As you embarking on your journey to “I Do” there are a few potential hurdles to overcome and/or watch out for – one of these being scammers. While most service providers and venues are genuine in wanting to make your big day perfect, unfortunately, there are a few with less genuine intentions that may add a whole lot of unneeded stress and extra expenses with scams and dishonest practices.
But fear not! We’ll walk you through some quick ways you can sidestep scams like a pro and hopefully avoid any undue stress. Let's dive into how to try your best to avoid pesky scams while planning.
We all love a good deal (let’s be real), but if something sounds too good to be true it usually is. We know you may want to save some money here and there but ultimately falling prey to scammers could lead to more expenses in the long run having to replace the items not provided (last minute might we add).
If a vendor offers a price that is significantly lower than the average market price, it might be a sign that they're cutting corners or planning to scam you. Do your research and compare prices with other quotes to ensure you're getting a good deal while not compromising on the quality of work or getting any extra unwanted surprises.
You can also ask the vendor/venue how they are able to offer you such a good deal and get a detailed breakdown of costs (all price information, guarantees, and contingencies) in writing so you can use it to compare.
You could also consider asking your other vendors or venues if they think this is a reasonable offer or likely to be a scam. Maybe they’ve even heard of this person before and will give you a warning to not fall for their ‘good’ deals.
If a service provider or venue is putting a lot of pressure on you to make a quick decision or pay large sums of money up front, you should be seeing a big red flag. Legitimate businesses understand the importance of giving their potential clients the time they need to do their research and make informed choices or find a business they would prefer to work with.
No aggressive pressuring required; their work will speak for itself. Scammers, on the other hand, thrive on rushed decisions, confusion and stress. Legit businesses will also usually have some form of payment schedule in place and not require large upfront payments.
Additionally, pay all vendors and venues directly, even if they were recommended by a trusted wedding planner who is offering or insisting on handling payments so that you know there are no ‘additional service fees’ *cough cough* being added onto the (already high) costs.
Before committing to any vendor, thoroughly research their reviews and portfolio. If you find a vendor with little to no online presence or customer feedback, it might be a cause for concern. Genuine businesses are usually proud to showcase their work and positive client testimonials and do so in their marketing frequently to get new clients, to stay relevant or to build top-of-mind awareness.
There are a few exceptions here to keep in mind. If they are just starting out or are a small business, they may not have had the chance to build up a decently sized portfolio or customer base yet. A business can also undergo a name change or restructuring and may not have reviews and portfolio work accumulated under their new identity yet.
It is important here to do your research into the vendor/venue to see what you can find on your own and ask them for their work and/or reviews then make a judgement call based on the information you and your partner have available to you.
Make a note to ask about a change in ownership, especially for small businesses, as a business may have been a good one but not all people share the same morals and values.
A verbal agreement may seem all good and well, but when it comes to wedding planning, always insist on a detailed written contract. You should also read this contract in-depth prior to signing it and ask questions for further clarity if needed.
Scammers often avoid documentation to make it easier for them to back out or manipulate the terms and conditions later by using the opportunity for confusion and miscommunication (and maybe a little gaslighting too – you definitely ordered fuchsia dresses and not blush dresses; the wedding stress must be getting to you).
A contract protects both parties and ensures everyone is on the same page. You can’t argue with ink or screenshots (a real ‘I came with receipts’ moment we hope you won’t ever experience).
Begin your search for vendors well in advance as this will give you ample time to research, compare, and make informed decisions. Rushing the process increases the likelihood of falling victim to scams.
In the unfortunate event that you do happen to fall victim to a scammer it may also give you a bit of padding to find alternative solutions.
Try to also confirm all the agreed upon details leading up to the big day. Regularly checking in with your vendors and venue (as in being able to reach them, meet with them, hold discussions, see the items, etc.) will help put your mind at ease. If something goes awry during this process (someone ghosts you, your venue suddenly closed, etc.) it gives you the padding you need to find someone new.
