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Common Wedding Scams
That Will Cost You More
Wedding scams and bad practices happen far too often, especially in a growing industry such as weddings. Everyone wants a piece of your budget. Many vendors in the business have been doing it for years, so they know all the crafty areas where they can make a quick buck, especially when they're dealing with novices.
Not all wedding vendors are crooks though, the majority are fair. But it's best to be aware of some of the industry's sneaky wedding scams. So here goes:
1. Pressure booking
One of my top wedding scams is pressure booking.
Venues are terrible for this. You go and see a lovely venue 18 months in advance. You love it but want to go away and think about it with your fiancé. The venue see that you really like it and playing to your emotion, tell you that there's someone else interested on your chosen day, or that it's booking up fast.
They're looking for a quick booking at their full price. You're wrapped up in your emotion and wouldn't dream of negotiating the package or asking for a deal and whilst you're under pressure, they're looking for you to book it there and then. They'll probably even up-sell you more elements that you never even dreamed you needed!
Take your time. If you need to, take time to think about it and mull it over. Doing this, you'll be able to think about how you can adapt the package to suit your needs or budget, rather than buying it on impulse. Don't forget, there are plenty of wedding venues out there and it's very unlikely that someone else is looking on the same date as you.
Book the venue on your terms. You're likely to be spending a lot of money, so definitely do it on your terms. If they still pressurise you, then do you really want to be working with people like that?
You may also find this with wedding dress boutiques, photographers and caterers.
2. Non-refundable deposits
Another naughty in my book and one of the big wedding scams is non-refundable deposits. Usually, when you book to secure a particular day, the vendor will request that you put down a deposit which is perfectly acceptable. It ties you in and gives security to the vendor.
What I don't like is when they insist that the deposit is non-refundable. I personally think this is unfair. I think if you're giving them enough notice that you no longer need the service, then you should get a 100% money back guarantee.
An acceptable time frame differs with each kind of vendor, depending on how quickly they get booked up. Venues for example get booked up early, but up to six months before the wedding, they'd easily be able to find another couple to take up the date.
My friend recently cancelled her wedding in Cornwall as the costs were spiralling out of control. Instead she decided to get married on a beach in Ibiza for a quarter of the price. She got all of her deposits back, except one for about £500 and she gave them 14 months notice. They would have easily been able to fill the date, so I think this is a little unfair.
Most vendors will give refundable deposits, but it's best to check and if you can, negotiate it. Don't forget, you never know what may happen.
3. Who owns the originals?
Wedding photographers are a necessary evil. Some are superb, others a little lack lustre, regardless, many of them hold on to the original shots making reprints outside of the package you buy an expensive business.
This is a huge money spinner for photographers outside of the wedding season. You need an extra print or two for the great aunts and the only way you can get one is through the photographer. They hold the negatives and the digital originals.
When you're talking to a photographer, this is a must-ask. Ensure that they'll hand over the original negatives and digital shots, so you can get reprints done at your leisure and a cost you're happy with. You could even print them off at home these days!
4. Hidden fees, charges and complicated contracts
Naughty, naughty. They didn't tell you it wasn't included, or did they? If you're spending over £500 you're likely to have to sign a contract. Check what's in the contract carefully and ensure everything that you expect to be in it, is actually there.
I've seen brides get stung for things that they thought were included in the price, but weren't. This is especially true at venues when catering is involved. Check that all the elements you're using are included in the cost. One bride got stung for a separate bill for cutlery, crockery and napkins – it wasn't included in the venue hire price! It set her wedding budget back £2,000!
Look out for and ask about surcharges for anything and everything, including car parking, cake cutting, service charge, cutlery hire, napkin hire, crockery, etc.
Venues are not the only vendors fond of hidden charges, wedding dress shops are too. Before you buy or even enter the shop, ask about additional charges for delivery, dress bags, storage, alterations, fittings and insurance. Make sure you ask before you buy.
5. Fakes and copies
One of the most disappointing and horrid wedding scams is to be landed with a fake. The discovery that your diamond or your dress is a fake or an ill-made copy can be devastating for some brides, not to mention completely illegal.
Dresses and diamonds are the most common areas for this kind of wedding scam. For dresses, it's usually only the high-end designers that are copied and the originals virtually always come complete with tags and a certificate. Make sure when you try them on, the designers' label is inside the garment and looks real.
If you're after a designer number then see it for real in a wedding dress boutique, that way you can see the workmanship and tags. If you're buying online, then you're more likely to get ripped off.
When buying a diamond, do your research on the jeweller. Are they reputable? Do they have a certificate for the diamond? Make sure you look at the loose diamond under a lens with at least 10x magnification. You'll then be able to see flaws and imperfections to access if you're getting good value for money. When you've bought it, get it verified by another independent jeweller and if you're not happy, then take it back.
Wedding scams are cruel, disappointing and leave you feel cheated. They're easy to fall into too, especially for a novice. How often do you buy diamonds, a £1,000 dress or hire a venue and caterer?
Wedding scams are also easily avoidable if you do your homework and research your purchases properly. After all, if you were spending £7,000 on a car, you'd make sure you weren't getting ripped off!
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