Everyone knows Black Friday is the day for specials and discounts, steals and deals, if you’re shopping for gifts and items for family, friends and You! It’s a day of bargain shopping to the max.
Beware: Bargain shopping is not what you want to do for the most important day of your life, your wedding! This is not the time for steals and deals like you see on Black Friday. There’s a saying, “if it sounds too good to be true, it is.” Meaning run, don’t walk. Over the years, I have heard countless stories of brides getting burned by so-called “Deals” by meaningful friends and so-called professionals.
There was the bride who contracted with a photographer for $500 which included eight hours of shooting, an album and the disc. The week of the wedding, the photographer informed the bride he got a better offer and would not be photographing her wedding.
There was the bride whose friend said she would cater the wedding for 125 guests plus provide the groom’s cake….all for $250. That’s $2 per person for food. Where can you go and eat for $2 a person? The day before the wedding, the bride’s friend/caterer got sick (really?) and informed her she would not be able to provide the food or the cake.
There was the bride that rented her gown and shoes from a less than stellar bridal shop. Price was the reason she went there. The dress was damaged and stained and she opened her shoe box to find two left shoes.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to work with reputable, professional people….caterers that are licensed; photographers that have experience and are respected; bridal salons that are legitimate with a trained staff. If you must budget, then go with a smaller guest list; change the time of the wedding or the day of the week, have fewer attendants. Your wedding is not a time for “Let’s make a deal”.
If you want deals for yourself, your home, your gift list, Black Friday is great! As for me, I will be spending Black Friday in the comfort of my home snacking on Mississippi Sin and rooting on my beloved Razorbacks!