Contract AFTER the deposit!?

That's strange. My MUA provided us the contract at the same time as we paid the deposit. Can you do this in person and exchange the money for the contract? Or does she wait?

That's different usually you would do both at the same time. The contract is not valid until both parties sign. Did she tell you why?

What was her reasoning for this? I would want to read over the contact first. All our wedding vendors, once we confirmed we wanted to work with them, sent us a contact which was not valid until we signed it AND paid a deposit.

That's different. my MUA/hair stylist wrote up a contract, sent it to me to look over, sign and send back with $100 deposit.

My venue and my DJ did this to me. I don't know if this is any different because I'm out of state from them and doing this all over the phone. They told me they couldn't send me a contract with the information filled out because it's not valid UNTIL they receive the deposit and they couldn't send it empty to cover their own asses. If you can see her in person, I would call her and ask to read it over or to go over the terms and conditions before sending the money.

She just said it wasn't her procedure to provide the contract beforehand.

That's crap. You should never give anyone money without a contract. My clients send me all their information, I email them a contract, they print out two copies and send it to me with their deposit (after calling me, if they have any questions or I've gotten anything wrong...) and then I return one in a lovely gift box with a puppy and glitter.

And that's the way it should be. If that's not her procedure, then she has to fix it.

If she won't provide the contract, tell her you want a receipt for the REFUNDABLE deposit.

Good idea Nancy T!

This sounds pretty sketchy to me. If it was me, I would tell her to hand over the contract prior to ANY deposit payment or I'll find another MUA.

My limo company was that way. I sent them $300 and they sent me the contract

All of our vendors gave us the contract during the same meeting where we did the deposit, so both were done at the same time. That seems really fishy.

I had the contact in my email the same day the limo company deposited my check. It's a little strange, and most vendors don't do it that way, but some do.

You shouldn't be asked to fork over money without a contract. You need to be able to protect yourself. As a business person, one would think that she would also want to be protected by a contract before money is exchanged. If she isn't willing to be reasonable and accomodating about this issue, I'd be concerned about any stunt she may pull on your wedding day. I'd find someone else.

Most of my vendors I have sent a signed contract with the deposit. But for my cake they asked for the deposit and sent me the contract via email after I paid the deposit. I did pay the deposit with my credit card so I did have a little bit of protection. Is the a possibility for you, paying with a credit card?

I've never heard of this. However, I would email her and confirm the $140 is refundable should you, after reading the contract, decide not to hire her.

For all my booked vendors, I had a chance to review all the contracts before deciding to hire them and put down a deposit. There was one MUA who refused to give me a contract at all so I hired someone else. I would NEVER agreed to pay a deposit before seeing the contract.

What if their contract said they can cancel their service with no concurrence from you or no advance notice? As in another bride comes along is having a bigger bridal party than yours, therefore the MUA is incline to cancel their contract with you and book with the higher profit bride. This is just one of many horrible examples that could happen if you put down the deposit without looking at the contract first.

I have asked vendors to change certain details in their contract because it wouldn't be in my best interest. For example one of my vendor put down in her contract that if I had to reschedule my wedding due to natural disaster (as in not my fault), she would work with me on a future date BUT I would have to pay her future prices. I was like hell no and she had zero issues with changing it. Her current prices are $1000 more than last year prices.

Honestly, I wouldn't use her then. Even though there are many great reviews, I need to see the contract first.

A good contract works to everyone's benefit; it's not slanted towards one party or the other. But it needs to exist.

The MUA that I used worked this way. I thought it was odd at first but they had really great reviews and communicated promptly, so i took a chance. I guess maybe most people will do a trial first then proceed to hire them for the day but since our wedding was a DW this was not an option.

Once she received my deposit (I mailed her a check) she promptly forwarded the contract via a link by email. Once I confirmed and signed she in return signed. She did not cash my check until afterwords. I would say if you have email communication and asked any question you are not sure of you should be ok.