From a Nashville wedding officiant who sees what really helps (and what doesn’t)
Your wedding day is over, you’re catching your breath, and now you’re thinking, “How do we properly thank the people who made this whole thing happen?”
Good. Vendors remember the couples who take those extra two minutes to acknowledge their hard work. And yes — it actually helps their business more than you think.
Here are the best, most effective ways to recommend your Nashville wedding vendors once the wedding is behind you.
1. Write a Review on the Platforms That Actually Matter
Some review sites are just noise. A few actually help your vendors get hired. If you want to make the biggest impact, focus on:
- Facebook (solid and easy). Ok, ok – this is my FB review page!
- WeddingWire/The Knot (useful if you found them there)
- Yelp (optional, but still helpful)
Keep it simple:
Mention what they did well, how they treated you, and one thing that stood out. Real, specific experiences beat long essays every time.
2. Tag Them on Social Media — With Actual Photos
If you post wedding photos, tag your vendors directly in the caption. Not buried in a long list or hidden behind a “photo credit slide.” Tagging them helps future couples find them.
A good vendor shout-out sounds like this:
“Huge thanks to ___ for making our day run so smoothly — couldn’t recommend them more.”
Short, real, and to the point.
And if you share a story? Tag them there too. Vendors will repost it, which helps everybody.
Mine? @ralphtiesknots or www.ralphtiesknots.com
3. Ask Your Photographer for Permission to Share a Few Pro Shots
Professional photos make your shout-out ten times more valuable. Most photographers are fine with you sharing a handful as long as you tag and credit them. Just ask. They’ll usually even send you a “social sharing folder” of ready-to-post images.
Don’t worry — your vendors don’t need 50 photos. Three or four well-chosen ones are more than enough.
4. Send a Private Message or Email They Can Screenshot
This is underrated.
If you want to help your vendors even more, send them a quick private thank-you they’re allowed to share (or say “feel free to use this as a testimonial”). Vendors can use it on:
- their websites
- Instagram stories
- portfolios
- brochures
- reels
Even one paragraph can go a long way.
5. Recommend Them in Local Facebook Groups
Nashville has a ton of wedding groups where brides constantly ask for recommendations:
- “Where do I find a florist in Nashville?”
- “Best DJ?”
- “Photographer who doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?”
If you loved your vendors, drop their names in those posts. Personal word-of-mouth beats advertising every time.
6. Tell Your Venue Who You Loved
Venues keep informal lists of “vendors we love working with.”
If someone blew you away, let the venue know. Trust me — vendors get referrals for years because of these simple conversations.
7. Make a Vendor Appreciation Post (But Keep It Clean and Simple)
Couples sometimes post long “vendor dump” lists that read like wedding credits at the end of a movie. Nobody reads those.
A better way:
Pick 3–5 vendors who made the biggest difference and write one genuine sentence about each. Then tag the rest in the caption so everyone still gets credit.
This keeps the focus on the people who stood out while still acknowledging the whole team.
8. Don’t Forget the “Behind-the-Scenes” People
Some of the best vendors don’t get public attention because they weren’t in your photos:
- coordinators
- officiants
- DJs
- caterers
- hair/makeup artists
These folks quietly run the whole day. They especially appreciate the shout-outs because they’re often invisible in wedding photos.
Final Thought
Your thank-you doesn’t need to be poetic or dramatic. Just be real. Vendors don’t expect perfection — they appreciate authenticity.
A simple, well-tagged shout-out, a Google review, or a quick paragraph they can reuse makes a bigger difference than you’d ever guess.