To get on a wedding planner’s preferred supplier list, there’s a few different approaches to doing it – so keep reading to see which one feels right for you.
If you’re a wedding business looking for another way to land bookings and get in front of your dream clients, then figuring out how to get on a wedding planner’s preferred supplier list is probably high on your to-do list.
Knowing how to get recommended by wedding planners is one of the smartest moves you can make for your business, because it puts you directly in front of couples who are already ready to book.
So if you’ve been wondering how to get on a wedding planner’s preferred supplier list (without it feeling icky, salesy or like you’re sending a hundred cold emails into the void), you’re in exactly the right place.
Why getting recommended by wedding planners can get your more bookings
Word of mouth from a wedding planner carries SO much weight in the wedding industry. When a planner recommends you to their client, they’re essentially saying “I trust this supplier, I believe in their work, and I KNOW they meet my high standards of professionalism.” And that’s exactly what you need.
The client already trusts their wedding planner, so when that planner suggests you as a recommended supplier, the client is so much more likely to book.
What if you're a new wedding supplier and don't know any wedding planners yet?
Maybe you’re a brand new wedding business and don’t have many connections withing the industry yet. You might not have worked on a wedding where a planner has been involved – but it’s okay, you can still make connections with a planner!
Here’s how to get on a wedding planner’s preferred supplier list even if you’re starting completely from scratch.
Don't expect results overnight
Getting recommended by wedding planners takes work and dedication, especially if you’re a new business. It’s a long game and don’t expect one nice email to get you on their supplier go-to list.
The wedding suppliers who consistently get referrals from planners have usually been nurturing those relationships for months, if not years.
Give before you take
Wedding planners are BUSY. So the very first question to ask yourself is “how can I make their life easier, not harder?”
Offer to write a guest blog for them. Give them backlinks from a blog on your own website (this helps their SEO and it’s a genuine win for them, not just you). Shout them out on social media. Recommend them to your own clients so they get work coming in FROM you first.
Once you’ve given them something of real value, they can then decide if they want to reciprocate. Remember to give VALUE to a wedding planner first.
Be consistent
Get in touch via Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok or email, whichever feels most natural to you.
If you’ve seen they’ve just been on holiday or executed a stunning wedding at a beautiful venue, send a genuine message that invites a response. Don’t just send one email or one DM and ghost.
Stay consistent and keep showing up in their world. Make your name pop up on their phone so you are front of mind. Real relationships are built on regular, thoughtful contact, not a single hello.
Be genuine and thoughtful
Be your wonderful wedding supplier you are by sending thoughtful emails, comments on social media and DM’s.
Don’t expect to land on a planner’s preferred supplier list just because you sent one nice message. Be helpful, honest and nice throughout all your interactions online with a wedding planner.
Please, please don’t send a generic copy & paste message or email – wedding planners have seen these a million times and it’s a waste of your energy even sending these.
Meet up with a wedding planner in person
A wedding planner is not going to recommend you if they’ve never seen your work in person or met you face to face. They’re putting their reputation on the line every time they recommend a supplier, so they have to be able to 100% trust you can deliver for their clients.
To overcome this, offer to take them for a coffee or meet up in person.
If you really wanto to uplevel your game and impress a wedding planner – do something for them that actually SHOWS the quality of your work.
If you’re a wedding photographer, offer to take some branding photos for them. If you’re a florist, gift them a bouquet next time you see them. If you’re a wedding cake maker, drop off some cake samples.
As well as being such a lovely gesture, it means the planner gets to experience your work up close and personal. That’s the kind of thing they remember when a couple asks them for recommendations.
Plan a styled shoot
A great way to connect, interact and work with a wedding planner is to invite them to collaborate with you on a styled shoot.
Make sure the venue and aesthetic of the shoot is aligned with the wedding planners preferred wedding style – and simply invite them to be a part of the team.
Reach out to the RIGHT wedding planners
A big piece of advice I can give you if you want to get recommended by wedding planners is to only get in touch with planners who plan weddings that actually align with your style.
If your florals are bright, fun and bold, don’t waste your energy reaching out to editorial, neutral toned wedding planners. It’s just not the right fit, and they won’t recommend you because their clients aren’t looking for what you offer. So be strategic. Find the planners whose vibe and aesthetic match yours and pour your time and energy there instead.
Go to wedding supplier meet ups and networking events
This is honestly one of my favourite ways to meet wedding planners (and one of the easiest, too). Networking events like the ones I plan, or networking events hosted by The Little Wedding Meet Ups, give you the chance to meet planners organically in a relaxed environment. No cold emails needed to be able to meet in person.
If you can only do one thing from this whole list, attending in person wedding industry events is the one I’d recommend.
Be a team player on the wedding day
If you want a wedding planner to keep recommending you and add you to their preferred supplier list permanently, you need to show them you make their job EASIER on the day itself.
Go above and beyond for the planner as well as your client. Be the supplier they don’t have to chase, worry about, or babysit through every part of the timeline. Be reliable, be calm, be on it from the moment you arrive at the venue. That level of professionalism is exactly what makes a planner want to book you again and confidently pass your name on to their next client.
One top tip for getting accepted onto a wedding planner's preferred supplier list
I work alongside loads of wedding planners as a wedding industry virtual assistant, and I’ve seen SO many generic outreach emails sat in their inboxes.
The same opening lines, the same templates, and you can just tell it’s Chat GPT written and they’ve sent it to hundreds of planners.
So if you want to actually get noticed and stand a real chance of getting on a wedding planner’s preferred supplier list, send something that stands out.
Make your email or message PERSONAL!
Go the extra mile, add some personality, shared experiences, or something you’ve genuinely got in common with the planner, whether that’s a shared love for a particular venue, a mutual supplier you both adore, a podcast you both listen to, or something they recently posted that you actually connected with. Spark a real conversation, not a transactional one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get on a wedding planner's preferred supplier list?
Honestly, it varies. For some suppliers it can take a few months of consistent relationship building. For others it can take a year or more. The key is to think of it as a long term marketing strategy, not a quick win.
Do you have to pay to be on a wedding planner's preferred supplier list?
Most established wedding planners don’t charge suppliers to be on their preferred list because they only want to recommend suppliers they genuinely trust. If a planner is asking for payment to be listed, just make sure the relationship still feels aligned and authentic.
What's the difference between a recommended supplier and a preferred supplier?
A recommended supplier is someone a wedding planner will suggest to clients when asked. A preferred supplier is usually more formal, sometimes featured on the planner’s website or shared in welcome packs. Both are valuable, but getting on a preferred supplier list often means more consistent referrals. But these are interchangeable terms, and you can always ask the wedding planner to clarify.
How do I follow up with a wedding planner?
Keep it genuine and spaced out. Comment on their posts, send a thoughtful message after a wedding they’ve just done, share their content, and follow up on previous emails after a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days.
Ready to Grow Your Wedding Business?
If you’re a wedding business owner who’d love some extra support behind the scenes, whether that’s getting your work published and featured in blogs, marketing your wedding business online or need admin support to be able to boost your productivity – that’s exactly what I do as a wedding industry virtual assistant. I’d love to chat to see how I can support you.