Sign on the dotted line

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Chances are, if you’re planning a wedding, you’re up to your nose in lists, contracts, and more lists. It seems as though as soon as I check the last thing off one list, a whole new list develops. Even better, as soon as one contract gets sent off, another 12-pager comes in the mail.

I think one of the scary parts of wedding planner are the contracts. When I get done with some of them, I feel like I’ve just taken out a mortgage on a home. Most of them have a lot of craziness that I can hardly understand, while some of them have literally been only a single page. I’m not sure which makes me more nervous.

For all you brides out there, here are a few tips I’ve learned when signing contracts:

1. READ THE ENTIRE THING! I know, I know. After like the 6th page, enough is enough. You get it. You owe them some money, they owe you a service, and if the world blows up they won’t be there. There are always tiny little details in contracts that can raise red flags, though. So, what I like to do is print out two copies of the contract – one that will be signed and sent off and the other for me to highlight the crap out of. I then take all those highlighted parts that I was concerned with, and talk to my vendor about it. At first I thought I was being super annoying (well…I probably am still super annoying) by asking tons and tons of questions. Now, it is what it is! If something concerns you – speak up! It’s your wedding, not the vendor's.

2. Keep a copy for yourself. I like to keep the copy I highlighted over in my wedding binder. Because you know if you don’t save it, you’re going to end up needing it.

3. Sign a contract with every vendor you have. Even if a friend is providing the service.

4. Double-check what is included. I had one vendor accidentally write the incorrect time on my contract. I signed it and was folding it up to mail it off when I caught a glimpse of the time. Had I signed the contract, that vendor may or may not have been able to accommodate for the change. Double-check, double-check, and then check again.

5. If the vendor said it's included - it should be in the contract. This one I can speak from experience. My fiancé and I were told something was going to be a certain way by conversation with a vendor. When we found out it was not the way the vendor had promised, there was nothing we could do because it wasn't written in the contract. If a vendor says you will have certain chairs at the reception, get it down on paper. If the broken chandelier is supposed to be replaced, get it down on paper. It's the best way to protect the huge investment you and your fiancé are about to make.

I can promise you, being thorough when it comes to your vendor contracts doesn’t make you a bridezilla – it makes you a smart bride. Weddings are a serious investment. Help you and your fiancé avoid mistakes many of us make! I can promise you, you’ll be glad you did.

Until next time, sweet girls! Just keep swimming :)

World peace and skinny jeans,

Sheri xo

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