What to Look for in a Wedding Contract
Not only is your wedding one of the most romantic days of your life, it is also the most expensive. When you are planning an event that may run into the tens of thousands of dollars, it is important to make sure that you don’t get so swept up in the excitement of it all that you forget to read the fine print. These are the key things to look for in your wedding vendor contracts.
A contract is a document needed when you are booking a vendor, such as a band or a venue, or when you are putting down a partial payment (or a payment in full) on goods to be delivered, such as your wedding gown. You do not need a contract for all of the smaller items that are cash and carry types of purchases, such as your wedding jewelry or favors; a simple receipt is adequate. The only exception would be if you are purchasing your wedding jewelry in installments; there should at least be a notation on each receipt that shows your total payments and balance due to avoid any confusion at the end.
The more detail on your contracts the better. For instance, when you are hiring a band, the contract needs to cover much more than just the date reserved and the price. It should be very specific about how many hours the band will play, the number of musicians (and possibly even their names), if there are any fees for the time it takes to set up their equipment (as well as what equipment is included in the package), how frequently the band takes breaks and what backup music is provided, and possibly even attire for the musicians.
Perhaps the most important contract is the one that you will have with your reception venue. This will tend to be where you spend the bulk of your wedding budget, so you will not want to leave anything to chance. As with any other wedding vendor, you will want the contract to spell out the basics, such as date, times, and prices. Venues are the most likely venues to have numerous extra expenses that may not be readily apparent, so be careful to ask a lot of questions and to get everything in writing.
Having a clear and detailed contract in writing will allow you to feel confident that your vendors are being clear and upfront about everything. That is sure to put your mind at ease as you plan for your magical day.
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