Dealing with Tardy Wedding Service Providers
No matter how organized your wedding planning is, you need to be prepared for the unexpected, like late vendors. Traffic, illness, poor directions to the site—many factors can cause a vendor to be tardy. Make the most of it and don’t let it ruin your big day. You can also take a few preventative measures to keep lateness in check.
“If a vendor is late and it doesn’t affect your wedding too much, address it after the event,” says Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events in New York City. “Work around the problem; if a minister is late, do photos first, then have cocktails, and perform the ceremony afterwards.” Your main goal in an unfortunate situation involving a vendor is to make sure your day continues with few changes. Also, do not pull the vendor aside when they arrive to “have it out;” deal with the repercussions the next day or shortly after the wedding.
If your florist doesn’t show up for the wedding, that’s more serious. “If the florist missed the ceremony, you didn’t have flowers,” says Bobish. “Make sure you have copies of your contract and any other communications,” she adds. “If you feel you’re owed a refund, you need all the written material.” Sometimes a vendor overbooks himself, and, while the same rules apply as far as refunds go, think twice before recommending his services.
Luckily, reliable vendors always have an emergency contact, which is often written into the contract. “If a vendor is sick, they should call you immediately to let you know who will be taking over,” says Bobish. Should you be stuck in a position where there isn’t a replacement, improvise! “If the photographer is late, and there’s no substitute, tell guests to snap as many photos as possible,” says Bobish. If you have a talented friend or relative in attendance, put them to work!
To save yourself as little grief as possible, have a list of all vendor contacts, and provide it to a reliable person on the day of your wedding. “Give it to your maid of honor or your mom,” says Bobish, or to your recommended “wedding day drill sergeant.” “Within a half hour of a vendor being late, have them start to make calls.” If you know someone’s not going to make it on time, make the best of it, move on, and remember the true meaning of the day.
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