Congratulations!!!  You’re engaged and planning a beautiful, romantic wedding on the beach.  It’s going to be PERFECT…isn’t it????  It is, if you pay attention to detail when you make your plans.
 
The internet has opened a wide wonderful world of choices to all of us, but the same internet that offers you the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of goods and services for your wedding has also opened opportunities for unscrupulous people to prey upon people just like you.  So here are a few tips to make sure you avoid heartache on your big day…and afterward.


1. What sets you apart from your competition?   (If it is only price, you might want to question exactly how they can provide the “same” service for less.)
2. What is your Florida Tax ID number?  This is a dead giveaway.  Florida law provides that each sale, admission charge, storage, or rental is taxable unless the transaction is specifically exempt. If they do not have a tax ID number, they are not collecting Florida state tax.  All REPUTABLE companies will have a tax ID number-if they are willing to cheat the state, they might be willing to cheat you as well.
3. What is your mailing address?  And may I visit you there a few days before the wedding to finalize any last minute details? If all you have is an email address and you have a problem with a service provided, a billing error, etc. you have very little recourse unless there is a brick and mortar structure for this business.  You may be doing business with someone who operates out of his car without even knowing it.  If this service provider advertises as a “beach wedding specialist” but lives and works an hour away from his “specialty” that should give you pause to wonder why.


 Don’t just look at ones published on their website. Who’s to say that the person selling the service didn’t write those glowing references themselves?  Every reputable seller has references that can be contacted by phone or will provide copies of hand written notes.

When you check a reference, be sure to ask questions like:
1. What did you like best?
2. What did you like least?
3. Were there problems and if so, how were they resolved?
4. Would you use this seller again?

Most hotels work on return and referral business.  It is in their best interest to give you good people in their area to work with and it is even better if they have worked with them directly.

Sellers of bridal services get to know each other through the events they work on together and through the associations they belong to.  They stake their reputations on the recommendations they give to their clients, so don’t be afraid to ask around.  You will probably hear a couple of names come up repeatedly as reliable resources, so you should probably include those names in your “short list” of potential providers.

One last thing you should remember-this is a team effort.  Everyone who works on your wedding is part of the team to make this a perfect day, but don’t forget a critical part of the team.  YOU and your future spouse.  You need to ask what each provider requires of you.  It may range from planning the appropriate amount of time to take formal shots of the wedding, to signing the contract and returning it by a certain date.  Don’t be afraid to talk money right now-this is NOT the time to be coy. You need to receive IN WRITING precisely what you will receive for precisely what amount of money and in precisely what time frame.  This kind of agreement is something they owe you and you owe them.  Everything should be agreed upon and understood clearly before your ceremony.  That way, you can relax and enjoy your wedding.  Isn’t that why you decided to be married here in the first place?