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Just Said Yes March 2021

Officiant changes prices then changed them back!?

Lisa, on January 7, 2021 at 4:16 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 6

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We found our officiant on the knot.com met them and gave a $300 deposit with a remainder balance of $250. for our March 2021 wedding. This week we decided to postpone until August of 2021. In contacting her about our new date we confirmed her availability for August and she informed us there would be a $200 additional deposit to hold the new date and then $235 to be due at the time of our wedding. Quick math is we lost $200 by rescheduling. I told her we needed to discuss it and get back to her. The next day she told me she had an incentive and that the new date hold would now be $100 and $135 due in day of wedding thus bringing us back to our original price. So here we are already trying to deal with the painful process of rescheduling an entire wedding and someone was trying to dupe us into paying more. So the discussion now is to keep her as our officiant and call it good or find someone new out of principal. I’m not sure i want this person who tried to gouge us to now marry us but then I don’t want to lose anymore money. Help! And tell me what you would do!? Thanks in advance.

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6 Comments

Master October 2020
Yasmine · on January 7, 2021 at 4:54 AM
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I'm not 100% sure but it may be possible that she upcharged due to the wedding being moved to wedding season. I'm not sure if officiants to it, but venues definitely do it.

Have you signed an amended contract with the new date? If not I would get that done ASAP so the price cannot be changed again. I also wouldn't want to lose out on the $300 deposit.
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Super October 2021
Clarissa · on January 7, 2021 at 6:36 AM
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I agree with PP the prices could vary due to the season. I definitely would lock in the pricing with a contract. If you can afford to lose out on the deposit and feel strongly about it then move forward with another officiant.
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Devoted October 2021
Chantelle · on January 7, 2021 at 8:03 AM
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I probably would just give her the benefit of the doubt. Like others have said, August might see an increase in rates compared to March. It’s also not uncommon for a vendor rate to change when there is an amendment or the need to sign a new contract, etc (depending of course exactly what change you’re asking for and what the contract actually says about changes). I’d give it another chance especially since you got the price that you wanted to keep. Maybe don’t take it personally anymore. Your officiant realized that she might lose your business, so she gave it to you. I’d be pretty happy and see it as a sign that she values customer satisfaction and correcting herself. I guess! Up to you in the end.
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Master 0000
Judith · on January 7, 2021 at 8:38 AM
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Because she has changed back, I would go with her. She may have management fees, and still has to pay site fees for referrals, and had her business manager tell her, add on. Then they loss a couple people, or were not getting new ones, and lesson learned, went back. They have watched their income near disappear, so many going to city hall, and need have prompted the first change. Hard to punish them for that. Depending on state, but here she would get no unemployment even if she lost half or more of her work. Nice she reconsidered.
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Master April 2021
Mrs. Spring · on January 7, 2021 at 9:00 AM
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I would give her the benefit of the doubt and just make sure you do a contract
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Expert September 2021
· on January 7, 2021 at 9:09 AM
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It was nice and considerate of her to go back to your original price but I understand the frustration! I understand that vendors have to make money too, but it can be so frustrating when you are trying to plan a new wedding and your vendors seem to only be worried about making the extra buck.
Also for reference, I'm in SC and our officiant is marrying us for next to nothing. No deposit, I think we will give him $100 and a gift certificate - I know things are different depending on the area and relationship!
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