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Things to remember when planning a long-distance wedding

Planning a Beach Wedding - The Ultimate Guide

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Long-distance wedding planning isn’t for the faint hearted. The challenges are huge; you may be worried about not being able to inspect everything first-hand and having to guess how it will turn out instead of overseeing it yourself.

Nevertheless, long-distance weddings are the rage, and many couples consider this the ultimate romantic wedding. Travel Weekly reports that one in six couples who got engaged in the past year chose to have a destination wedding.  The good news is that most of the couples who choose destination weddings have loved it and had no regrets. So, if a long distance wedding is what you want, cool down and believe you can pull it off too. We will help you with what you need to do it right. So, here goes.

Find a representative to take over your role

You cannot have everything running smoothly and coordinated without someone to oversee the plans. Enter an on-site coordinator! If you have family or friends staying in the locality, who are willing to help, you are one lucky girl. Otherwise, consider hiring a professional wedding planner. Your wedding planner will research vendors, find locations, bargain on your behalf and help you better than you could do so by yourself. If you have already decided the venue, check if they have a manager or coordinator who can do the rest of the arrangements for you. Make sure that the person you choose for the job is experienced and reliable, as you cannot afford any mistakes.

Let pictures do the talking

You know how impossible it may seem to get your idea across because what you envision translates to something entirely different for another person? This is a major challenge where your bouquets and party décor are concerned. So, take the help of pictures. Snip pictures off magazines, download them online and send them across to your representative with clear instructions on what you want. This will make it a lot easier to convey the idea and get what you want.

Be flexible with the details

There is only so much you can do to perfect something when you aren’t around to oversee it personally. Be flexible with the details and go with whatever has the least room for error. If your vendors have online links with pictures, make use of this option. Do everything well ahead of time, so you do not have to stress over details at the last minute. Trust your on-site representative and believe that whatever you get is the best possible.

Follow up

Just because you aren’t in-town, don’t delegate the task of following up with your vendors to anyone else. Make sure you have contracts with all the vendors, and are clear on the emergency cancellation alternatives. Call up your vendors at regular intervals to find out if everything is going as per plan. If it is possible, plan a trip to the wedding venue before the big day so you know everything is progressing smoothly.

With a little foresight and well-thought out plans, your destination wedding will be a smashing hit. At Best for Bride, we have the perfect collection of wedding dresses that will make you the perfect bride for the day. Check out our wedding dress gallery today and find one that will bring out your best.

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5 Things to remember when signing Vendor contracts for your wedding

You will have to work with a number of people for your wedding– your photographer, venue agent, caterers, florist, dressmakers, band or DJ etc. Therefore, it is necessary that you back up your arrangement with all these vendors with a solid contract outlining their services’ details.

The benefits of having a written contract are many, the most crucial being that

  • a contract controls your expectations on what you get
  • it allows you to take legal action should the products or services not be delivered as per the description

Remember the following 5 points when signing your vendor contracts, and you can avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Write it all down

The easiest way to avoid or solve any dispute is to have every relevant thing written and signed. Never settle for a verbal understanding; have it written into your contract, and you can enforce it. Also, if there are changes to the plan after you have signed the initial contract, make sure these are also incorporated into the contract, so there is no confusion later.

Spare no detail

Rather than just signing a contract that outlines the arrangement, make sure that you put all the specific details in writing. This will clearly let both parties know what exactly was agreed upon, and you will not have to entertain any mix-ups.

For example, if you want your band to be formed of the specific musicians you heard on the tape, make sure it is included in the contract. Likewise, if your floral centerpieces are to be designed in a specific manner, write that down in your contract. Then, should there be an issue at a later point, an outsider who looks at your contract should clearly understand why you weren’t satisfied?

Take time to read and understand every word

Make sure that you clearly understand your vendor contract. So, please read it thoroughly. Go through the clauses on emergency situations, cancellations and additional fees in detail. If you do not understand anything, ASK!

Don’t assume that a vendor’s contract is standard—if their terms are not acceptable, you can always negotiate. However, if they refuse to make changes or add the precise terms of your agreement to the form, you may have to reconsider whether you want to work with that vendor.

Specify the payment schedule and details

Ensure the contract contains details on when the amount will be settled and by whom. If the amount is paid in parts, make sure this is specified in the contract, and you are aware of it. If your parents or your in-laws are bearing the expenses, make sure the contract is drawn up in their name, and they sign it.

Get a contract copy and obtain receipts for everything

For your contract to be valid, you need to have a copy with you. Make sure you save a copy of every contract you sign and that your vendor counter-signs every additional change you make. Also, obtain receipts for any deposit you make on the final amount or any payment you complete.

Contracts may seem like a massive headache, but they are a necessary evil. To keep your wedding going just as you planned, a simple contract is undoubtedly better than none at all.

Visit us at Best for Bride for more wedding tips and planning advice.