subject: A Complete Guide to Making Contracts with Vendors [print this page] A Complete Guide to Making Contracts with Vendors
It's important to first establish that every time you hire a professional to perform any type of service at your wedding whether it be photography, catering, florist, chapel, bridal gown, alterations, or hairdresser you must get your agreement in writing. There is no contract until you put down a deposit, so make sure you read everything in your contract and/or receipts. Also make sure to document every single arrangement you make for you wedding, this will help keep you organized.
First tip--flexibility. Don't be afraid to alter the contract to ensure your wedding needs will be fulfilled. For example, you may be planning an outdoor ceremony, but make sure you have a back up plan in the contract incase of inclement weather. If you wish to alter the contract to make the supplier liable for potential negligence or willful misconduct and the vendor wont' agree to the change, look for another vendor who will elsewhere.
Next, discuss the refund policies and understand them entirely. Every contract will include a vendors specific refund policy that you will receive and any penalty faced if you cancel the contract.
When contracting with a florist for example you may run into the problem of... I want rose petals but I don't know how many. So in many cases you can make a contract when you book the service, but just include a general amount of a cost for a service. Be sure to add a few extra sentences outlining that the details will be confirmed at a later date.
Be sure to understand everything that will go into a vendor contract. These are a few important details to remember to mark down. On every contract write: the day of the week, the date of the wedding, time the vendor should arrive, and day and date an item needs to be delivered.
Don't forget to have a receipt printed at the end of everything. Remember receipts are contracts and when ordering small things like favors, invitations, balloons, etc. that store receipt is the contract. Most should include: style numbers, date of item pickup, price and payment schedule, and an outline of what the price includes.
Ultimately when hiring your vendors, make sure to do your research. Ask other brides for vendors they recommend and check online for vendor ratings. Trust your instincts if you get a bad feeling from a certain service, find another vendor to do the job. You don't want to get stuck in a contract that ends up going bad.
