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

@Mrs. S, I see the point about not wanting guests to have access to all the pictures. I didn't consider that. In that case, I wouldn't mind about the link on the card if I had final approval of what they had access to.

@Karen, I know :-)

That's because usually when you look at wedding pics, you're looking at the selection of best images. But we forget there are many more pics that are often less than spectacular and that you really don't want everyone to see.

Hmm I guess I wouldn't really care. I like all of my vendors so I would love if they got some business from my wedding. So at the end of the wedding or laying on a table is fine. Now if the whole wedding they were pitching themselves would be different but handing out the cards is fine.

Unprofessional. I would have flipped if there were cards on the cake table. Of course if someone went to the photographer and asked that would be fine but not to hand them out like candy.

No, this is not an exhibit... get your own clientele...but not on my dime. If someone wants to ask AFTER the event, I have no control of that. All vendors can trust good or bad that I WILL share my experience so hopefully they still end up getting the referrals anyway WITHOUT having to be tacky with the business cards!

NO they should not, only if a guest asks which happens quite often.

At SIL's wedding early this month, her photographer left some business cards on the bar area; if anyone was interested in her service. But she got permission from the bride and groom before doing this.

No body did anything like that our wedding and if they did hand out cards, I would have been upset. I know a few people asked about our photographer, DJ and the cake and they may have asked them for business cards, but that would be it.

The only time I've seen business cards is at a table, like a cake table or the DJ table. I would be pissed if vendors physically started handing out their cards! And I don't want my proofs for all to see, even if that was his intention. I want to see all the pictures first, and choose to show certain ones to everyone.

That's tacky.

I hate it. I hate DJ banners/signs/, I hate cards by the cake too. I hate venues giving tours to prospective couples when a wedding is going on or about to go on.

If a guest specifically asks me for a card, I will give them one if I can do it discreetly, but if not, I tell them to ask the couple. (I'm usually on the program too....I'm easy to find,lol)

If I was a guest and someone randomly handed me a card? I'd be sure NOT to use them. I'd definitely mention it to them.

I think it is tacky. Unless they are doing your wedding for free which I doubt, then you paid them good money.

I carry cards in my car. If someone requests one I just ask they follow me outside. Then your wedding doesn't look like election day at the waffle house.

A lot of times other vendors ask me for me card. I discreetly drop off my cards behind the scenes so no one else sees.

Want to talk about unprofessional? At my mom's repast between her wake and funeral, my cousin who made cookies (she owns a bakery) put her business cards ALL over the cookies so you basically had to push them out of the way to get a cookie. I thought it was insanely tacky and SO disrespectful! Your godmother/aunt is laying in a casket down the street and you're trying to get new business at her funeral!? what is wrong with you!?!?

Oh Katie, that is so, so wrong......my condolences ;-(

Thanks Celia! I just don't know why the rest of my family didn't see in awe like I was. At least my FH saw the cards separately from me and whispered to me how awful it was, so I wasn't totally alone in my thought process! My mom had wanted me to get my wedding cake from this cousin, but ummm no- not after that! SO glad my caterer has a deal with a local bakery so my cake is paid for through them already and I have a solid reason to get my wedding cake elsewhere than the fact that she sucks! LOL

Yep! totally don't like this. Now, that you brought this up I will be sure to advise my vendors to NOT do this.

Now, if someone asks them I don't mind.

I would have a problem with them being handed out unless someone specifically asked about their services.

I wouldn't have a problem with, say, my photobooth people putting cards out on their table. But bakery cards on the cake table would take away from the aesthetic of the cake table, I would think.

BmoreBride - I just have to comment again to say how lovely the peonies are in your profile photo. Is that a shot from your wedding day? (And, of course, congrats!)

That was totally rude. I agree with Celia. I didn't even want the DJ to have any identifying banners, etc. A wedding is not a promotional event to drum up business. If the work is outstanding, and guests are impressed, they will ask the vendor for the card.

To me, laying out cards is right up there with the bartenders putting out a tip jar when we have already paid a gratuity. At my daughter's wedding, they were allowed to accept tips(which our guests generously gave), however, to me, it would have been an insult to my guests to put the jar out there. Some may disagree with me on this one though.

It is highly inappropriate. The person is there to do a service for YOU, not just to drum up business. FH's DJs have business cards with them in case someone asks for them specifically, but other than that, the only thing that they do to drum up business for the company is be professional and do their jobs. If someone wants to find the photographer after the fact because they like the work they did for your wedding then most people would contact the bride or groom for a referral.

If it is a link to your photos, he/she should have asked the couple first if they would like the photos being made available to guests to view, or if the couple would like to make those available on their own to the guests that they want to view them.

I think it is one thing for them to give one out if asked...otherwise it just seems unprofessional.