A stress-free wedding day starts with having confidence in the people who are responsible for putting all the details together. You will get the best service if you treat everyone with respect and show your appreciation for their work.
Interviewing vendors
- Arrive with questions in writing so nothing is forgotten. Talk with married friends about their experience and make special note of where they felt a vendor had let them down. Be prepared to talk about negative experiences and your concerns during the interview.
- Make notes throughout the interview. You can’t trust your memory.
- Have a contract and be sure the contract spells out the date, time and site of the wedding along with the name of the specific person who will be available to look after details or to solve last minute problems.
- Get the details about the price. Every business has its own way of presenting price so take time to have it spelled out in specific clarity. Some of the details to enquire about: are there extra fees for overtime, delivery or car mileage?
- If the vendor doesn’t have a contract, prepare one yourself and have it signed. A reliable business person will not be offended by this because a contract can protect the vendor as much as it protects you!
Deposits and cancellations
A vendor is not bound to be available on your date until you have paid a deposit.
Too many couples are pleased when a date is available, assume it will be held for them and don’t make a deposit. Too late, they find that the date has been assigned to someone else.
Also discuss what penalty will accrue if some calamity requires that the wedding be cancelled.
Politeness pays
You are sizing up potential vendors and make no mistake; they are sizing you up, too. In their experience they will have had multiple dealings with customers who were difficult – and they often can spot them in the very first interview.
You are more likely to get extra attention and top-of-the-line service if you treat the vendor with respect. And show appreciation for the advice and help they are giving you.
Remember, however, that this is a business arrangement and when you ask for either extra time or extra product, you will be billed for it.
When there is a problem, address it immediately. If you let concerns build, your problems will become more important than they likely are. Try to resolve a problem in a fair and reasonable manner. You want all the people you are dealing with on your side.
Vendors have dozens of ways to “get even” if they feel abused. No extra attention or overtime to handle emergencies will be offered to difficult customers!
