Planning a wedding? Make a wedding checklist and learn how to protect yourself!

Reported by Margie Fishman, The News Journal at Delaware Online on Aug 23rd, 2016, there are some wedding service providers that are more scrupulous than others. According to the online article titled, ‘Ex-Google exec took away brides-to-be big day’, Stephanie Sieminski spent honeymooning in Mexico and Peru after her parents shelled out more than $21,000 for a wedding that never happened. The article also quotes the study by the Travelers Insurance on the wedding insurance claims that were reported between 2011 and 2015. According to the report, nearly one-third of wedding insurance claim payments were related to problems with vendors. Of those, 64 percent involved venue issues. The wedding experts now say to protect yourself (and your deposits) and follow their tips while planning a wedding:

• Stick to your budget and resist the upsell. At the same time, avoid low-ball bids.
• Get all terms in writing (dates, services provided, prices, cancellation and refund policies), and read all the fine print. Make sure all parties sign the contracts.
• Try to negotiate smaller deposits to reduce the likelihood of no-show contractors. Whenever possible, pay with a credit card, which can offer added protection if a vendor reneges on a contract.
• Seek out personal recommendations and do your due diligence in researching the backgrounds of your vendors. Check records from the Better Business Bureau and local courthouse. Contact references. Read customer reviews.
• Purchase wedding cancellation insurance, which can help you recoup deposits paid to businesses that close abruptly or replace damaged goods.

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