Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting - and one of the most expensive - things anyone will do in their lifetime. Even for the smallest affair, there's a lot to buy and book! From the dress to the rings to the cake to the photographer to the entertainer...the list goes on and on. Although the total cost of a wedding will vary according to the region of the country, the going rate for a traditional ceremony and reception (including all of the usual fanfare) for 150 people is currently hovering at about $38,000.
In the recent past, the media has begun to draw attention to scam artists and con routines in the bridal marketplace. Just last week, a story about a planner who stole tens of thousands of dollars from an "unsuspecting" (and I use that term loosely) couple made national headlines. And there have been so many others, too - like the DJ who took the money and never showed up, or the photographer whose portfolio was outstanding but whose results were mediocre, or the celebrant who got arrested for being a fraud. It is a shame, but these people are now infiltrating the bridal marketplace and taking advantage of couples on what should be one of the happiest days of their lives.
So, how do you make sure this doesn't happen to you? How can you ensure that your wedding vendors are who they say they are? How do you help ensure that you, too, won't be another statistic? The answer is by doing some research and being a savvy consumer. Knowing what questions to ask is key. So is being able to pick out little clues. When you take everything into consideration, you can make informed decisions.
1 - Look up your vendors in your state's database of registered business entities.
You want to be sure that you're hiring vendors who have taken the time to register their businesses with the state in which they will operate. Every state maintains a database of all registered business entities within said state that are in good standing. Some entities may not be listed (for example, the New York State OPAL database does not have sole proprietors listed), so if you can't find a vendor listed, ask to see a copy of their certificate of incorporation, or other proof that their business is operating legitimately.
2 - Ask your vendors to provide copies of any relevant licenses, certificates, insurance, etc.
Certain vendors are required to hold licenses or certificates in order to operate legally. For example, in most states, caterers and cake bakeries must be licensed by the state health department, and must renew their certification annually. Anyone who presides over a marriage ceremony must be legally authorized to do so. A number of other vendors (namely photographers, videographers, and DJs) are often required to hold liability insurance policies.
3 - Search for reviews of each vendor on the Web.
Many popular wedding websites like Wedding Wire, One Wed, Bride.com, and Bridal Tweet allow users to leave reviews for vendors for others to read. Search for your vendors on some of these websites and see what others have had to say about them. Yelp is another popular public review website. You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see if the vendors have ever had a claim filed against them; however, if the business name doesn't show up, that only means that no one has reported them (which is obviously a good sign).
4 - Ask each vendor how long they have been in the wedding business.
This is one of the most common errors that engaged couples make when selecting their vendors. So many times, people choose vendors based on their talents in other areas without knowing what the person's capabilities are in the realm of weddings. When interviewing vendors, it is critical to insist on seeing samples of work that demonstrate proficiency with weddings. A photographer whose portfolio consists entirely of landscape shots might be talentend, but this says nothing about how well they handle low light situations. Likewise, a DJ whose entire demo reel consists of nothing but Sweet 16's may have a flair for engaging people, but how well can they work a wedding?
5 - Pay attention to price.
Wedding services are not cheap, and for good reason. Like the old saying goes, it costs money to make money. Those stunning cakes in your baker's catalog were not made in an Easy-Bake Oven. Nor were those beautiful portraits in your photographer's portfolio taken with a disposable camera. Nor does your DJ dazzle guests with a retro 90's boom box. Your vendors have invested significant amounts of money in equipment, education, and other business expenses so that they can provide superior products and services for your big day. Those costs, of course, end up being passed along to the consumer. If a prospective vendor's price is drastically cheaper than other area professionals, let this raise a red flag. It is likely an indication that the person has not been in business for very long, or is operating illegitimately.
6 - Review contracts before signing them.
This is probably one of the more tedious tasks you'll have to do when shopping around for vendors, but it could save you lots of heartache and money down the road. A professional wedding vendor will have a contract that they will require you to sign if you decide to book them. Many vendors will have a formal contract-signing process in which they'll review the details of the contract with you line by line so you understand what you're signing before you sign it. Whatever you do, DO NOT sign the contract until you've read and understood everything. Ask questions if anything is unclear.
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