Vendor references

I agree with @fiddlin a lot of reviews are available online, so I recommend you do your research before asking. They might have 1000 reviews on Yelp or google, but if they only have a handful don't feel bad asking.

I don't think it's a bad idea, but I'd check reviews on here first. WW reviews are qualified; the people who write them have to prove they've used the vendor. Yelp is like the wild wild west......

You should, people may have had good or bad experiences with certain things that you might not normally think of.

Reviews, reviews, reviews. References are fine, if you can get them. Would I, as a former bride, tell a vendor I loved to feel free to give out my name and email address for a personal reference? No, I wouldn't. If I loved or hated the work, I'd leave a review and call it a day.

And Yelp? Well, while we have a small handful of reviews on there (we don't ask for Yelp reviews because of their reputation), one (which was removed) was written by a WW bride who lives in Tennessee (I'm in NY) that we never worked with or spoke to. She reviewed me for being an elitist -- a label she gave me because of a post I wrote on this site -- a post that highlighted the flaws and risks inherent in self-catering and potluck weddings. Apparently, she was self-catering her wedding and my post offended her. She said she'd walk out of my shop if she knew that I was that much of a snob, and suggested others do the same (and I'd be glad if she turned on her heels -- if you aren't willing to pay a professional to cater the food for your guests, you're probably far less interested in paying a professional for your floral pieces, and, as is sometimes the case, our short professional relationship would be nothing more than her trying to charm me into giving her my intellectual property and then attempting to DIY them herself). Luckily, one complaint to Yelp was all it took to have the idiotic review removed.

Check out WW and Knot Reviews.

You can but keep I mind if they give you the references they are likely already people that they have made happy... reviewed by brides are best

Reviews online will probably be most helpful. However, if a person you're considering hiring doesn't have many reviews, it's perfectly fine to ask that person if they have any previous clients that wouldn't mind being a reference. Also, if it's a photographer you're considering, viewing *full galleries* will probably be the most important element to deciding... Ask to see some full galleries from previous weddings they've done (not just the highlights and best photos selected to be featured on his/her webpage). Viewing those will allow you to see how and what a photographer captures during a full, hectic wedding, and ensure you love his/her style.

Reviews and testimonials. They can't give out clients' contact info, so this is why references don't happen.