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Wedding Planning - Agreements with Vendors
By Bobette Kyle-Wagner | March 16, 2008
Picking colors, trying on dresses, tasting cake flavors, and other aspects of wedding planning are all very exciting and part of the bridal experience. As you choose vendors, however, remember that you are also doing business. Whenever you book a reception venue, photographer, or other vendor you enter into a legally binding contract with that vendor. Consequently, it’s best to follow standard business procedure. This includes getting all agreements in writing and making sure contracts are as verbally agreed upon. You do this not because you don’t trust the person you are dealing with, but as a record of specific whens, whats, whos, and hows. A specific and accurate contract avoids any misunderstandings and serves as a reference as you plan the wedding.
Having an accurate vendor contract also avoids omissions or unexpected developments if the specific person you are dealing with leaves the company. We, for example, are on round three with Amarette’s reception contract. The first contract didn’t include anything we’d discussed (different minimum guest count, bottled beer, and a few other things). Second round still has the higher minimum guest count. The operations manager commented that it was irrelevant since the price per guest is the same at both levels. In one aspect, she is right. But, the contract as it is very clearly specifies we are guaranteeing the higher guest count. If I sign that contract, I am committing to paying for at least that number of guests. What happens if this person leaves sometime during the next 11 months (or if she forgets) and that minimum is not met? Sure, I can say “but she said…”, but it won’t hold water because they will have my signature on a piece of paper saying I will pay for the higher guest count. And they would be right.
Bottom line: In the frenzy and joy of planning your wedding, don’t forget the details. Knowing what is expected of you and the vendor — and getting it in writing — can avoid emergencies and mega-stress later on.
To help keep track of your vendor appointments and organize wedding planning, print a free MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com wedding planning calendar and keep the calendar pages in a binder with your contracts:
2008: http://www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/calendar2.htm
2009: http://www.myonlineweddinghelp.com/calendar2009.htm