Recently, I heard a wedding nightmare. A bride hired a coordinator at a ridiculously low price. She paid the coordinator everything in cash. There was no contract, nothing in writing, no paper trail.
In addition to this person’s fees, the bride gave the so-called coordinator cash deposits on the flowers, food and cake. I’m not sure what happened, but two days before the wedding, the coordinator bailed out on the bride. In calling the florist, caterer and baker, the bride discovered that these suppliers never received the deposits and did not have her wedding on their books. In other words, no flowers had been ordered, no food had been prepared and no cake had been made.
There’s a saying: “But by the Grace of God Go I.” Truly, it was the kindness of these and other wedding professionals that the bride ended up having a beautiful wedding. Her nightmare turned into a dream wedding. People came together to decorate the church and reception venue, provide food for the guests and, yes, there was a beautiful wedding cake.
All this to say, please, please, please remember these rules when hiring and securing professionals for your wedding:
- Rule #1 – Get it in Writing. Legitimate wedding professionals have contracts. Know what you are paying for and what they are obligated to do for your wedding!
- Rule #2 – If it’s too good to be true; it probably is. Don’t let low price fool you. Time is money and money is time. This isn’t the first time I have heard stories like this where someone low-balled to get the job and then decided it wasn’t enough money and backed out. The bride was left with nothing and had to find someone at the last minute to do the job…now paying twice for supposedly the same thing.
- Rule #3 – Ask for and check references. Find out other brides they have helped or events they have planned. Take the time to call and learn about these suppliers.
- Rule #4 – Ask questions. Be clear on what you expect from each vendor and what they plan to do for your wedding. If in doubt, run don’t walk!
- Rule #5 – Focus on what is really important. Regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen, at the end of the day, you’ll be married to your beloved and starting a new life together. That’s what’s really important!