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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.

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Planning and putting together a wedding emergency kit

via Best for Bride

You may have planned every detail of your wedding up to the very last bit, and be certain that everything will progress smoothly without hassles. While this optimism is good, it is also important to remember that a wedding emergency can happen at any time; and believe us when we say they do!

A few helpful items are all it takes to keep you safe and prepared for such situations; these are what make a wedding emergency kit. Let us take a look at what you should pack and carry in your bride’s survival kit.

Must-have’s

To decide on what to put into your survival kit, first think of what all could go wrong on the day. This will help you decide on what would be required to fix the issue, if it arises.

Your kit should also include all the things that you will require to freshen up and look great throughout the day. The following list covers all the essentials

  • Water
  • Make-up and nail polish to touch up with
  • Hairspray
  • Compact with mirror
  • Sunscreen if it is an outdoor ceremony
  • Small stash of perfume
  • Comb/hairbrush and bobby pins/hairpins
  • Extra earring backs
  • Emergency sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, small scissors and safety pins
  • Face towels or wipes
  • Breath mints
  • Nail file
  • Sanitary napkins/tampons
  • Stain removal sheets
  • Vaseline to line your shoes with, if they begin to pinch
  • Scotch tape
  • Aspirin or Paracetamol
  • Band-Aids

Extras that help, and how to pack it all up

You can also add a quick snack like a cereal bar or biscuits; nothing messy, nor ones that crumble. Carry few lint removal sheets and throw in few straws, so you can have a drink before the ceremony, without having to touch up your lipstick.

All these essentials are small items which can be neatly packed into a medium-sized clutch or toiletry bag. You can choose a pretty little bag that is inconspicuous and can be carried around without drawing attention. Put your maid of honor in-charge of it. Make sure she puts it in a place which is easily accessible, so you can get to it whenever the need arises.

You could also put together a similar bridesmaid’s survival kit, for all the likely mishaps your bridal party may end up with. Another one can be arranged for the groom’s party too. These kits could include lint rollers, extra pairs of socks, an emergency sewing kit and corsage pins.

A ready made solution to the rescue

For some brides, just thinking of all that could go wrong on the day can be stressful. If you are such a worry wart, get your mother, sister or friend to put your kit together for you. Or even better, buy a ready made kit that has all the essentials packed neatly and ready to be taken with you on the day.

The Brides Fashion Emergency kit from Best for Bride is such a kit that contains all the essentials to rescue you from any wedding day crisis. Ensure that you are covered for any wedding emergency that may pop up by ordering it for yourself, and put all your wedding day fears to rest.

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Wedding Dresses Emergency Solutions

Murphy’s law states that “If something can go wrong, it will” and even if it seems like such a pessimistic point of view, bad things have happened to wedding dresses on wedding days. You can’t prevent everything from happening to your wedding dress, and if you are one of the many unlucky brides who have wedding dress disasters, make sure you can fix it.

The Wedding Dress Kit

It’s not hard to create a kit that will fix most wedding dresses and most of what you need will probably fit in a small vanity bag. If you plan it well enough, you can even fit enough in there for your bridesmaids dresses as well. You don’t have to hold the kit yourself, so hand it to someone who will know what to do with it when the time comes.

wedding dresses

Giving Your Dress CPR

Here is a list of a few useful things that you can stick inside the kit:

Double sided tape- ever see the red carpet on those film awards nights and wonder how the celebrities keep the dress in place like it was defying gravity? Well, this is how most dresses are held in place and how many actresses are saved from discomfort as well as embarrassment. This tape can also be used to fold hems and edges that may have unraveled.

Safety pins- don’t go for the dressmaker’s pins because you are not a dressmaker’s mannequin that can stand being pricked while wedding dresses are made. Safety pins are also more likely to hold whatever it is that needs to be held in place better.

bridal gowns

Stick-On Crystals- these are especially useful for wedding dresses that are embroidered or with little gems sewn into the design. It’s also good for covering up little stains.

Stain Remover Sticks- obviously to get bigger stains out from wedding dresses that have met accidents. You can find these near or on the detergent aisle at the supermarket.

Talcum powder – if the stains are too tough for the stain removers, you can cover it up with talcium powder if your dress is white.

A Small Sewing Kit- like the ones you find in hotels, or just improvise one. All you need is a needle, some thread and a small pair of scissors to cut it with. Scissors are also useful for wayward threads on bridal gowns.

A Little Effort Goes a Long Way

It’s not expensive to create your own wedding dress emergency kit, at most it will cost you $20, even if you don’t have any of the items readily available at home. It will also keep your mind off your worries because you know that if something goes wrong, you will be able to take care of it.

For Keeps Having a story to share about how you fixed your wedding gown will be a trip one day, and you can even show the “scars” on your dress to prove it. One thing that you should do before putting the dress away and make sure that it will not end up ruined is to have it dry cleaned before storing it.

For evening dresses, Toronto only has one source. For wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses in Toronto, visit BestForBride.com.