Your palms are sweaty. You feel a bit weak in the knees. Your eyes might start to water… I’m not talking about the marriage proposal here. I’m talking about signing your vendor contracts. For some, the idea of signing over a few grand might be no big thing, but for others, it can be a gut-wrenching ordeal. Have no fear. The contract signing fairy godmother is here!
The purpose of your vendor contract is to confirm the specifics that you and your particular vendor have agreed upon. You want your money’s worth and your vendors want your money! The best solution? A contract that includes the who’s, what’s, when’s and where’s of all services, payments, and schedules.
Start your vendor search early and be very selective throughout the process. Choose vendors you not only like because of their style, but because your personalities mesh and you would be happy to have them there on the day of your wedding. Once you find “The Ones,†the next and very important part is to draw up a contract or letter of agreement.
Usually, the contract will come from the vendor side of the relationship, as they work with them often. Once in a while, though, you might work with a vendor who doesn’t have any type of contract to start with, so you might want to step in to make sure no details go missing.
Your contract or letter of agreement should include the following:
1. Bride’s and Groom’s name, or name of the person paying for the good or service
2. Vendor information (phone number, address, fax, and most importantly, your contact person)
3. A list of every single service that vendor is providing and the specific dates and times each task is to be completed
4. A list of rules or guidelines you must follow (for example, your baker might require you to return some of the tools used to hold up the cake)
5. The arrival and departure time of the vendor (i.e. photographer) or the time the product (i.e. cake, flowers) will arrive
6. A contingency plan in case something happens to the vendor and s/he is unable to complete the services
7. A cancellation plan (just incase)
8. Dates that your payments are due, and what happens if they are late
9. Dated signatures of all parties involved
Just remember: Deep breaths. You can do it!
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