5 Ways to Get More Referrals For Your Wedding Business From Other Wedding Pros

Mar 13

Referrals from fellow industry professionals are a huge asset to your business! Many times clients will ask vendors that they’ve already booked to make recommendations for other vendor categories. Having a great relationship with other wedding vendors is key to securing those referrals! In Weddings For Real episode 167, you’ll get some high-touch ways to build more referrals in your wedding business this year and beyond!

Develop connections with other wedding pros.

In today’s busy world, standing out as a wedding pro can be challenging. Couples are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the wedding planning process, making it difficult for vendors to cut through the noise. If you're looking to build genuine connections and increase referrals from other wedding professionals, you need more than just a standard introduction email or DM. Here’s my tried-and-true strategy for making meaningful connections and opening doors with fellow wedding pros:

Prioritize Where Your Energy Goes: Start by identifying 20 wedding businesses you'd love to connect with. Whether they’re local planners, florists, venues, or photographers, prioritize those who align with your values and client base. Focusing your energy on a select few ensures you can be intentional about building relationships that matter.
Engage and Pour In: Before reaching out, take the time to genuinely engage with these businesses on social. Start by commenting on their posts and responding to their stories. Share their reels, stories or blogs that resonate with you. Thoughtful engagement will make them notice you—and wonder who you are.
Make A Genuine Outreach Effort: After a few days of consistent engagement, slide into their DMs with a simple, sincere compliment. Don’t ask for anything—just acknowledge their work. Let them know what you appreciate, whether it’s a recent wedding they did or their unique style. Authentic compliments build rapport without any expectations.
Move To A Virtual Coffee Chat: Once the conversation is flowing, gauge whether it feels natural to suggest a virtual coffee chat. Remember, the goal is to be interested in them, not to sell yourself. Listen more than you talk! If you're unsure how to streamline this process, check out Weddings For Real episode 165, where I share tips on how to easily set up these chats.
Go the Extra Mile: After your coffee chat, stand out even further by sending a thoughtful follow-up. This could be a small thank-you gift, a sample of your product, or even offering a free service or collaboration opportunity. These gestures show you're invested in the relationship and will make you memorable.

After connecting with a fellow wedding pro using the method above, take it a step further by writing a glowing Google review and creating a blog post about your experience meeting them. If they’re a photographer, consider booking a branding photo session to support their work while also benefiting your brand. If they own a venue with lodging, treat yourself to a staycation there. Going above and beyond to cheer them on and show your support will keep you top-of-mind, strengthen the relationship, and increase your chances of referrals.

Make communication easy.

When building relationships, it's crucial that potential clients and wedding pros can easily access your contact details. Ensure your website prominently displays your name, email, and phone number—don’t rely solely on a contact form. If you have a Google Business listing, double-check that your contact information and business hours are up-to-date.

Additionally, always respond promptly to any inquiries. I recommend replying in the same manner you were contacted. For example, if someone emails you, respond via email. If they call, return the call. If someone reaches out via social media DMs but you prefer email communication, simply reply to the DM and request they follow up by email. This ensures smooth, professional communication.

It’s important to remove as many hurdles as possible for other vendors to contact you!

Ask the right questions to build genuine connections in the wedding industry.

Whether you're attending networking events, site tours, or coffee chats with other wedding pros, it's essential to show genuine interest. Curiosity and a willingness to learn from fellow vendors are key to making lasting connections.

Here are some of my favorite questions to ask when meeting someone new:

How did you get to where you are in the wedding industry?
What’s been the most interesting job you’ve had so far?
What’s a common misconception other professionals have about [insert your vendor type]?

If you’re on a site tour, try these tailored questions:

What would make working with [insert vendor type] easier for you?
What’s a pet peeve you have when working with [insert vendor type]?
As a venue owner, what do you need more of (styled shoots, leads, community events, etc.)?

These thoughtful questions will help you stand out from other pros, moving beyond the usual “How can we work together?” and building more meaningful relationships.

Start your own niche group if you can’t find one that speaks to you.

Hopefully where you’re located there are networking groups you can be a part of to meet like-minded wedding vendors in your area. If there’s not, I encourage you to create your own lane. Surprisingly enough, you don’t need tons of experience to do so. Creating a niche group allows you to take on a leadership role and creates a strong bond with other like-minded wedding pros near you.

Invest in relationship marketing before other forms of marketing.

Every person you meet wants to feel important. I firmly believe that you will succeed in business - and life - if you learn to take that quote to heart. The relationships you make are crucial to your business success. I urge you to find ways to shine the light on other vendors. It will always bring them back to you.

If you’re craving more info on how to get more referrals from wedding professionals, listen to episode 167 of Weddings For Real. Or, if you’re hoping to get on a venue’s preferred list, have a listen to episode 168.