21st March 2023
A wedding is probably one of the most expensive parties you will throw in your life. In some cases, they can cost more than a house deposit or a car; and whilst you wouldn’t take any of those purchases lightly, your wedding is no different!
Whilst weddings are a beautiful celebration of your new journey, they’re also an event with lots of moving parts and suppliers involved.
Almost all suppliers will have contracts, which will detail important pieces of information about payments, responsibilities, disputes & so much more. Whilst it may seem tedious and tiring, you want to ensure you carefully read through and understand the information, prior to signing on the dotted line!
In this post, we discuss some common FAQs and everything you need to look out for and clarify in a contract.
You should sign a wedding contract as soon as you decide to hire a supplier for your wedding, and have agreed on the terms. It is important to secure your suppliers early on to ensure they are available on your wedding day.
Yes, you can negotiate the terms of a wedding contract. However, it is important to remember that supplier will have their own policies and limitations, so it may not be possible to negotiate every aspect of the contract.
It varies per supplier. Most will require a deposit to secure their services. The deposit amount and payment schedule should be outlined in the wedding contract.
Ideally both of you, and your supplier, should sign the contract. It showcases that both of you have understood the agreement, and avoids any queries or concerns later down the line.
Make sure you understand the payment schedule for the supplier’s services, including when deposits and final payments are due, and whether there are any fees or interest charges for late payments.
Also, check for any additional fees or charges that may be added to your bill, such as delivery fees, service charges, or taxes. In some cases, where equipment hire may be involved, there will often be a section to understand any charges that you may be liable for in case of damage.
More specifically, you want to understand if your deposit is refundable under any circumstances.
Ensure that the contract clearly outlines the services that the supplier will provide, including any specific products or equipment that they will provide and be using.
Specifically with venues, it is important to understand what they do and don’t allow. Ie, some venues stopped allowing pampus grass decor – you want to understand these intricacies in advance.
Check that the contract matches your expectations and any discussions you had with the supplier. Don’t hesitate to clarify any uncertainties further, as you would rather over-communicate sooner, than be caught by surprise later.
Check the contract for any specific timelines or deadlines, such as when the supplier will deliver their services or when you need to make final decisions about your order. Ensure that these timelines are reasonable and align with your wedding schedule.
Specifically with photographers & videographers, it’s important to understand their turnover times. You don’t want to be chasing a supplier for your imagery a month after your wedding, when their contract states that they are allowed up to 90 days to provide this – it avoids any awkward communications.
Look for information about cancellation policies, including how much notice you need to give and what kind of refund or credit you can expect if you cancel your booking under any circumstances.
Also, check if there are any penalties or fees for cancelling, and whether the supplier has the right to cancel the agreement under certain circumstances.
All clauses are put in contracts for a reason, and allow both parties to protect themselves. If a supplier has their own cancellation policy, don’t stress! Simply speak to them and understand their reasoning behind it, and ensure you are comfortable with it before signing.
Make sure the supplier has adequate liability insurance and understand their liability if something goes wrong during their service. Check if they have any coverage for equipment breakdowns or damages, and understand what they will do in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or accidents.
If the supplier is creating any custom designs or content for your wedding, ensure that you understand the ownership and use of this intellectual property. Check that the supplier has the right to use any copyrighted materials and that they are not infringing on any intellectual property rights.
Nowadays, suppliers will often always post stories, images or reels about their weddings on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube & much more.
It’s important for you to understand if and how your wedding will be shared on any media platform, and to also build this into your contract if you are not comfortable with it.
Check if the contract has any dispute resolution clauses, in case of a disagreement between you and the supplier.
Understand the process and any costs associated with dispute resolution.
To summarise, force majeure is a legal term that refers to unforeseeable events or circumstances that are beyond the control of the parties involved in a contract and that prevent them from fulfilling their obligations under the contract. Examples of force majeure events may include natural disasters, wars, strikes, riots etc.
Understand the force majeure clauses in the contract, which would excuse the supplier from their obligations if an unforeseeable event occurs that prevents them from performing the services. Ensure that you understand the consequences for both parties if it is invoked.
For each wedding event, you will want to have contingency plans in case something doesn’t go the plan with the event, and in case something doesn’t go to plan for the suppliers.
For the event, this includes working with your suppliers to provide backup plans ie. if it rains for your outdoor ceremony, if specific fresh florals or food items are unavailable due to import issues etc. Your suppliers will likely have considered all of this in advance, so it’s worth speaking to them and understanding how they will act upon unexpected on-the-day issues.
Additionally, you will want to have contingency plans in case the supplier is unwell or unable to work your event. Similar to the above, they will have business continuity in place most likely, and so you will want to speak to them to understand this.
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Welcome to Real Couples, where we speak to couples about their proposal, wedding planning process, the lead up to the big day, and any advice
Welcome to Real Couples, where we speak to couples about their proposal, wedding planning process, the lead up to the big day, and any advice
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