The Vendor Questions No One Tells You to Ask Before You Sign
Most vendor meetings cover the same ground — availability, pricing, style. Those questions matter, but they're not the ones that prevent problems later. The questions that actually protect you are the ones nobody thinks to ask until they've already been burned once.
Here are the ones I always make sure get asked.
"What happens if you're sick or unable to make it?" Every vendor should have a real answer — a backup person, a partner business, a specific plan. "That's never happened" is not an answer.
"Can I see a full, unedited timeline from a real wedding you've done?" Portfolios show you the highlights. A real timeline shows you how they actually manage a day under pressure.
"What's not included that people usually assume is?" This single question surfaces more surprise costs than any other. Ask it of every vendor, every time.
"How do you handle a timeline running behind?" Every wedding runs behind at some point. You want to know their process for adapting, not just their process when everything goes to plan.
"Who exactly will I be in contact with in the weeks before the wedding?" Some businesses hand you off from the salesperson to a coordinator you've never spoken to. Ask this early so there are no surprises.
"What do you need from me, and by when?" Good vendors have a clear list. Vague answers here often mean disorganisation later.
"Can I speak to a recent client, not just read a review?" A written review is curated. A five-minute conversation with a past couple tells you things a review never will.
Fay's Tip: Ask every vendor the same core set of questions, in the same order. It's the only way to fairly compare answers instead of comparing vibes.
The vendors worth booking won't flinch at any of this. The ones who get defensive are telling you exactly what you need to know before you sign anything.
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