Vendor Follow Up

Your venue would give you a timeline of when you need to make final choices by.

Most vendors have a preference regarding payments. For example, my photographer has a place online where I can make payments in any amount, at anytime before the wedding. If I pay it all off before the wedding, great! If not, the balance is due on the day of the wedding. Same for the DJ, and my venue. Check with each vendor to see what they prefer. Some have a platform to accept payments monthly, weekly, etc. Others would prefer you just pay the balance on the day (or whenever they specify, closer to the wedding date).

As for menu choices, our venue told us that they would get in touch about 3-4 months before the wedding to schedule a tasting, so we could finalize our menu choices. They don't do it any sooner, because they have several menu items that change based on seasonal availability. So, if we were to choose our menu now, some of the same foods won't be available 6 months from now, or there will be things available later on that aren't available now. Your caterer may have a similar way of doing things. Communication with my vendors is minimal at this point, since there's not much to do except wait for the date to get closer. If I have a question, I can reach out via phone or email.

I think it's all kind of vendor specific. My caterer wanted to nail down a menu upon booking (however I booked about 5 months out). I had to put a deposit on my caterer and then they will readjust my final invoice once I give them my final headcount (2 weeks out) and I have to submit the rest of the payment. My DJ required a deposit, and the rest is due the day of the wedding but if I want to pay it before, I can. He also sent me a form to fill out that is due 2 weeks before the wedding that I will outline all of our preferences and special requests as well as a timeline of events I'd like him to follow, special announcements from him, and song requests for each special moment (cake cutting, first dance, ceremony etc.). My venue outlined in the contract that a down payment was to be made initially signing the contract, then 50% was due 90 days out and full amount due 60 days out. I actually missed the first deadline because I had my dates mixed up and they told me it was no big deal just submit payment when I'm ready so I'm paying it off today and we are about 75 days out. My photographer is a friend and didn't required deposit, but payment is due the day of. My hair person required a half down deposit to book and rest is due the day of. Cake (Publix) didn't require any type of deposit, but full amount is due 3 days before the wedding. All of my vendors have been very responsive though to any questions I've had so I think it's totally fine to ask questions, and if I were you, I'd start making payments on things as you can. We decided we'd save money and make payments in full for things and honestly, it's been one thing after another that's come up and it's stressful now so pay what you can, when you can.

Hey there, Danielle!

These are great questions, it’s good to be thinking of them now

This would be vendor specific. It would be best to each out to your venue, DJ etc and confirm these details with them to make sure everything keep sailing smooth.

Do you have contracts for each of your vendors? These details could specified in those either