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@Stace126: It's actually very normal not to have pricing on their websites. They probably have so many different levels of services and add-ons or possible discounts that there is no way they could put pricing on their site.
If you are doing your searching late at night, most of them usually have a "contact us" form. You can just send them a quick e-mail checking their availability for your date as well as an idea of their normal pricing.
Your are looking for customizable services not a standard good. Macy's sells standard tangible items, wedding vendors sell their services and their time.
ETA - most vendors also draw up specific contracts for each of their clients (or use a variation on a standard contract to detail what exactly is being agreed to by both parties). You can't just book a photographer or a caterer online with the click of a mouse. You actually need to talk with these people about your specific wants for the day as well as to feel comfortable with their level of expertise.
It's annoying, but common. I set up an email filter and took down time to fire off a bunch of emails. Then most of the emails were filtered into the "wedding" folder and I was able to get through them when I had time, and put them in a spreadsheet (because I'm detail-oriented like that).
This is what I do.
I write one email with all of my details for a particular section of my wedding, for example FOOD and BCC to a bunch of places--caterers, banquet halls, country clubs, etc. That way, you don't have to retype it to a bunch of places. AND if you want to email more later, just hit the forward button.
It's annoying, but I don't think it's a horrible business practice. Just outline all of your questions in advance and send them out. Plus, I think it's a good way to judge how attentive and professional some places are. I've gotten email responses from places and said "OH HELL NO! You are not getting my money" because they've either taken two months to respond or just weren't professional at all.
Good luck.
It's actually really common for the reasons @KatNYC2011: listed above.
I don't know if your one of those brides but some brides don't like having their venue pricing listed on the venue's site. They don't want their guests to be able to search how much their plate was. I could care less but some brides are like that, so there you go.
And there are some vendors that DO list their prices.
Just shoot off a quick email. You're only beginning! Don't let this get you so frustrated already! You have a looong road ahead of you!
GL!
@RayRayFurious: This- I used a standard email and mass mailed it to caterers and venues as I found them. The venues got back to me pretty quickly since I was just asking for site fees. The caterers needed specific information and were sort of a pain in the butt to call and talk to.
I personally think they leave off prices so they can find out what you're willing to pay first. So far that's been my experience. I made the call and asked for a quote and was asked what my budget was and I accidentally gave one that was about 600 over my actual budget and the vendor happily said, "We can definitely do it for that price." Stupid me lol.
This is why I started to collaborate with a few other brides from my little city. Two of us started comparing notes because we work. We don't have time to sit with someone for an hour just to get their pricing sheet.
It assumes we all lead lives of leisure where we can flit off to a vendor meeting at any time. I find it to be one of the old school characteristics of wedding vendors.
I also think that some vendors try to assess your overall budget before giving their pricing. I've noticed that many want to know up front about your wedding coordinator. I imagine that if you're working with the one that charges $10K, the pricing might be a little different than the pricing you'd get if you were working with a lower priced one.
I could be wrong, of course.
It's normal and it drives me nuts. And some of the places that do provide the pricing, you have to be careful because they find ways to hide extra fees. So, a $500 rental turns in to $2000.
I found my experience to be very easy going with my vendors. I agree as far as response time from a vendor this shows their professionalism level. If I send them an email at night and they say they will contact me within 24 hours, I expect to get a return call. If not I am writing them off.
I do nearly everything through email. It is the best way for me to plan since I am in a different time zone than the wedding and it is great for me to be able to search my email for things and have a written record of everything we talked about.
It is annoying to have to wait but most professionals will get back to you within 48 hours.
What annoys me the most is when you email them, because they don't list prices on their website, and they STILL don't give you prices. The proper response to "What are your rates?" is not "When should we meet in person?"
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I am doing some early searching for vendors -- halls, caterers, rental facilities, etc, but NO ONE has any pricing on their website!!!
This is SO OBNOXIOUS! I do not have time to call or email each and every single vendor out there! Usually when I'm on their website it's early morning or late at night so even if I do call, I have to leave a message and can't talk to anybody.
I just started a new job so I can't very well be talking to these people at work -- which is the only time THEY'RE available!
I mean, seriously! How is this okay? How am I supposed to get a budget together or even get an idea of pricing if no one advertises their prices?
Am I just crazy or is this a horrible business practice?
Honestly, if I logged onto Macys.com and it didn't display the prices of the pants I wanted, I just wouldn't buy them! UGH!!! SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW!!!