One of the most common questions couples ask us is some version of: how do you actually know the vendors are good? It's a fair question, and the honest answer is that we don't rely on self-reporting, aggregated reviews or algorithmic signals. We check. Every vendor on Nodus goes through a manual verification process before they can accept a single booking. Here's what we check.
Why we don't automate this
Automated checks catch the easy things, like whether a business is registered, has a website or has any reviews. They miss what matters most. An algorithm can't check who is really behind a business, or whether a caterer's food hygiene rating has lapsed since their last inspection.
The South Asian wedding vendor market in the UK covers a wide range, from long-established professional businesses to sole traders working informally, and every arrangement in between. The community has built its own workarounds precisely because there's been no standard for verification. Our job is to provide that standard, not to repeat its absence at scale.
Manual review is slower and costs more per vendor than automated screening. We've made that trade-off on purpose. A couple booking a caterer through Nodus should be able to trust that the groundwork has been done, and a system that just ticks boxes quickly doesn't earn that trust.
What we check
Every vendor goes through the same checks before they can list on Nodus.
Identity
We check the ID of the person behind the business, so couples know who they're dealing with.
Business details
Every vendor must show that they're operating as a legitimate business, and we check the business details they give us. It's a baseline, not a guarantee of quality, but it filters out a lot.
Insurance
We ask every vendor for evidence of current insurance, and we check that it hasn't expired.
Food hygiene rating for caterers
Caterers must also have a food hygiene rating, which we check on the Food Standards Agency register.
Platform agreement
Every vendor listed on Nodus agrees to the Nodus terms. Vendors can attach their own terms to their storefront, as long as they don't conflict with ours, and couples can read them alongside every quote. If a vendor cancels, Nodus steps in to help the couple find a replacement.
What verification does not guarantee
Verification is a starting point, not a warranty. We check that a caterer has a food hygiene rating. We can't promise the food will suit your taste. We check who a photographer is and that their business and insurance are in order. We can't promise their creative style is right for you.
That's why couples can do their own research on Nodus too: ask a vendor for references, go through their full portfolio, and message them before committing. Our checks keep out the vendors who shouldn't be operating at all. The choice between the ones who remain is yours.
If you're a vendor and want to list on Nodus, you can apply here. If you're a couple planning a wedding, browse vendors free, with every vendor checked before they can take bookings and every booking documented in writing.
Every vendor verified before they can list.
Browse vendors free. Every vendor is checked by hand before they can take bookings.
Explore vendors free