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QUESTIONS page C47

I

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paying the final bill after ser-
vice is rendered? Do they take
credit cards, or does their
whole operation have an un-
der-the-table feel? Be sure to
get an exact payment sched-
ule in writing.
What is their policy on re-
funds?
No one wants to cancel a
wedding, but circumstances
such as weather or health
problems just may creep in
and force a postponement or
cancellation. You want to be
sure your vendors are not go-
ing to cry "no refunds!" and
keep your money.
What are their extra fees?
Some vendors may have
hidden fees, little extras that
add up to thousands more
tacked onto your bill. As you
get all fees in writing, make
sure that it is written that
there are no hidden fees. Al-
ways check to see if a gratuity
is included in your contract, so
that you don't tip the band
twice. Ask about overtime.
One bride was slapped with
a huge fee when the limo dri-
ver had to wait an extra hour
for the brideAnd groom to lo-
cate their luggage in a rela-
tive's car trunk before leaving
for their reception.
Are they willing to negotiate
your price?
The most professional choic-
es will be willing to discuss
your budget, and they may be
willing to give you a break on
some extras. See if they're
willing to give you a discount
or a freebie for your patronage.
Are they willing to give me
what I want?
High-quality vendors will al-
ways do their best to listen to
your wishes and help grant
them. If a vendor seems un-
available or annoyed that you
want to mess with their for-

mula, cross them from your
list. As you speak to them, are
they friendly and helpful? Do
they treat you with respect?
Do they go by the old adage
"the customer is always
right"? These are the vendors
you want to add to your short
list for consideration.
Will they be present the
day of the wedding?
Will the florist be available
should you need a last-minute
quick-fix or a replacement?
Will the caterer be in atten-
dance as the entrees are
served? If so, how will they
dress? They should be willing
to dress to the formality of the
occasion. Don't hesitate to
ask. Think of how you'll feel if
the musician you hired shows
up at your ultraformal recep-
tion in a pink tux or, worse,
black jeans and a turtleneck.
As you investigate the vari-
ous vendors for all the aspects
of your wedding, always
check with the Better Busi-
ness Bureau in your area to
see if there have been any
complaints registered against
them. This is the best way to
be sure you're dealing with a
responsible, dependable pro-
fessional, not some fly-by-
night, too-good-to-be-true
rip-off artist. Get a full report
on each vendor's professional
history, and protect yourself.
Another great way to en-
sure quality service from your
vendors is to get a referral
from someone you know. If a
friend was highly satisfied
with her florist's work at her
wedding, ask for the florist's
number.
A bride who hired the disc
jockey from a friend's recent
wedding, which she attended,
saw firsthand how great he
was at his job. ❑

Copley News Service