Wedding and Event News…. the blog

The importance of your wedding vendor contracts:

In planning your wedding you will be dealing with multiple vendors and service providers. It is in all the involved parties’ best interests to have some form or contract or agreement outlined. This contract/agreement will give you legal recourse if the vendor does not follow through on the promised plans.

Once you begin to interview a vendor for a particular service, ask to view a copy of their contract and/or licensing information. If they are not able to provide you with a copy of this information then it may not be a reputable company and you should consider hiring someone else. If they are able to provide you with a copy of one of their contracts, read the contract thoroughly. Search for hidden fees that can cause a serious increase in the agreed upon price. Review the cancellation and refund policies to see if it works for you. 

Each vendor should be able to provide you with a detailed contact and the contract should include many items from the following list:

• Name of the person providing the service
• Your name
• Your wedding date
• The timeframe they are providing (photographer and musician)
• Delivery date (florist and rental supplies)
• Date for final headcount (reception site and caterer)
• Detailed description of the flowers they are providing (white tulips, calla lilies, roses)
• Payment details (clear and accurate)
• Deposit dates and requirements
• Final payment information
• Cancellation fees
• Signature of you and vendors

Here are some tips for financial protection when planning a wedding:

• Deal with vendors with verifiable references and good reputations. Verify complaints through the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.
• Keep signed detailed contracts from every vendor that you use.
• If you have to make any changes to your orders do it in writing and keep a copy for your records
• Never pay with cash. If possible pay with a credit card or a check.
• Take photos of the items you disapprove of. It will serve as your proof when you contest your payment