28

Because my wife was a school teacher when we were having our children and so on Mondays, which was typically the wedding day off, I watched the kids and so they would tag along with me to the grocery store in Costco and moms with and one of our daughters suffered from colic and just she just had it just bad and so and she started crying and they're like, you know, like and they will look at me as a male like I'm an idiot with a kid and I'm like.

Bri Marbais (: 30:37

Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 30:46

No.

Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 30:57

I'm like, no, she, I like, some lady was trying to give me advice and I looked at her. go, actually, no, she suffers from reflux and colic. And, I, our, uh, errands are taking us about maybe 20 minutes longer than I anticipated. And they need to get her home and give her medicine and she'll stop crying. Like, you know, so anyway, that's my rant on, on, on unsolicited advice. So please couples, please, please, please, you know, have a united front.

Bri Marbais (: 31:16

Yeah. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 31:21

I love it. I'm here for it.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:26

And really.

Bri Marbais (: 31:27

figure out what's most important to you as a couple what are certain things like personal things like you want to incorporate in the wedding and just enjoy it

Kevin Dennis (: 31:30

Yes.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:38

Yeah, and I think the other thing too is sometimes you gotta let a parent have a win. So if it's not important to you. Yeah, so.

Bri Marbais (: 31:43

I agree 100%. Pick the hills you want to the hills you're gonna die on.

Kevin Dennis (: 31:49

Yeah, exactly. And if mom wants to have that and it doesn't, you don't really care, then let her have that, you know, kind of thing. So, especially if they're contributing money. So yeah, yeah, no, it's not terrible. So, all right, Brie, I think you gave our listeners a lot to really think about when they're really trying to pick their vendors. It's not an easy, it's a hard, it's a hard thing to do. So I will say this though.

Bri Marbais (: 31:55

I agree. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm parents. I know it's terrible. Yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 32:12

Perfect. I know. I know.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:18

Picking your vendors is probably the second hardest. The worst hardest is the table. Table of seed assignments is the worst part. That was the worst part of my when I when we got married. I hated that was literally my wife and I probably had the most fights over that that we did.

Bri Marbais (: 32:26

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Bri Marbais (: 32:33

Well, and it's ever changing as RSVPs come in and it's just like, it's a daunting task, but never ends. Yeah.

Kevin Dennis (: 32:39

Yeah, no, I agree. 100%. So, all right, Brie, how would someone get in contact with you if they need more vendor advice?

Bri Marbais (: 32:47

Yeah, so wedding venue map is our Instagram handle. So you can DM us then through that platform. We're all up in the DMS helping couples all over however you need my email Bri at wedding venue map.com. And yeah, always here to help.

Kevin Dennis (33:5.870)

All right, we really appreciate that. All right, before we let you go, we always ask a question is, what is your favorite part of a wedding? And I'm kind of really curious as someone that's planning a wedding, what is your favorite part of a wedding?

Bri Marbais (: 33:10

Okay.

Bri Marbais (: 33:18

Um, the wedding dress.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:21

Oh, okay, I love that.

Bri Marbais (: 33:23

I worked in bridal fashion for three years and it was always my favorite part of a wedding even before that. It's always a part of the industry. knew I wanted to dip my toes in and I love fashion and I think bridal fashion is just so good. So I'm always so curious to see what in you know.

Kevin Dennis (: 33:39

Mmm.

Bri Marbais (: 33:46

attire tucks things like I think just wedding attire in general to see what does the couple decide to go with and how you know they feel and look on wedding day and I just love it the fashion the fashion

Kevin Dennis (34:0.844)

I love it too because we had a long time where it wasn't very formal and now formal is starting to come back and it's to come. Yeah. And it's, kind of, yeah, really hot and black and white is really, yeah, it's all coming in hot. So I love that. All right. All right. Well folks, thanks for listening to another episode. And now that engage, how do I get married? Don't forget to, you know, review us, love us on.

Bri Marbais (34:6.707)

Oh, I love it. Yeah. He's coming in hot.

Bri Marbais (: 34:17

Love the wedding fashion. Yep.

Kevin Dennis (: 34:29

all the different platforms that are out there and we will see you next time. Thanks, Brie.

Bri Marbais (: 34:33

You're welcome. Thank you.