Wedding Contracts - the business of Wedding Planning

I know this is the boring part of wedding planning, However, this is very important to keeping everything on track, coordinated, and no surprises at the last minute.
Every professional event professional has them, uses them, and generally follows them. You want to read them before signing them and giving a deposit on them.
I know you are excited and want to get everything booked so you can go onto the fun part of decorating, dress shopping & honeymoon planning, but this is what lets you be sure that you are clear in what you are planning and paying for.
Often overlooked
- Retainer and retainer due date? - Most professionals do not hold your date with out
- Cancellation policy ? Generally your retainer is non refundable - they are taking themselves off the market from other events for you AND IF YOU CANCEL CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE DATE THAT THE LIKELY HOOD OF REBOOKING IS NOT HAPPENING - YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE GUARANTEE -
- venues and food - guest count - Often caterers and/or venues work on guest counts - caterers will come up with a price around the guest count you are expecting - should that count drop drastically = their cost may go up
- Invited more than you planned and more responded Yes - It will generally cost you more - I know this seems simplistic but several times this year alone we had couples surprised that when their guest counts went up that the fee went up for the food - sorry it really does cost more to feed 80 than 50
-TIMING - this is a biggy - you can not generally book a venue for 8 hours and a caterer for 6 - or a venue for 5 hours and a dj for 7 -- be sure this is all coordinated and explained. If your ceremony and reception are at the same location - be sure that there is no one setting up during your ceremony for distractions
Final Payment and what form -- most professionals do not accept credit cards, final payment is generally a week to 10 days before the event and often a bank cheque can be required by venues and caterers if any closer
Contracts are there to protect both parties
This is not the fun part of wedding planning,but the very necessary part to ensure stress free final weeks and no surprises. If you have hired an event planner, generally one of the services they provide is to check and double check all of your contracts, do finally contact the week before, confirm all of the timings as they may have shifted during the planning and any other details.
Happy Planning - Laurie, A Gracious Event - questions, help? , ideas - I would love to hear from you - www.agraciousevent.com