2) The hardest thing to book without seeing in person is typically the venue.  Here are some helpful hints:

• If you have seen the venue in person before and you know you want to get married there, then great!  Set-up a meeting with the venue site manager and get to know all the information regarding the venue.  If all looks good, sign and move forward! 
• If you haven’t seen the venue before, take a look at their website.  Then google about weddings at the venue. Take a look at various images (not just the ones on their website) – Instagram, Pinterest, and wedding blogs can be great resources.  
• Set-Up a FaceTime Tour of the Venue with a site manager!  Several venues are offering video tours so couples can “see” everything from the comfort of home.
• Ask your planner!  Planners have inside info and know key elements about venues that may not be listed, such as how easy they are to work with, how strict they are on certain requirements, what it actually costs to produce a wedding in the space, etc. 
• Even if you haven’t seen the venue in person before, if you are able to: 1) See images online and are excited about the space, 2) Get a video tour from the venue, 3) talk with an experienced planner who knows the venue well and is able to give you an “insider opinion” about the space…then I would recommend booking and moving forward! ​

3) As you’re considering various vendors, there are several you can book without meeting in person.  With all of these people, setting up a phone or video consultation can be really helpful. Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of time with these people on your big day, so take the time to make sure your personalities check out and that your questions are answered.  Without meeting in person, you can book your:

• Photographer
• Band (or DJ)
• Videographer
• Officiate
• Hair and Makeup Team 
• Transportation Services
• and more!  Work with your planner to identify the other vendors you may need.

4) As you’re working with your planner, you can also start booking:

• Lighting
• Flowers
• Rentals
• Linens
• And all the other fun design elements!

Most vendors have great portfolios online so you can start creating mood boards and curating your wedding design.  While an in-person meeting is always super helpful when brainstorming design, you can always get started with the process and start making deposits to reserve your favorite inventory.  Most design companies don’t require you to “lock-in” your items once you make a deposit, and are pretty flexible if you decide to make changes once you visit the showroom. Of course, any changes are subject to availability of items. Every vendor will vary – so be sure and read contracts before signing them so you’re fully aware of the flexibility regarding changes during the process.