Avoiding Murphies law

The first thing you have to accept when you are planning a wedding is that Murphy's Law rules at weddings!!! 

Of course you can reduce his reign by doing due diligence...Like checking references. There are two types of references:  The most common type is the client reference, this is the one most vendors give you – i.e. past brides, realize that a vendor would not give you an unhappy client as a reference.  I have seen vendors, who are under investigation for how shabby their business practices are, but still manage to find a few clients they didn't cheat to give out as a reference.   This means you are not getting an accurate representation of the qualities of that vendor.  That is why the other type of reference is the better one.  This is the industry reference, ask your vendor for their vendor references as well as ask other vendors you meet what they know about the ones you are considering.  For example:  Florists usually know who does a great or poor job with cakes, photographers know who does a great or poor job on flowers, and so on.  You can always ask one vendor about another in their category, but I would think twice about hiring someone who is happy to trash talk their competition.

Now you have a list of references, Good - Check them!!  Have a list of questions ready to ask. For past brides, consider questions like: "Were they on time?"  "Did you feel that you got your full value?"  "Was the quality what you expected?"  "Did they meet all your expectations?"  "Would you use them again?"  For vendors:  "How often have you worked with 'so and so'?"  "Do you recommend them to your clients?  Why or Why not?"  "Is there anything I should be aware of in considering this vendor?" “What vendors do you recommend?”

Also Google your vendor and see what reviews or comments they have out there, check with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office.

Price is certainly important in choosing your vendors, but realize that it is actually NOT the most important point.  But a reliable vendor, who will not disappoint you on this most important day of your life, IS the most important point.  

Does all this guarantee that you will have the perfect vendors and therefore the perfect wedding? No, but it greatly reduces the chance of Murphy finding a foot hold at your wedding!

Stay tuned and we will go into more ways to keep Murphy at bay keep your budget in line.