Wedding suppliers: Shopping local is always best!

One of the major positives that has arisen from the last 24 months, is our renewed appreciation for neighbours and community. Our local shops and small businesses have all been hit really hard during the pandemic. The wedding industry in particular has fallen on hard times as lockdown restrictions saw the postponement of many ceremonies and receptions.

But as things slowly start to return to normal, and couples begin to plan their weddings, we are seeing a shift. These once overlooked individuals are now favoured over the likes of Amazon or big brands. And we believe this is because the wider community has started to look inwards, and understand that these people need our support. This is also being reflected in the wedding trends for 2022 which we are very happy to see.

For example, your small independent florist who hand-selected flowers to send to your mum on her birthday, is now being booked for weddings. And the local bridal shops who worked tirelessly during the pandemic to make sure every bride can still arrange their big day - is seeing an uplift.

These people are our heroes, and we need to shop local in solidarity, and support for each other. And sourcing as locally as possible will not only help our neighbours, but it will also reduce our carbon emissions too, reducing your wedding's 'footprint'. A win-win for all of us!

Read on to find out why going local is always best.

Take your time

Choosing your wedding suppliers is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. But, it can also be very time consuming, overwhelming and you may even go a little off track without careful planning and consideration.

Your suppliers will make your wedding the fabulous day that it should be. So, you need to take your time to source and select the right professionals for the job. In our industry, we have a bustling wedding scene full of amazingly talented suppliers, a fact that can make picking the perfect wedding suppliers rather difficult. Starting your search a little closer to home is the key.

Word of mouth is the best kind of recommendation

If someone has taken the time to recommend a local wedding supplier in person, they must be pretty special. Over the past few years, we have built strong relationships with local event partners, all who are familiar with Frensham Hall and our facilities. As such, many of our event suppliers are Surrey and Hampshire based, each offering their own unique style and come highly recommended by previous couples and our events team!

Photo credit: Murry Clark Photography

They know the local area

With many suppliers, the extent of their local knowledge can often mean the difference between success and failure. By choosing a wedding supplier that’s local to your venue, you’ll be able to tap into this know-how, even if you don’t live in the area. For instance, a locally based photographer is more likely to be familiar with your wedding venue. This could mean even better wedding photos for you you and they know how to work the venue to their advantage to achieve just what you want.

Serve up local produce

You can be rest assured when you book your wedding at Frensham Hall, our catering team will work tirelessly to source local produce and add it to your wedding day menu. Local breads, local cheeses, local meats, locally grown fruits and vegetables, artisan products – making the most of what our local area has to offer!

Independents take the time to get to know you

Creative touches matter when ensuring a wedding day that reflects you as a couple. Independent, local wedding suppliers are more likely to take the time and make the effort to get to know you, building a rapport so they tick all the right boxes on your big day.

Local suppliers tend to be more cost-effective

When compared with wedding suppliers that operate nationally, locally run businesses tend to be most more affordable, which will work wonders for that wedding budget! Local wedding suppliers tend to have fewer overheads than larger businesses and this saving is generally passed onto the client. Local self-employed suppliers are also a great choice for couples looking to shop closer to home and enjoy a great quality, highly personable service.

It’s never been so important to shop local

By choosing local wedding suppliers, you’ll be doing your bit to support the local community. You’ll be boosting local economies, creating local jobs and pushing communities towards their pre-pandemic best to get things back to where they should be.

At Frensham Hall, we work with a handpicked selection of trusted, local wedding suppliers. Explore the suppliers that could help you create the wedding you’ve always dreamed of right here. And of course, our weddings team will always be on hand to support you step by step throughout the planning process to make sure we find the most perfect suppliers for your special day.