Keeping Your Wedding $$$ Safe from Bankrupt Vendors
Recently, a new client brought a newspaper article to my attention. It was about a Toronto-based planning and decorating company, Affairs with Flair, who have recently gone bankrupt, leaving many couples with no refund and no promised services. Logically, this made my client nervous.
Today’s crazy economy and the thought of something like this happening to you on your wedding day are enough to make anyone worry. But it got me to thinking – How do couples protect themselves from something like this?
1. First and foremost – Make sure you have a contract. A contact with dates, details, responsibilities, payments, etc. signed by you and your potential wedding planner. Make sure their information – address, web site, GST number, etc., is included on the contract.
2. Make sure they are a real business. Not just doing this as a hobby or a part time basis. They should have a business license, GST number, etc. Are they part of the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, etc.? Do they have a real web site? Real businesses have to spend money to make money. Look for clues like how much advertising they are doing, how active they are, etc.
3. Ask for references. And actually contact the references. Ask questions – were they on time? Did they meet all obligations? Would they hire them again? Were there any surprises? You get the idea.
4. Go with your gut. If it feels fishy, it probably is. Listen to your instincts.
5. Ask how long they’ve been doing this. Experience speaks volumes. Those who have gone to school and have learned all about how to hypothetically handle wedding planning may not fair as well financially in the long run as those who have actual experience dealing with the highs and lows of real wedding planning.
I hope this helps. Its a horrible thing to have to worry about, especially on your wedding day!
By the way, I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years, have a GST number and belong to the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, in case you were wondering.
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Tags: Affairs with Flair, Bankrupcy, Budget, Burlington, event, Milton, Oakville, Ontario, planning, Protect, Saving, wedding budget, Wedding Planner, wedding planning, Weddings