Vendor - No Shows?

Please say they had an amazing reason for not showing up.

That's just unconscionable.

I didn't have any no-shower vendors.. which is a very good thing, because we certainly didn't have back up plans.

O&S - that's awful! But I'm glad your mom and uncle picked up the slack, lol.

I don't have a back up plan but that may be something to put into the contract. If the person/company you're hiring can't fulfill their duties, what are THEY going to do to ensure the wedding isn't interrupted.

Shit, I didn't even think this would be a possibility. Now I have to think about this.

I would have never thought of having a back up plan. But if someone didn't show up, you can bet I'd be asking for my money back.

I don't think vendor no shows are a really common thing that you have to be especially worried about. It's good to check if your vendor has a back up plan. Most people we work with do have a back up plan.

We are in the situation that the band we "hired (they didn't want to do a contract and said they didn't do deposits)" way back in the spring... hasn't responded to me in months....makes me super anxious. They are great musicians and we would love to have them...they are local and I know them (not well but its a small town) I feel so awkward about it all...Like I have been stalking them to make sure they are coming and no response yet.. I don't want to be a bridzilla.... I think I will wait until Monday and if I haven't heard from them I will have to do something (I am already researching other options)...I am like 2 1/2 weeks from my wedding and my venue isn't very close to things.

My DJ had informed us his wife was due just around the wedding day. He had a backup plan as he brought an additional DJ with him. We got two for the price of one.

I had no back up for any of the other vendors but had no doubt they would be there.

Northern MN; are you having doubts? If you have any doubt, either find a different vendor or have a plan B. If you have doubt, speak with the vendor and share your concerns.

Amberrdoo...I wish it was as easy as speaking with them...they honestly haven't returned any form of method I have reached out to them at for the past 3 months....so yep very anxious. Starting to look at other options but due to the small towness that makes it hard and because I would really like them to play (that has been the plan).

My boss just attended a wedding where the officiant didn't show up. Seriously. It seemed like this was more of a scheduling issue (it was a DW in Georgia, and the wedding planner booked everything including the officiant, and my boss thought it seemed like the wedding planner dropped the ball), but how do you not like triple quadruple check that the OFFICIANT has the right day and time?? They didn't even realize it until about 10-15 minutes before the ceremony.

Apparently a good friend of the couple was a ship's captain in the Coast Guard so he was authorized to marry people. I didn't even know ship captains could do that off their ships. My boss said it ended up being a really great ceremony because the friend was really entertaining and knew the couple well.

But seriously. The officiant.

I did not have any vendors no show but early the week of the wedding I sent a group email to all the vendors. I let them know who my day of contact would be (my sister) and her cell number. I also listed all of them out along with their contact phone information and asked them to confirm. I didn't realize it until Friday but the only one I didn't hear back from was my caterer and at that point I figured screw it if they no show I'm ordering pizza it will go great with all the wine.

This my BIGGEST fear. I can't seem to shake the worry. Me and FH were brainstorming alternate plans yesterday. I hope the saving we are making with vendors really don't come at a bigger cost later on. I think we will get insurance.

I officiated a wedding once where the florist didn't show. I forgot the reason, but I do think they arrived in time for the reception. The bride was in tears, but the venue had some silk flowers on hand and we all pitched in and whipped up some impromptu bouquets and she ended up getting down the aisle in fine style.

Your vendors should all be checking in with you (or your coordinator) in the week before the wedding. If you don't hear from them, take the initiative and give them a call. It will give you tremendous peace of mind.

It's also a good idea to ask what their backup plan is when you interview them. A professional will always have a Plan B in place, because you never know!

Re Lori's tale of the no-show officiant, you would not believe how many couples we have that change the time of the ceremony and neglect to tell the officiant! Luckily, our officiants double and triple check the time several times in the month before the ceremony. It's amazing how many times their double-checking reveals that a new time has been decided upon (usually 30-60 minutes in one direction or the other of the original start time).

Moral of the story--if you change your time, be sure to let all your vendors know--especially the only one you need to make it legal!

Omg. One of my friends recently had a bachelor party in Canada. One of his groomsmen couldn't cross the border because he had a DUI from like 10 years ago or something. So crazy.

Oh GOD! Let me add this to my list of million things to worry about In most of our contracts there is a section that explains if the vendor I hired is not available someone equivalent to them will fill in for them. I just hope we don't have to cross that road.

Northern MN; I had some difficulty with my florist and caterer with returning communication. Sounds like you are talking about your band?? I found both of them better to deal with via text. Then when I needed to send an email, I texted to let them know to be on the look out.

Sometimes the creative types are the least professional just because they don't have that "business" frame of mind. Come to think about it, my DJ took awhile to return emails as well.

Is it just one person or a group? Do they have Facebook where you can send a message? How did you find them? Do they have a god reputation with brides?

We didn't have any vendor no-shows but my best friend did at her wedding! They had hired a violinist for their ceremony music and he didn't show up...not even a phone call. Luckily after everything was over they were able to get in touch with him and get their deposit back in full but it was such an odd situation. He claimed he got lost but I think he honestly either double booked or just wasn't professional and didn't keep a schedule.

All of my wedding vendors showed up and were on time. The only thing that peeved me a little bit was that my contract for the day of the wedding was to have my photographer (who did my engagements) and a second shooter (someone he has worked with in the past). The day of the wedding, two random guys showed up on time - I asked who they were and where my actual photographer was, and they both said he would be there soon. Needless to say, he didn't show until after the ceremony.

My friend, however, had her caterer no show. She got married an hour outside of Austin, TX, and there was only one restaurant within 30 minutes of the place. They thankfully were able to whip something up, but they didn't have enough food for everyone. Turns out the caterer went out of business (rumor is bankruptcy).

I learned from her caterer horror that I need to call all of my vendors - so that's what I did. The day before my wedding I called each vendor, confirmed time they would be there, confirmed ceremony and reception address, and gave them my coordinators name and number.

MUA was a no show. I sort of had a feeling. She is a friend who does it on the side. She put it on her calendar very early on but when I didn't hear from her closer to the date, I sort of knew (I think I did all along really). No big deal because I had thought about doing my own anyway.