The 10 Commandments 
of Elegant Wedding Planning
Commandment 4 & 5

Commandment Four
Read the contract, the fine print (and learn to adapt it). What is it about a wedding that makes people so trusting?: the romance?; the idea that nothing can go wrong--(to me!?); a feeling of complete, blind faith in the vendor? I have no idea... But I do know this: The majority of brides, grooms, and their families sign contracts without reading them--let alone reading the fine print. This is the worst mistake you can make. 

Your contract is your only recourse should something go amiss. To ignore it, or sluff it off, is like committing a mortal sin in wedding world. Let me give you an example. A couple once approached me for help. They hired a video company that promised them the ultimate wedding video: completely edited, special effects, music of their choice, the addition of baby and honeymoon pictures, etc. But after the wedding, the company called the couple to say that all those extras they thought were included, would cost hundreds of dollars more. The couple was devastated. 

The first thing I did was examine their contract. It said nothing about the added extras. The couple was caught dead to rights. They could not afford the additional expense and ended up with an unedited tape of their wedding. They paid way too much for a raw tape. They were had! 

If their contract had been specific, however, and included--in writing--all of the things that they were promised, they would have had no problem with this vendor. He would have done what the contract specified. 

Contracts can also be modified. They are not written by God or etched in stone. If the cancellation policy states, for example, that you lose your deposit if you cancel the wedding--ask if you can adapt it--for example: "In the event of cancellation, the deposit is completely refundable, provided that the vendor books another event on the same date and at the same time of day. If not, and the wedding is canceled two months or more in advance of the date of the affair (which gives the vendor time to book another event), the deposit may be applied to another party or occasion, if reserved within one year of the date of this contract." (The changes you make to your contracts depend on your negotiating skills; it's always better to get your money back, if possible.) 
The "party" or "occasion" mentioned above doesn't necessarily mean another wedding. You may decide to have a birthday or an anniversary party, or a family reunion at the property. The point is: You don't lose the money! (Cancellation policies on all contracts should be adapted, except for ones that apply to custom orders, for example, wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, or invitations.)

Commandment 5
Part II of this commandment also relates to a contract. It's called a receipt. Always get a receipt and make sure it's specific! Don't walk out of a bridal shop, for example, with a receipt that says: White wedding gown, size 10. Or, you may end up with a white wedding gown in a size 10, but not the one you thought you ordered. Once again, you have no legal recourse if your receipt isn't specific. Your receipt is your contract. Use it to protect yourself. (This rule applies to all vendors, not just bridal shops.)

<To Commandment 3                To Commandment 6>

This article contributed by 
DeborahMcCoy.com
from The Elegant Wedding and the Budget-Savvy Bride
(Penguin-Putnam)

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