Anyone "have" To Pay In Full Your Vendors (Dj) 2 Wks. Before Wedding?

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

I've taken a break from the wedding planning process for a few months. Burnt out? No, but I feel like I can take a breather because mostly everything has been picked out, planned, and agreed.

 

However; there is one thing that keeps popping up in my mind.

Our DJ that we have proposed hiring says it is the company's policy to have half down upon hiring and the remainder of the payment to his company no later than 2 weeks PRIOR to the wedding.

 

All other vendors require remainder payment upon arrival or services rendered day of wedding.

 

If we are paying half up front when reserving, I think that would cover any overhead. Not saying we won't do it but anytime your pay-paling large amounts of money to another country weeks before receiving a service, there's that feeling like, what incentive do they actually have to show up? Etc. etc.

 

I work in research and development and I am very thorough with my "digging"

sometimes that I feel like it's a curse. :/

 

I would like to know of any other brides had to pay for an intangible service such as a dj upfront weeks before wedding. Also would like to know if anyone has pros and cons about doing so.

 

Thanks!

[calgarybride2015]

I don't have any experience but your concerns are valid.

 

When we did our engagement photos I had to pay for the service at the time of shooting then hope he delivered the product 2 weeks later. Of course it crossed my mind that he could run and what could I do. He didn't though and our product was fabulous.

 

My resort only wants a deposit and the rest is paid when we arrive at the resort. The resort photographer didn't even want a deposit - so on the flip side what incentive have they made for us to not change our minds!

 

That said, if you did your research on the vendor, you read reviews (good and bad) then you should feel confident they will show up.

 

Again no advice but if you did your legwork I think you will be safe.

 

Ps - was thinking you hadn't been around in awhile. Which photographer did you decide on?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@calgarybride2015 thanks for your thoughts. Those mirrored mine exactly You gotta be careful when hiring services when the reviews can be skewed. That's all I'll say. Now if I can hear from other brides on the vendor, or other non commercial sites, get good correspondence, that's something I can bet on.

 

Oh my photographer, I think I'm most excited about him. He's super cool, professional and isn't pushy, offers his opinions, listens to mine. We agreed upon 2 hours of journalist style photos with a few photos or FH and I together on the beach. I'm hoping no more than 10 mins bc I want to eat drink and socialize. He's not requiring before ceremony photos like some photographers. He didn't recommend journalist style bc he thinks we need more 1 on 1 shots. We respect his professional opinion but we are just going with 2 hours.

 

His name is Gonzalo Nunez. He doesn't require full payment til wedding lol

 

Ya.. I've been away. School started back up and my oldest is in school. I spend a ton of energy planning parties on the side, and have been kinda busy with that... Just needed a mental break from my own stuff.

 

What about you? How's your planning going? Find anything good??

[AllieH]

Pretty normal for wedding vendors to expect payment in full up front. This situation isn't really different than if you had your wedding in your home state/country. If there is that much concern about the vendors not delivering, then perhaps another vendor should have been chosen. Read reviews to find a trusted vendor, and make all payments in a way that will allow the charges to be disputed if they don't deliver (paypal or credit card). 

 

We paid our resort for all of our wedding selections including DJs, excursions and spa services about 2 weeks prior to the wedding. 

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@AllieH actually it's not. Usually in a hire for service, not goods, a downpayment is required to reserve the date and the other half once services are rendered.

 

I see you paid your resort, you say... Your situation is pretty typical as I understand hotels and venues need to be paid up front.

I'm having a private wedding and reception and am hiring individual vendors that are not affiliated with hotel so it's a little different.

 

I'm talking about private vendors.

 

Thanks.

[kmk2016]

My photographer and florist will require payment in full prior to wedding day. My fireworks company I am considering also requires payment in full. I did extensive research on all three vendors and feel comfortable with this arrangement. I will be paying with credit card in case of any issues, but do not foresee any. All these are private vendors and are no way affiliated with our venue resort

Edited October 19, 2014 by kmk2016

[AllieH]

@lisanthonypoppy - Paying up front is pretty common in the US as well as Mexico, whether it's a resort-based wedding or private vendors (fyi - resorts are hiring private vendors on your behalf, so this is really a moot point). If you've found something different to be the norm in your area, that's great. 

 

good luck with all of your planning. hope your day is magical. 

 

@@AllieH actually it's not. Usually in a hire for service, not goods, a downpayment is required to reserve the date and the other half once services are rendered.

I see you paid your resort, you say... Your situation is pretty typical as I understand hotels and venues need to be paid up front.
I'm having a private wedding and reception and am hiring individual vendors that are not affiliated with hotel so it's a little different.

I'm talking about private vendors.

Thanks.

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@AllieH thanks for your help on the pros and cons. I really appreciate it.

@@kmk2016 who are you using for your photographer? I spoke to 5-6 and none of them req full payment prior to wedding ( not knocking your photographer sware just curious). It's good you feel comfortable with them, that's how I feel about my photographer.

 

Flowers, def understand that could you imagine prepping all the flowers and then not have someone not pick them up or pay, that would suck. I love making flower arrangements lol.

 

I spoke to a 2 other Djs but they couldn't match me on the price of the dj I am thinking of hiring.

 

I guess what's adding fuel to the fire is that there was a really bad review of them on here that I read right after I mentally "hired" them. And I read it, it was like a brides nightmare. So I privately emailed the company's owner and he was so upset he emailed me right back and said he fired that dj and assured me that wouldn't happen. So then later that week I noticed that bad review was removed.

 

Because the owner is so good about correspondence I feel good. Just thinking if he sends a dj that's already paid in advance, what's the quality of service.

 

So there's my dilemma. Should I go with my gut and hire them? What do you think?

 

And thanks for not getting on here and being negative. Appreciate that!

[kmk2016]

Why would we be negative? You asked if other brides have been asked to pay up front (in my case there was a deposit and a payment due just prior to wedding).... A few of us have replied that we were comfortable with that process... No negativity necessary!

 

Good luck planning!

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Exactly! No negatively necessary.

 

Just wanted to know if other brides had pros or cons of paying upfront so thanks for publicly answering in a positive manner.

 

@@kmk2016