Confused

I recently ask for quotas for photography,flowers and DJ. Response was not overwhelming -just 4 or more vendors per category The reason could be that I asked for quotas Friday evening.
Anyway I am a bit confused with given prices. I don't want to choose vendors by price only,but given prices are so wild that I am wandering who to contact first.Just to make clear -I don't want to book the most expansive vendor but I want to be sure that my special day is not going to be ruined by some irresponsible and inexperienced vendor.
For one type of vendor I was specific and I got one quote significantly lower than others.
What was your criteria for contacting and booking vendors and did you ask for package deal or you asked quotas for each item?
Thank you in advance for your advise.

Do you have a reception hall booked yet? If you do, I would simply ask them what they recommend. Ask them what vendors they've worked with before and who was reliable and who wasn't. Since most of your vendors will have to coordinate with the reception hall, I would start there.

I narrowed it down by first researching the vendors I liked--based on reviews and/or work.

Then I booked appointments with them and compared prices and chose not just on price but also on how well I liked them personally. You can't work with a vendor you don't like and you shouldn't--it'll show in the work and the communication will be hard.

I know that Ariana Studios offers inclusive packages for flowers, dj,photo..they also have dresses there....it might be worth looking into they are reputable and from what Ive heard reasonable...HTH

After being on this site for 2 years before booking most of my vendors, I had an idea of who I wanted-who had great reviews here on the boards and who I had been recommended too.

Only one recommendation didnt work out so well.

I met with my DJ-he had emailed me the price list (I knew I was booking him anyway) and went in and we talked about how we wanted the day to go, music we wanted/didnt want etc. and booked.

I met with alot of photographers...I looked thru albums, asked TONS of questions-made sure that they were flexible with packages, arrival times, etc.

Videographer I only met with one-and for themost part made my decision then and there but waited to book until I talked to DH about it.

well i did research first on vendors, also by recommendations and looking at their work...after this i had ideas of who i really wanted...for photographer for instance just by looking at her work i loved it and it was exactly what i was looking for, luckily she was available.

Same with other vendors...with video i saw the work, fell in love with it and was what i was looking for.

other vendors such as florist, i heard alot of great reviews, met with them were great and saw their work at their shop and loved it

DJ-again heard alot of rave reviews, saw them at a showcase and loved them

you said you asked photographers for quotes...well as you'll see they range greatly in price, the difference can be big between photographers, theres different reasons for this...i would narrow it down to those whose work you love, look at their site and look at the pictures. ALSO definitely check the brides review forum and look at photographers youre interested in, see what other brides who worked with them say about their work, how they were the day of and personality. Meet with photographers whose work you love and see who you click with, whom offers you what youre looking for and meeting with them you'll get to see their albums and see more of their work. When you LOVE somebodies work and meet with them you'll just get that feeling and know youre making the right decision

Well for our photos and video we went by recommendation. It was more than we thought pic and veto would be but we picked a big package. Anyhow we still searched 2 other photo/video and we went with the first guy thorough recommendation. Infinite Video by cousins used and they were amazing!!!! (we already booked ours before they had their wedding) you can go to their website right thorough li weddings. look at mike and kristens recap. they are also the featured couple on the website on li weddings advertisement.

for DJ we went to a few expos and then we chose a DJ reccomended by our RH.

Flowers I highly reccomned burtons flowers their proces are unbeatable and there bouqets are sooo full and gorgeous!!