Turn to friends, family, and colleagues who have recently gotten married, anyone they know that may have just tied the knot, or has recently planned a big event as they can provide some insights and recommendations. Personal experiences and interactions with a business often speak louder than online reviews.
You can also ask your vendors and venues for their preferred suppliers but do be wary of people who only work with certain people and will not work with your preferred vendors/venue as something fishy can be going on. Some venues do have onsite vendors they require you to use or you can pay a surcharge to bring in your own; in these cases, be sure to check the packages and chat with them about their policies.
Online reviews can be a great resource, if you use them wisely and evaluate them critically. Look for and consider the detailed reviews that discuss both positive and negative aspects of the service left for each business. A vendor/venue with a mix of reviews is more likely to be a genuine business than one with only perfect ratings.
Here are some tips to use while reading reviews:
Scheduling face-to-face meetings with potential vendors and venues is another way to help avoid being scammed. Meeting in person can help build a personal relationship with your vendors/venue. You can get a read on the people involved and if something feels off, it probably is and you can go from there.
It also provides the perfect opportunity to verify their credentials. Ask to see any certifications, licenses, insurance paperwork, etc. that may be relevant. Scammers probably won’t withstand an in-person credentials review.
You can also have them walk you through samples of past work and maybe give you some recommendations which will help you determine the quality of their work and your potential experience with them as well as ask clarifying questions to clear up any areas of uncertainty, confusion or concern – especially when it comes to what will be in the contract.
When making any payments, rather use secure methods such as credit cards or payment platforms that have purchase protection. Avoid direct deposits or cash payments wherever possible, as these are harder to trace and offer significantly less protection if you open a case of fraud.
If you are going to be paying through cash or bank deposits, it is advisable to open a separate bank account for wedding expenses. This will also help you keep track of wedding spending and any additional/unauthorised charges as well.
Read your contracts and invoices in great detail to ensure there are no hidden fees or opportunities to add them. Scammers will often use obscure charges to inflate the overall cost. If a charge or fee seems unjustified or wasn't previously discussed, ask about it before making any payments.
This is often one way vendors/venues can offer lower initial pricing so make sure to get a detailed cost outline prior to agreeing to use them and be sure that is what included in your contract with them for this price.
Legitimate businesses provide detailed invoices that will outline all costs associated with their services. If a vendor or venue hesitates to provide a comprehensive breakdown of charges, it’s a red flag.
Request detailed invoices from your vendors and venues as general lump sum charges are ambiguous. Itemisation will show you what you are paying for and how much it is. Compare invoices to spot unusually formatted or highly vague ones to help spot potential scammers.
Request updates for cost changes as the planning process goes along. If any new charges are incurred, a new detailed breakdown should be provided, if not ask for one. Also don’t forget to ask about mark-up policies beforehand; some vendors may bulk up their invoices by marking up third-party costs.
Always review your invoices upon receipt. Don't wait until after you make a payment to look over it and dispute any irregularities or concerns immediately. Get a final invoice ahead of any payments; don’t pay outstanding balances without a complete final invoice.
Make sure to check your bank and credit cards for any unauthorised or suspicious transactions. If you find any, report it to your bank or financial institution immediately to avoid potential issues or at least to try to minimise the financial damage. Being a bit proactive (and maybe a little paranoid) in monitoring your spending can help prevent a minor issue from becoming a major problem.
Here are some things to look out for:
Want to learn more about keeping track of your other wedding expenses? Check out our other blog Keeping Track of your Wedding Expenses for some fanastic expense tracking tips.
This is when a business is either fake and simply takes your deposit and hightails it out of there; delivers appalling services/products; and in rarer cases, just goes bankrupt and bye-bye leaving you high and dry.
Read reviews/get references and get written contracts before going ahead with a vendor/venue to mitigate the potential for a no-show.
