Wedding Contracts

Your wedding is one large business transaction.

Plain and simple.

I know its the day you marry your best friend, your soul mate, the one you cannot imagine growing old without. But even if you get married at the court house, you are still signing a contract: 1. Marriage Contract and 2. The agreement to pay the courthouse.

So, how can you protect your assets?

First, and this seems obvious, read the gosh darned thing. Read the contract, it is there for a reason, to protect you and your wedding professionals. It should state what the vendor you are hiring IS doing for you and ISN'T doing.

They are providing your food, they are providing 121 plates, 234 forks, 234 knives, they are letting you in for set up at 5PM and breakdown must be completed by midnight. (obviously they are just examples, but you get the idea).

There will be a lot of corporate mumbo jumbo mixed into the contract, but you need to make sure that you understand the terms, when payments are due, how much is due, what happens if you are late?

This is where a Professional Wedding Planner can come into play, they read these contracts every-single-day and can let you if something is questionable, or if it's above board.

I mean really, how often do you plan a party for 200 of your closest friends and family?

Communication is Key!

My mother was a big proponent of communication - there was one time, when I was 10 or 11, I dis-owned my sister, like literally told her that I wasn't her sister anymore. And I hated her. (Kim, I love you, you are my sister and my best friend - I officially apologize for disowning you 20+ years ago, I hope you can forgive me). My mother forced to me realize that we needed to talk this out, and she was my sister no matter what.

Anyway, back to communication - this is all relative, I promise!

As a business person, communication is a tremendous part of my job, I have to communicate with my clients, I have to communicate with vendors, I need to make sure that vendors communicate with each other.

Just recently we had a problem with a florist that was asked by a bride to have extra Red Roses for a wedding cake, the bride paid for these extra flowers, and when the cake was being set up, the florist brought over 5 red roses (instead of the 40 that were paid for) that were half dead, and when the cake baker picked them up, the petals all fell off. Not only is that bad communication, but bad business.

I then had to run to the local grocery store and buy new flowers.

Apparently, I'm not the only one having this type of problem with this florist, they have been confirmed for specific items and not brought them, or actually told another vendor that they weren't needed for an event, even though they were!!!!

Everyone is afraid to talk to this vendor about their behavior, but someone needs to - looks like those skills my mommy taught me will come in handy.

{Cake by KB Kake Kreations - more on that cake on Monday}

Vendor Who?

One of my most valuable assets to my clients (other than the fact that I totally rock!) is my list of reputable, talented vendors. I've met a lot of fantastical vendors over the past 14+ years and I've keep every single one of their cards. So, if you wanted a white elephant, I know who to call. Seriously, we had to rent one for the day a few years ago!

One of the assets of working with a wedding consultant is the list of personalized vendors that we feel will work well for you. There is no reason for you to have to pick up the phone book or do 7 hours of research online, the likely hood that I know who you'll want, and can afford, is pretty high. Just ask!

That's what we are here for!

Vendor Contracts- Part Deux!

Let's talk about your venue, even just for a moment. I mean you have to have the reception some where, even if its at your house (then maybe it'd be rental contract for the tent, but even so, it's a place). Financially, this is the most important aspect of the wedding, because it is where the most money is spent (50% remember), so make sure that the site and the contract are "legit". If you are working with a national hotel, it is more likely to have a legal contract, but make sure they are not nickel and dime'ing, and if they are, then know those amounts ahead of time so you are not surprised.

• Total cost and line item break down of what's included



• Exact date and time of the wedding



• Exact location(s) of the wedding reception (Ballroom A or the Pelican Room)



• Detailed list of everything the venue will provide



• The name of the site representative who will be on hand on your wedding day



• Proof of Liability insurance and liquor license



• Amount of deposit and when it was paid



• Balance outstanding and when it is due (or the payment schedule)



• Cancellation policy/refund policy



• Anything else you agreed to orally, make sure you get it written down so you have proof, you can always add amendments to contracts - don't be afraid to ask!!!

Also have a exact drawing of how you'd like the room set up, we recently did a wedding at a Hilton and they provided a CAD drawing of the room, so we crossed out the tables we didn't need and numbered the tables on the layout how we wanted it.... when we got there for set up the banquet captain had just set up the tables as we had numbered leaving a HUGE gap between the doors and where the tables were started.... even spacing would have been nice. They fixed it, but if the drawing had been more accurate, it would have been one less stressor.

Vendor Contracts - Part 1

This week I am going to give you some basic tips on things to look for in your vendor contracts, because after all planning a wedding is all about Contracts, Contracts, Contracts - just like a realtor is all about Locations, Location, Location - you can't have a wedding unless you KNOW for certain that things will take place and your insurance is that there is a solid contract. Let's start with Photography - here are some things to keep an eye out for:

• All locations where the photographer will be expected to take photographs with addresses and starting times.


• Estimated number of hours included i the package or allotted for your wedding day


• The name of the acceptable substitute in case of an emergency


• The names of the photographer that will be working for you and any assistants


• Number of camera that will be used, and which formats


• Number of proofs and if they belong to you afterwards or if the photographer remains in possession of them


• Schedule for delivering your proofs and/or final album


• What is the total cost


• Is there an overtime fee?


• Cancellation or refund policy


• Do you have to feed your photographer? If so, what?

These are all things that seem like "Duh!" things to know, but you'd be surprised what might surprise you!