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October 2013 Weddings
AKBUR101213
member
Can I vent?
Ok so my family is new to this wedding planning stuff, its been over 10 years since the last close family wedding so were doing the best we can as we only have my mom and us planning this. Anyways, we completely paid off our photographer in August. We signed the contract in April. We met her at an expo and instantly liked her and knew she was it. Well our e pics were a nightmare, due to weather we had to change the date 3 times. Each time we felt like it was a burden to our photographer as she had to squeeze us in wherever possible and the last time I had to fight to get a spot on the last Sunday that would have any fall color. (She had us under the impression we could move our date freely to get the best fall color.) We finally got them done Oct 21st and were told 3 weeks to get them back. Its now been 4 and still no pictures! We feel almost like because we paid her in full she isn't putting as much effort forward to please us. Did we make a mistake paying her off early? Our goal is to have everything except the reception/dinner paid in full by next spring. Obviously since that requires a head count we can't pay that until a few weeks prior to the weddinng. Is anyone else paying things in full or is it a bad idea and a good idea to stick to the deposits and pay everything off closer to the wedding?
My mom doesn't understand my frustration, so I hope some of you do!
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Re: Can I vent?
I would save for all the vendors you have left but not pay them until it is time. So far I have only paid half of my photographer (plus our photobooth), most of my dress (again not paying for it until that dress is in and is the color and size i ordered), and out deposit on the venue. Everything else we have the money/still saving on.
Good luck with everything! But talk to that photographer and let her know how you feel! It is your wedding!
July 2007
october 2012
I love all of mine and they are awaiting payment.
I guess it's because mine still have to earn their income and I have the right to say, "No, I'm not paying you. I thought I was getting this when you gave me that" and she on the other hand can't say I'm not going to pay you. She would have to complain and convince them to give her her money back for their lack luster service.
You should be able to get your entire payment back minus the deposit. Get your money back. If you don't love your vendor 100% they aren't the vendor you want on such a delecate day such as your wedding.
However, certain people (vendors) may "require" full payment up front and that really isn't standard. For most jobs (even beyond wedding planning - renovations, large purchases, etc etc), it is done in payment plans.
When a person wants full payment up front, they have a certain business model in mind, and may be more interested in collecting your money rather than paying attention to you as a client.
I'm not saying that all people who collect in full are not good vendors - it just may be a warning sign in some cases, and then those that are paid off in full in general might not be as "reputable" (maybe a bad word choice?!) as those that collect in smaller payments.
Contact the photographer - see if she will work with what you want. If you are still not happy, read your contract thoroughly and see what options you have.
[QUOTE]Only a deposit was required until closer to the wedding. It was our choice to pay in full. She contacted us earlier in the week to let us know they would be up this past weekend. I did contact her and was firm but not a witch. She got them done a few hrs later late last night. Seeing them this morning made my frustration go away. They are beautiful! I'm still a little uneasy but hope she makes it up with our prints. Im glad I could vent with women who understand. I think we'll stick to deposits from now on.
Posted by AKBUR101213[/QUOTE]
Our photog said ours would be up in a week and it was actually two. Sometimes life just happens and they get busy. I have friends that have been married for three years and they still don't have all their wedding pictures/books they paid for. They looked at CCAP and the guy has several small claims actions against him so trying to get anything out of him the said it wasn't worth it. Glad you finally got to see them! Now post some <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" />!