Contracts and Vendors 101

The Cleaners.  Often a good place to take laundry that needs to be diligently rid of stains, wrinkles, or other unpleasantries gathered from a weeks worth of wear.

However, the cleaners can also refer to the unfortunate circumstance of being ripped off, dooped, conned into believing that the deal you're signing for is actually worse that you think.

It isn't until you walk into your favorite bar in the light of day, with the unflattering florescent lights on, that you see the contract for what it's really worth.  I am a firm believer, unfortunately, that vendors relish in the after-engagement glow of soon-to-be-brides, knowing that the bride will often forget to ask or overlook something inherently missing from the contract.

When signing contracts with vendors it is extremely important to read between the lines and scour every last detail.

• Flexibility
• You don't have to take and sign a vendor's contract for face value.  If there's something you'd like to change, add, subtract, talk about it with the vendor and get it in writing.  This might include making sure the venue for your outdoor ceremony has an alternative indoor space (like a ballroom) available in case of (gasp!) rain.
• Refunds
• Where in your contract does it talk about a refund.  Should something ever go wrong, do you have a way out? Or, does the vendor have the upper-hand indicating that all bets are off if you fail to pay on a specified day, nullifying your contract, leaving you high and dry.  If a DJ plays a song on your "DO NOT PLAY" list, are you able to deduct part of your final payment?
• Details
• Reading every line of your contract is crucial to fully understanding what you're getting yourself into.  I suggest always bringin a highlighter to contract signings, and go through and highlight any sentence that causes concern- and let the vendor clarify any questions once you've gone through the entire contract on your own.  It's also perfectly acceptable to take the contract and "sleep on it."
• Never Forget
• It's important to include the following on every single contract:
• Name of the vendor (and the person you will be in contact with throughout the process)
• Direct contact numbers
• Wedding Date
• Date and time vendor should arrive at location
• Payment total and payment schedule

**Remember**

NOTHING is guarenteed to you until you put down a deposit.

Until there is a deposit, you have no contract... no guarentees.