Every bride wants her wedding hall to look glorious and some will search high and low to find the perfect wedding decorator who will make her dreams a reality. If you have the time, skill and patience to do some or all of the decoration on your own, then go for it, otherwise you better mean business if you are going to find the “perfect” florist. You want to get good quality service for the money that you spend.

How to Hire the Perfect Decorator

OK, I know that no one is perfect and no decorator is 100% perfect all the time, but you at least need one that cares a great deal about her work and the brides she services. Let’s look at the steps you should take before making the final decision

1. Check with the Better Business Bureau before making an appointment with any wedding vendor. Now, just because they receive a complaint does not mean that they give shoddy service, it may have been a misunderstanding or an honest to goodness mistake. We all make them. On the other hand, if you see repeated complaints you may want to look elsewhere. (A note about the Better Business Bureau: The BBB is not a good gauge for determining whether a company treats their customers with respect. The BBB doesn’t always report when one of its members has a questionable reputation. What you can tell is if the company’s rep is horrible. If they are a member of the BBB and they have a bad rep, then it is a very good chance that company does not deliver.)
2. Check them out on http://www.ripoffreport.com. This is website that allows customers to post full detailed complaints into a searchable database. The companies are allowed to post a response or explanation to the alleged problems. Again, one or two complaints is not means for dismissal. It is the repeat offenders that you are looking out for.
3. Ask, “Do I pay for the first consultation?” Don’t just assume that it is free.
4. How much is the deposit. “Can we go over details before I give you a deposit?”
5. Ask for references. With any wedding vendor, this is of vital importance. The question is how do you know that these reference are not fake? You can get a feel of which references are real or fake by asking the former brides a few good questions like..
   1. Tell me something you feel could have been done better by Dazzling Flowers and Balloons.
   2. Did they ask you if you were satisfied with the decor the day before the wedding?
   3. May I see your pictures? (Make sure they show you a little more than 1 or 2.)
6. Ask to see an actual sample of their work. Nothing is better than seeing the real thing. The next best thing is to see pictures of their actual work, not something out of a magazine.
7. If you are using silk flowers, ask to see some of them. What condition are they in? Do they look dry, dusty or torn?
8. Take a look at the contract….
   1. The contract should state what items are being used in the decor and their individual prices. It should state whether the flowers are silk, dried or real, what rental items are being used such as arches, candle stands and columns. If you can, ask her to put down what the condition of the equipment and any resolutions if the item’s condition is not up to par.
   2. How far in advance will you set- up the wedding decor
   3. The refund/cancellation policy
   4. Set-up and take-down fees (if any)
   5. Actual time of set-up. Try to get them to do it the day before
9. Make sure that they take a look at the wedding and reception site before giving you price quotes
10. Ask the florist if you can attend one of the wedding sites during set-up. Be sure to kinda stay out of the way though.

Vicky

For weddings cheap, inexpensive, yet elegant

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Vicky’s Wedding Cost Estimator

To even begin to save money, you have to know where you are in regards to wedding costs. Then you can look at ways to reduce certain expenses. For starters, you can download a quick wedding costs calculator here. It requires you to have an Openoffice.org or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application.

Vicky’s Quick Wedding Cost Estimator

compare your wedding costs to the national average

Just fill in the empty spaces under actual amount spent and your total will be automatically calculated for you near the “bottom” of the spreadsheet.

Vicky

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Shopping for a good caterer can be troublesome if you do not ask the right questions. As you may know, not all caterers are the same so it is not wise to just shop by price. But before you go shopping all willy nilly you need some information before hand.

Before You Shop for A Caterer

• First thing you should know is whether the facility you are going to use for your reception allows third party catering. Usually they will tell you upfront, but ask anyway. Either way you will need to inquire about the price and I am sorry to say that most facilities that don’t allow outside caterers are notoriously “less cheap”.
• Know your real budget. This may seem obvious, but you should allow for unexpected expenses, which many brides don’t. The result is not pretty.
• Get an estimate of how may quests you expect. It is good to overestimate a little bit, because there are always the people who show up regardless of invitation
• What reception hall are you going to use? What are their rules regarding what caterers can and can not do?

What to Ask the Caterer

Once you do get the above information, your next step is to get to looking. Once you set your sights on a few, you need a pen, paper and a few good questions:

• Are you licensed? Do not assume that because they are advertised everywhere, that they are a legitimate establishment. A license may not seem important to you, but most local governments require the caterer to have certain health standards.
• Can we sample your menu? Set up an appointment to taste test the caterer’s quality of food preparation.
• Do you use chafing dishes? Most caterers do, but be sure to ask. If you want to keep the hot food hot, this may be a necessity.
• How much of a deposit do you require? If you have to change the wedding date or time, this may pose a problem. You may get none of your deposit back it you can’t use the same caterer. What is your cancellation policy.
• Do you have pics? Usually they will show you pictures as soon as you sit down. Look at how the food is laid out. Was it just thrown together or was it laid out carefully and creatively?
• Can I see a contract? If they don’t use one,start running! This is not good. You need something in black and white to be more secure that they will live up to their end of the bargain. And read over the contract at home before you sign anything. Do it at home!
• How do you charge for clean up? This may or may not be included in the overall price. Your family may be left to do the clean up if you are not careful
• Do you prepare the food on site or at a different location? If they prepare or warm the food on site, then you need to make sure that the reception hall can accommodate them. Does the reception hall have warmers, a refrigerator or a stove? Does the reception hall charge extra for you to use them?
• Can you give me at least two references? You want to know that they can come up with a least two brides that are satisfied with their work. It is even better to ask for three.
• When can we make our final change to the reception menu? Do not think that you are going to pick some items then be done with it. There is always a chance someone will come along and give you that “good idea”.
• Are your price quotes final? Be aware that sometimes prices may be subject to change according to the season. Ask them if the price quotes are placed in writing.
• How many servers do you use per the amount of guests? This is very important for the smooth flow of the reception. Long lines and frustrated and hungry guests do not make a nice party. One server per 20 to 25 guests is acceptable. You may need a little more if it is a seated reception.

While these questions may not guarantee that you get Wolfgang Puck, it can help you to narrow down your choices to someone that is more likely to give you a wonderful reception experience.
Vicky

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