Is it bad to pay off Vendors 3 months before wedding date?

I've been wondering the same thing. Planning to follow this!

Bump! I'm also wondering!

I've been wondering this too! The only things I can think of is if for some reason wedding plans might change due to a deployment or illness or cancelled wedding. If none of those apply, I can't think of any reason not to.

My videographer said it was ok also. I would ask for paid in full receipts from them after they received the full payment.

We did this because I get antsy - and the answer is...It really depends.

If it is something you are set on, and plan on making no changes to (like your photography package), sure...We did and I love it. Things like rentals? Probably a bad idea as numbers or your ideas could change. We paid off some decorative chairs and then found out we won a $250 credit with a different company. Whoops.

@laura, the only vendor that might change is our reception venue. We already paid half of our balance off already. At this point, we aren't going to add anything else on. If we have extra people then I can write them an additional check the week of.

We paid off all the vendors except the videographer months before the wedding. The videographer wanted 25% when we booked him, then 50% on the day of the wedding, and the last 25% when he delivers the finished video.

I wouldn't. You lose out on the interest from the savings account (not that it would be much, but every bit helps). Also, if you wait to pay you are protecting yourself in case something happens to one of your vendors and they can't carry out their end of the contract. What if there's a venue fire or your photographer bails? It's better to not have paid in full if something like that happens. Also, if a vendor does bail and you paid with credit card, you can dispute the charge. If you pay three months ahead, you might not be able to dispute it.

I agree with Laura. Our venue at first allowed us to rent a tent ($350), but then due to a wedding that happened a month ago, they no longer allow tents (3 stories up). So we had to cancel and change our rental agreements.

If you do pay early, ask if you can get a discount for paying early. As Samantha mentioned, they will have your money for interest instead of you. There's no real harm in asking. I asked for discounts for booking early with cash deposits, and was able to get them.

@sharon, we already got discounts for pretty much all our vendors so I doubt they could do anymore.

all of our contracts states that if any of the items are not performed at 100% or cancelled by the vendors, we would get all of our money back (100%). Not worried about our venue since it has weddings every weekend and it's a banquet hall.

Bina - how might your reception venue change? You're less than three months out!

I'm just antsy and want to pay some money now while we have it; we were mostly thinking about paying off the DJ and maybe some of the photographer. I guess I should read the contracts though about cancellation policies.

IMO, I would not unless they were giving you a discount for paying off early.

I stick to exact contract dates for payments as a sort of hedge in case anything happens. They may say that you get your money back, but actually collecting is the much harder part during civil suits.

I would say it's ok for the big things like venue and food. Smaller vendors I wouldn't just yet - I had a vendor just cancel on me 6 weeks out so you never know what could happen with those.

@jp-in case we have more guests than 150.

If you're worried about spending the money that is in your account, it takes 20 seconds to create a savings account with your bank. Move the money there and then it's "out of sight, out of mind" and you won't spend it.

I agree with @Samantha. You never know what could happen best to hold onto it until it's due.

I would not. We did for my wedding which is coming up for chair covers and sashes and I've just recently found out that they did an awful job at a acquaintances wedding back in June. The vendor didn't show up when they said they would, when they did they sent their young children to do the job and the kids ruined the decor that was already set up, in her words "things were in shambles". I was advised yesterday to back out with them since I'm 30 days out and can get a full refund. We've paid in full, and I doubt we will get half back unless they are taken to small claims court. I work for an attorney and can have him write a letter thankfully but that's if that works.

I learned my lesson. I wouldn't pay anything but the deposit that's require, so if something like this happens you are out the lesser amount.

I am. The money is in a savings account but I keep borrowing from it. I know others don't suggest it but paying as I go works for me. If something goes wrong, I will deal with it then. But there is a much greater chance of me spending the money versus something going wrong and not getting the money back from the vendor.

I really want to pay ours early too but my better judgment is saying 'don't do it!'.

I agree with Samantha on this. As nice as it would be to get out of the way, there's too much that can happen before the wedding day and i won't risk losing that kind of money.