Given the sheer number of tasks one has to get through to simply say ‘I Do’ it is no wonder people opt to hire wedding planners to help them plan and enjoy their big day. However, there are people out there who take advantage of the stress involved in the process.
They will either they disappear shortly before your wedding, won’t show up on the day, or they won’t keep to the promised standards.
Some ways to spot a scammer planner include - No social media or website, large deposit/upfront payments requirement (more than 50%), they only work with highly specific people and/or they insist on playing your wedding accountant and paying vendors and venues for you even if you don’t want them to.
Read reviews/get references and get written contracts before going ahead with them. Ask why they require such a large upfront deposit.
You either find a beautiful dress or dresses online and have to have it or you find a business that makes dresses at an unbelievably good price. The results? Either cheap quality (poorly sewn seems, badly cut fabric, sheer fabric, scratchy fabric, etc.) or arguably worse no dress shows up or is delivered. Cue scrambling for a dress angel.
Avoid online shopping unless it is from a very reputable online store (read reviews, do your research, triple check sizing charts, look at their return policies, and order early!), it is better to buy and try on a dress in person so you can truly appreciate the fit, style, colour, etc. (maybe you always wanted a ball gown with a Queen Anne neckline but a mermaid style with a sweetheart neckline looks better on you).
If you can go to the business in person or it is a local one but you cannot meet in person and they are going to deliver the items to you – read the reviews, check local sites and groups for scam alerts, and remember if a deal is too good to be true it likely is.
Photos and videos from the day are arguably one of the most important aspects because it will forever capture the day. Some people fully take advantage of that by showing up to the wedding taking pictures/videos and then maybe sending a few teasers but when you want the rest of your magic memories, you’re told to pay more for them.
Get a written and signed contract and read it carefully, check their reviews out, and consider using disposable cameras or online apps that are similar to get guests to capture the day as a fallback.
It’s a fake! When buying a ring either online or in person, you have to make triple sure the vendor is a reputable one and look out for the needed certifications that will verify they are legit and what they are selling is legit. Don’t beat around the bush and ask if they sell non-certified diamonds to save yourself time. You can either avoid them or request a discount on the diamond.
If you can have a professional appraise the ring and make sure everything is as it should be. Check reviews, refund and return polices and who certified their diamonds.
Not as fun as the movie makes it out to be. In real life if you make your wedding date and time public knowledge you put it at risk for wedding crashers who are likely to steal gifts, food and personal property. Best leave the nitty-gritty for the invites and ask someone to make sure there are no uninvited guests.
In general, even if this information is not public knowledge, it is better to place gifts in a separate and secure location so no one can pinch them.
If you are opting for a honeymoon, you need to be on the lookout for fake travel agencies and fake honeymoon packages. Opt for reputable travel agencies and do your research into what is considered fair market pricing for that type of package to spot a deal too good to be true.
Look at the agencies reviews, check for non-refundable deposits (ask these will be taken and no bookings made), ask about refund policies, read the fine print, if they try to high pressure upsell lots of upgrades and insurances – move onto the next travel agency, avoid free or heavily discounted packages in return for preforming an action (sign up for a membership, etc.), read the terms and conditions attached to any vouchers and discounts.
This applies if you are changing your name - dispose of your previous identity documentation correctly and update everything ASAP as scammers may use your old documents to make purchases or set up credit cards in your name.
Do not post images of these documents online or post about your name change and be careful about what information you add to online registries and sites. Fraudsters can do a lot with a small amount of information so don’t give them any.
As you start your journey to ‘I Do’, it’s important to remember that staying vigilant, doing thorough research, and communicating openly with your vendors and venue, will help you avoid scams. Nothing is fool proof and sometimes even if you tick all the boxes you won’t know till you know so consider a few back up options – maybe the top 5 options you didn’t go for but loved.
Your wedding day should be a reflection of the two of you and your love; surrounded not only your closest but by professionals who share genuinely in your excitement and love what they do. So, now that you have read our quick guide to dodging scams while wedding planning, go start the journey.
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