Southern Made Rentals

Large bridal parties can be SO much fun… but they can also become overwhelming really quickly

There is no perfect number when it comes to bridesmaids and groomsmen. Some couples love having all their favorite people beside them, while others prefer keeping things smaller and simpler.

Going BIG pros:
✔ More friends and family included
✔ Bigger celebration energy
✔ Fun group photos and memories
✔ More support during planning

Going BIG cons:
✔ More schedules and personalities to manage
✔ Hair/makeup timelines get much longer
✔ More transportation and coordination logistics
✔ Higher costs for bouquets, gifts, meals, etc.
✔ Can make the morning feel chaotic or crowded

Keeping it SMALL pros:
✔ Simpler timelines and logistics
✔ More intimate and relaxed atmosphere
✔ Less stress managing people and communication
✔ Easier on the budget

Keeping it SMALL cons:
✔ Harder decisions on who to include
✔ Some friends/family may feel left out

At the end of the day, your bridal party should feel supportive, positive, and help make your wedding experience BETTER, not more stressful

If you are planning your wedding and looking for vendors, here is a great list of recommendations. Talk about a real dream team to work alongside of!

The quartet was perfection as always! The photographers captured every special moment, the content creator worked her magic behind the scenes, the bartenders kept the drinks flowing, and the food and cake were absolutely incredible.
And let's talk about that dance floor! The DJ absolutely crushed it and kept guests dancing all night long.
Hair and makeup killed it. Everyone was beautiful!

Venue:
Photographer:
Content Creator:
Hairstylist:
MUA: .hmua
Florist: Southern Made Rentals
Cake:
Caterer: The Southern Spoon
DJ and Photo Booth:
Rentals: Southern Made Rentals
Coordinator: Southern Made Rentals
Bouquet: The Bloom Room

Madeline & Barham, thank you for trusting us to be a part of your wedding day and helping bring your vision to life. Your wedding was warm, welcoming, and full of genuine love, just like the two of you. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and unforgettable memories together.

One-stop shop wedding vendors can be AMAZING 🤍

Having fewer vendors to communicate with can simplify planning, help keep things organized, and make wedding day flow more smoothly. But it’s also important to make sure convenience is not causing you to sacrifice important parts of your vision.

A few things couples should always ask:
✔ Are you paying for services you actually need?
✔ Are you choosing items because you LOVE them, or because they are what is currently in stock?
✔ Are there customization options available?
✔ Can items be sourced if something specific is important to you?
✔ Does the package truly fit your priorities and budget?

Convenience should make planning easier, not limit your wedding day vision.

At Southern Made Rentals, we LOVE being a one-stop shop for our couples, but we also believe your wedding should still feel personal, customized, and true to what matters most to you 🤍

Choosing a wedding coordinator is about more than pricing and packages… it’s about finding someone who feels like the RIGHT fit for you 🤍

Your coordinator will be with you during some of the most emotional, stressful, exciting, and important moments of your wedding day. You want someone who keeps you calm, communicates well, problem-solves quickly, and truly understands your vision.

Some things to ask before booking:
✔ How do they handle stressful situations?
✔ What is their communication style like?
✔ Have they worked at your venue before?
✔ What is included vs not included?
✔ Do you actually feel comfortable talking to them?

At the end of the day, trust your gut. A good coordinator should make you feel more relaxed, not more overwhelmed.

One of our favorite things about this job is that our brides don’t just disappear after wedding day!

We LOVE when past brides reach out with life updates, baby announcements, new homes, anniversaries, or asking us to help with showers, birthday parties, and other special moments.

By the time wedding day is over, you honestly feel like family to us, and getting to continue celebrating life with you means so much.

So please keep the updates, pictures, and messages coming… we truly love hearing from you.

Let’s talk wedding vendor tipping… because it can feel SO overwhelming and stressful for couples

Who do you tip?
How much?
When do you give it?
Do you even HAVE to tip?

First things first… tipping is NEVER mandatory. Your vendors understand weddings are expensive, and tips should never add stress to your planning process.

A good rule of thumb:
✔ If a vendor went above and beyond
✔ Helped make your day easier
✔ Provided exceptional service
✔ Solved problems calmly and professionally
✔ Made you feel cared for and supported

…then a tip or thoughtful thank you is always appreciated!

Some vendors couples commonly tip:
• Hair & makeup artists
• Catering staff & bartenders
• Delivery/setup crews
• DJs & bands
• Coordinators/planners
• Transportation drivers
• Photographers/videographers
• Venue attendants

But every wedding and every budget is different, and your planner or coordinator can absolutely help guide you through those decisions ahead of time so you are not stressing over envelopes on wedding day.

And remember… money is not the only way to show appreciation 🤍

Some of the most meaningful gifts vendors receive are:
✔ Handwritten thank you notes
✔ Coffee gift cards
✔ Snacks/drinks during long wedding days
✔ Small personalized gifts
✔ Leaving reviews online
✔ Referring future couples

Honestly, reviews are HUGE for small wedding businesses. Taking just a few minutes to leave a thoughtful review about your experience can help future couples feel confident booking that vendor and supports small businesses more than most people realize.

At the end of the day, kindness and appreciation go a LONG way in the wedding industry.

One of the BEST wedding planning tips we can give couples… ask your vendors for recommendations

Most wedding planners and coordinators already have a list of trusted vendors we’ve worked with and loved. We see vendors in action constantly, not just their Instagram photos, so we know who communicates well, shows up prepared, works great under pressure, and truly takes care of couples on wedding day.

But here’s the important part… make sure you’re asking the RIGHT vendor for the RIGHT recommendations 👀

For example:
✔ Ask your planner/coordinator for overall vendor recommendations
✔ Ask photographers who they love working with for hair/makeup or DJs
✔ Ask DJs which venues flow the best for receptions
✔ Ask florists about venues with the best setup access or lighting
✔ Ask venues which caterers are easiest to work with in their space

Every vendor sees a different part of wedding day, and those insights can save you so much stress during planning.

And don’t be afraid to ask! Most of us are MORE than happy to share recommendations and help point you in the right direction

At Southern Made Rentals, we keep a running list of vendors we love working with and are always happy to help our couples find a team that fits their vision, personality, and budget.

One thing we always tell our couples… have a rain plan. Then have a backup for the backup ☔

Weddings are full of moving parts, and weather is the one thing none of us can control. Having a solid Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C can save SO much stress, time, and last-minute decision making on wedding day.

The best part? When the plans are already made ahead of time, nobody is scrambling, panicking, or trying to make major decisions while getting ready. Everyone already knows the plan, vendors can move quickly, and your day keeps flowing smoothly no matter what happens.

Some things we help couples think through:
✔ Ceremony location backups
✔ Reception layout adjustments
✔ Vendor setup timing changes
✔ Guest flow and transportation
✔ Decor and floral transitions
✔ Indoor vs outdoor photo options
✔ Weather timing and contingency plans

A good backup plan doesn’t mean expecting the worst, it means protecting your peace on one of the biggest days of your life!

Changing your name after marriage sounds simple… until you realize it feels like approximately 10,000 tiny steps later 😂

Between Social Security, your driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, insurance, credit cards, work records, and ALL the random accounts you forgot existed, it can get overwhelming fast.

So we put together a Name Change Guide for our brides to help make the process easier and keep everything organized!

Inside the guide:
✔ Step-by-step order of what to update first
✔ Social Security & driver’s license instructions
✔ Passport update info
✔ Banking & insurance checklist
✔ Personal accounts checklist
✔ Helpful tips and reminders to save time

Comment “NAME CHANGE” below and we’ll send you the guide!