Why a Wedding Costs So Much

Legitimate wedding professionals are not trying to gouge you.

When brides and grooms start budgeting for their wedding they are often shocked at the cost of everything. Some even assume that the wedding vendors are trying to gouge them for big bucks just because it is a wedding and not a regular party. Well, it is a wedding; and weddings happen once in a lifetime (hopefully). A regular party can be done any day. Wedding professionals know how important a wedding is and the ones who do it right have legitimate expenses they need to cover.

Those expenses might include office space, office supplies, phone service, insurance, professional equipment, training, staff salaries, raw materials to create your flowers, cake, dinner, etcetera. Wedding professionals in general really love weddings; but, like all businesses they do need to make a profit in order to stay in business.

True, there are some people out there whose goal in life seems to be to cheat everyone. That is why referrals are so helpful. When you are looking at wedding professionals there are things to look for that are an indication of legitimacy.

1. How long have they been in business?
2. Do they have liability insurance?
3. How long does it take them to return your phone call or email inquiry?
4. Do they have a business phone or is it being answered by their child?
5. Proper licensing? For example: sales tax license for product sales from the state or a business license from the city (if needed)
6. Do they use contracts? Sadly, a handshake just doesn't work anymore?
7. Does the person providing services for your wedding have actual wedding experience?

Some wonderful businesses are home-based and should not be eliminated for that reason. What you need to know about any business is: how responsive are they to your needs?

Do a gut check!

Sure the price is incredible. What a deal. How can they do it for so little? Good question: how can they do it for so little? Where are they cutting corners? Will they still be in business in 12 months when your wedding takes place?

A rose by any other name...

Why do some people get married at "The Stanley Hotel" or "The Waldorf-Astoria" instead of a Hilton or Holiday Inn? Sometimes it's the view and sometimes it is the cachet. The service may be the same. What you must remember is that you will pay extra for that view or the "name".

You really do get what you pay for. You just have to ask yourself, "Do I really want what I am paying for?" And "Am I paying for what I really want?"