When you're booking wedding-related services, keep in mind the Latin cautionary phrase caveat emptor: let the buyer beware! This means doing your homework. Whether you're dealing with a caterer, a reception hall, a band of musicians, a videographer or a bridal salon, you need to find out as much as possible about the supplier.
Good research upfront saves time, headaches, and money later on. Ask questions—often. Ask again, even at risk of being repetitive, until you are sure you have the answer. And ask for what you want. You're paying dearly for these services and should expect to be satified.
At the very least, we recommend the following steps when considering any company or individual:
- Ask friends, acquaintances, colleagues or anyone you trust to recommend suppliers they've used and been happy with. Word of mouth is a powerful force. Put the word out in the Weddingbells.ca chat area and see what you hear back.
- Check out your big-ticket suppliers with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Review samples of the supplier's work. If you're dealing with a photographer, go to the studio and look at a portfolio. If you're considering a DJ or a live band, find out where the next comparable gig is and arrange to drop by for a few minutes so you can watch and listen first-hand. Ask to see copies of wedding videos.
- Make sure you see the supplier's place of business. Entering into an agreement with only a phone number to contact is asking for trouble. Most businesses, however small, will have at least a studio space or business area. Get the current business address and pay them a visit. In the event anything goes awry, you need an address to serve them with court papers. Best case scenario: you know where to send the thank-you note when everything goes great!
- Take time to comparison-shop. Planning your wedding is not the time for impulse shopping. Don't buy the first wedding gown you try on or hire the first musician you telephone. As Smokey Robinson's mother done told him, "you better shop around."
- And remember: Get confirmation of everything in writing.
The importance of advanced trouble-shooting can't be over-emphasized. Even if you do successfully catch up with a supplier who messes up, recovering your deposit is no consolation for failing to get what you wanted in the first place.
