My heart breaks every time I see a post in a wedding group about a vendor that duped the couple by grabbing a deposit and ghosting, not showing for the wedding, or not upholding verbal contract terms. Weddings are expensive and you damn well know the couple forked over a big chunk of money they had been saving, to secure said vendor.
While the majority of us in the industry are legitimate business owners, there are always going to be a few scammers looking to make an easy buck off of an eager bride and/or groom.
Tips for vetting your vendors:
- Do they have a legitimate website that includes a method of contacting them such as a phone number, e-mail address, etc.? DM-only communication is a red flag in my book.
- Are they active on social media?
- Do they have reviews you can read?
- Do they have a professional proposal and contract? (Verbal agreements = RUN)
- Do they accept payment forms other than cash (trackable payment methods such as credit card, PayPal, ApplePay, etc.)?
- Are vendors that you have already booked familiar with the vendor in question? What is their experience working with them?
- Will they meet you in person to discuss their offerings, experience & rates before you agree to sign? (No? Adios.)
Trust your gut. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. There are exceptions, such as vendors new to the industry that are offering low rates to build their portfolios or free add-ons because it’s a new offering for them and they need examples to add to their portfolio.
To protect yourself and your wedding budget:
- Never place a deposit before signing a contract
- Never assume your date is booked or services are guaranteed until a contract is signed
- Get everything in writing. Did you discuss X, Y or Z being handled by your vendor, but it’s not listed in the contract? Don’t sign until it is (this is why my custom package contracts are several pages long- every detail is in there).
Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’,
Your WedUcator