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BmoreBride
Devoted March 2013

Is it appropriate for vendors to hand out business cards at the wedding?

BmoreBride, on March 12, 2013 at 7:58 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 48

So I got married on Saturday! Pictures and recap coming soon. As my photographer was packing up and leaving he weave thru my guests handing out business cards to random people. Several people looked confused when they received them. I didn't say anything at the time because I was trying to enjoy my wedding but I thought it was highly unprofessional. I also saw my cake lady left business cards on the cake table. Is this something vendors do? Shouldn't they let people contact the bride if they are interested in the vendor services? It just rubs me the wrong way.

48 Comments

Latest activity by Toni, on October 12, 2023 at 10:23 PM
  • We'llAlwaysHaveParis
    Master November 2013
    We'llAlwaysHaveParis ·
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    At my first wedding our photographer did, but it included a link to our wedding pictures online. She had talked to me about it beforehand and since it had the link so guests could see our proofs, I was fine with it.

    The cards were on the tables, she didn't physically hand anyone anything.

    Otherwise no. If people want to know, they can ask the couple.

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  • J
    Master January 2014
    Jules ·
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    The only time I've seen this done they weren't really business cards in the traditional sense - they were actually cards that had the link so you could view the photos after the wedding. That being said, they did have the vendor's contact info on them too!

    Otherwise, it rubs me the wrong way unless a guest specifically requests the business card.

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  • FutureMrsB (Aussie Bride!)
    VIP September 2013
    FutureMrsB (Aussie Bride!) ·
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    I don't really think your photographer should have handed cards out but I think the business cards next to the cake are fine. From memory for our engagement party our dessert buffet lady left 4 or 5 cards on the table for anyone interested in her services. I didn't have an issue with that. I would have had an issue with the photographer physically handing cards out to my guests though.

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  • Mrs. S™
    Master October 2011
    Mrs. S™ ·
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    I don't like the idea at all, and it sounds unprofessional to me.

    But I want to hear the recap and see a couple of pics Bmorebride!!!!!!

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  • BmoreBride
    Devoted March 2013
    BmoreBride ·
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    I don't think the cards had link for our pictures because he did not give me card. I will have to talk to him about it after I get my pictures back.

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  • BmoreBride
    Devoted March 2013
    BmoreBride ·
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    @Mrs S. I'll try to post my recap and pics tonight.

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  • Karen
    Super May 2013
    Karen ·
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    @BmoreBride, he might not have handed you a card because you don't need one--he'll be giving you the pictures directly. The link is generally for guests to view photos and they can choose to purchase some if they want.

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  • Nicole
    Super August 2013
    Nicole ·
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    Absolutely not. I would have been furious!

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  • Mrs. NewBeginnings
    Super May 2013
    Mrs. NewBeginnings ·
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    I don't like that at all and agree it is very unprofessional. I can see giving you the cards to hand out later if someone asks or if someone asks them directly, then provide the card. But not just randomly handing them out. I don't even like the idea of the cards on the table. This isn't a bridal show, it's a wedding!

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  • M
    VIP May 2013
    Married ·
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    That sounds SO unprofessional. Even if it had a link. I'm obviously going to be posting my pro pictures on FB and I'll have the link to the photog's blog there. They don't need to pester my guests, that's not what I'm paying them for.

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  • Rachel DellaPorte
    Rachel DellaPorte ·
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    Nope. We have heard from brides-to-be who attended a wedding that featured our work, but they get our name from the bride.

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  • Mrs. S™
    Master October 2011
    Mrs. S™ ·
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    But even if it's the link to pictures, I did NOT want all our guests to have access to all the pictures.

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  • The New Mrs. B
    Master May 2013
    The New Mrs. B ·
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    I think it's inappropriate and I would be upset.. Not hysterical crying upset, but I would certainly include that information in their reviews when completing vendor reviews! It's VERY important to me that my guests feel appreciated and cared for.. I would NOT want them feeling like they were trying to be "sold" something?

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  • Shannon
    Master August 2013
    Shannon ·
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    Yeah that's not professional. I have asked a vendor at a friend's wedding for a card because I was interested but they certainly shouldn't be soliciting sales to all your guests!

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  • Karen
    Super May 2013
    Karen ·
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    I've seen them passed out at tables or handed directly to guests after they got pictures taken; I don't see the problem if it is a link to your pictures and NOT a business card.

    I would also have no problem with vendors having business cards on hand to give to people IF someone asked for one.

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  • Carrie
    Master December 2011
    Carrie ·
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    Completely unprofessional. I would also note this in my review so other brides are aware and can address this if they decide to use these vendors.

    I would not be ok with the photographer handing out a link to MY pictures. I get to decide what pictures will be available to guests to view.

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  • Beans
    Dedicated October 2013
    Beans ·
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    Agree with it being unprofessional to just walk up and hand them out... link or no link. (Besides I want to be the one to share my photos.)

    We were going to use a high school friend of FH for the dessert table and FH said she could hand out/have cards on the table... I wasn't okay with it! It's my wedding not a expo event. If a guest asks for a card it's one thing... but for them to just be there is another thing completely!

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  • Nima Farsinejad
    Nima Farsinejad ·
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    I only hand out business cards when asked.

    I make a card with one of the couple's picture from their engagement session with a link to where the pictures will be posted (with the couple's permission).There was a time I would leave a stack of these close to the guestbook I had created using their engagement pictures but I no longer do this. Now I give these to them to send out with their thank you notes to their guests.

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  • Mrs Roberts
    VIP March 2013
    Mrs Roberts ·
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    The only time my photographer handed out his business cards is when ppl asked him for one.. He def didn't do that during the wedding neither did my florist when she was there earlier that day..

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  • BmoreBride
    Devoted March 2013
    BmoreBride ·
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    Thanks everyone. I will def. put it in my review after I get my photos back. I don't think the cards had links because when we first met with him he said he did not host photos on his website but rather he gives you a disk of images after the wedding, and that's what he did with our engagement photos.

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