Officiant Requesting Full Payment up front?

sassyshosh

Hi all! I am looking at officiant Wanda Tracey for my ceremony, and was wondering if anyone has experience with her or knows of her. She has excellent reviews on weddingwire, was prompt in all communication. We have just established that we will go with her for our officiant and she has sent over the payment invoice for the full payment up front. My mom thought this was strange to make a full payment before services rendered so the whole situation makes me a bit nervous. Advice please? Our date is 11-8-14 so coming up fairly soon. Thank you!

[Deleted User]

Hi

I would check vegas groom for reviews

Personally i would never pay upfront because then i am bound and even if something you dont like etc etc they delay refund or try to wiggle out of it.

If thats who you like may sure EVERYTHING is noted by email and or in that contract EVERYTHING and then go from there, i dont know about anyone else i wouldnt

Were using pam @ luvbug weddings and we pay deposit and rest isnt due untill 2 weeks prior to event

Here is her facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wandatraceyweddings

vegasgroom

I think most officiants tend to just get paid cash before the ceremony.  We paid ours the night before since he came to our rehearsal dinner.  If the officiant is coming to you, I might not be too worried about them asking to be paid in advance; they have to block off that time, make the trip, etc. and I'm sure she's been burned before just like most any vendor.

Can you pay by credit card?  Then you have recourse if anything does go wrong on wedding day.

[Deleted User]

I never thought of it like that @ vegasgroom well you are the best

We are paying for everything on our cc as we get hilton points (made a mental note for me) cheers

sassyshosh

Thank you both so much for the insight. 

@Chant23 I think after looking at her facebook as well as all her wonderful reviews it seems very safe and legit. I also have contract that she has signed along with email and will hold on to that. Thank you for the advice.

@vegasgroom, if you think it's a fairly common practice that makes me feel a lot better. Plus it will be on CC so if it came down to it I could dispute. She is coming to us and we are about two months out so that seems fair.

Okay I feel much better now!

sassyshosh

Wanda is wonderful. Very willing to work with me to pay day of if that is more comfortable. Anyone looking for an officiant check out Wanda Tracey.

myriah505

Sorry but I don't understand your concern. We paid for nearly everything upfront for our wedding. Hotel rooms, the chapel, the minister, the photography...never crossed my mind that any of our vendors should provide services first before getting paid. You haven't officially booked anything until it's paid for. 

destinationtake2

So far, in terms of vendors, we just have an officiant and a photographer and both just needed deposits to book but you do pay the remaining balance prior to their services.

I read great reviews for Rev. Wanda and contacted her as well. I would have used her but it so happened that the other officiant that I contacted the same day actually called me and that stood out for us. But I think Rev. Wanda sounds great. Paying now just means one less thing to worry about in the last couple of weeks before your big day.