Although the wedding is one of the most important parts of one’s life, planning for it is exhausting. Not only do you have to begin preparing at least 12 months in advance, but you may also face disappointments when working with unreliable vendors, dealing with nosey relatives, and having a limited budget.
This is why many couples approach a wedding planning assistant because they can help manage all the preparation and allow the newlyweds to focus on more important aspects of the wedding. Unfortunately, cases where scammers ruin a couple’s wedding by simply vanishing right before the wedding are not that uncommon. Fraudsters act normal in the beginning, sometimes going the extra mile to fulfill the couple’s wishes, and then suddenly disappear without a trace with their money and plans left hanging in the air.
But what are the signs of a wedding planning scammer? Can you protect yourself from such unfortunate events? Let’s find out.
Learn to seize the signs
Spotting a wedding planning scammer is similar to any kind of online scammer, and it unusually includes something too good to be true along the way. Watch out for:
- Fake reviews, mostly posted during the same time;
- Scarce credentials and no details about insurance coverage;
- Unrealistic low prices compared to the market;
- Vendors avoiding to meet in person to discuss wedding details;
Ideally, check the email address and website details to ensure you’re not in danger of a data breach. Some of the signs of a risky site include checking the SSL certificate, being wary of ads and popups, and watching out for suspicious URLs. The first visual cue of a site that might be malicious is a poor design and a combination of typos― and this is where you exit the website.
Insist on meeting in person
There are so many aspects to iron out for the wedding, from determining your budget early on to having the final dress fitting the final week before the event. In many cases, it’s best to meet in person with the wedding organiser to talk things through and get what you want.
But if that person refuses to meet and only relies on texts and phone calls, this is another red flag to catch early on. You might have to meet to see different venues, meet with florists, and create or plan the menu, so it’s necessary to get to know the wedding planner assistant.
Demand for a contract
Getting everything in writing is the best way to ensure you’re not scammed. Contract detailing services, expenses included, and cancellation policies need to be discussed and written in a contract, as this is how you protect yourself, your money, and peace of mind from unwanted action.
Make sure you carefully read everything to avoid getting a surprise mid-wedding planning on additional costs. It can be easy to get carried away and trust the organiser, but you never know how some may try to make easy money by fooling couples.
Watch out for other types of scams
It is not only wedding organisers who are scammers who can be dangerous ― other wedding collaborators can be fraudsters, too. For example, shady venues with unrealistically low prices will require a large deposit upfront or change the terms of the booking policy without announcing, so always visit the venue in person to check its safety.
Photography scams can also happen quite easily since fraudsters can forge their portfolios with stolen images. These so-called photographers will ask for payment in full or a large deposit but never show up at the event. In other cases, when they do come to the wedding, they demand extra money and will not provide the photos until you pay.
Rely on reviews and independent research
Take time to research wedding organisers, venues, and vendors thoroughly before reaching out to a few potential collaborators. Check out reviews on multiple platforms and watch out for the legitimacy of the people writing, as they, too, might be bots or scammers.
See if close friends or acquaintances have worked with certain wedding planners, as this might be the easiest way to find someone reliable to work with. However, independent research and coming to your own conclusions are safer than making a decision based only on reviews online.
What should a wedding checklist look like?
If you’ve discussed with a wedding organiser and consider there are way too many things to consider, check out a checklist, and you’ll be convinced of the necessities of a wedding. Even if you plan to scale it down a bit, there are still things you need to sort out.
For example, if we’d consider a monthly checklist, here are some things you must sort out:
- 12 months early on: guest list, venue, budget;
- 11 months early on: hiring priority vendors, from the photographer to the DJ;
- 10 months early on: wedding invitations, wedding dress shopping;
- 9 months early on: sending save-the-dates:
- 8 months early on: fittings, meeting florists;
- 7 months early on: booking dinner venue, ordering rentals;
- 5-6 months early on: booking honeymoon and transportation:
- 4 months early on: final tasting with caterer and hair and makeup trial;
- 3 months early on: writing vows, creating a menu, ordering invitations;
- 2 months early on: wedding and rehearsal dinner invitations, marriage license;
- 1 month out from the wedding: seating charts, final venue walk-through;
As you get closer to the wedding date, you may notice how many small but significant tasks pile up, such as the final dress fitting or practicing your vows. While things don’t have to be perfect, they must at least follow your standards so you’ll have the wedding of your dreams.
Are you ready to navigate through wedding planner scammers?
Planning your wedding can be challenging, but working with a specialised wedding assistant can be considerably helpful. Unfortunately, with so many couples scammed right before the wedding date, you must be more careful with who you work with. Look for signs of fraudsters and take a step back when they require full pay or refuse to meet in person.
Written by: Bogdan
