Wedding Vendors and Commissions

Most wedding planner has certain vendors that they like to recommend to clients.  This is a good thing usually because they might provide discounts or have good deals.  Sometimes these wedding planners charge a commission from the vendors for getting them business, which could be a bad thing.  It is hard to tell if wedding planners are recommending vendors for their excellent quality, or because they are getting paid off.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/should-wedding-planners-accept-kickbacks-or-commission-from-vendors-2/

Kickbacks and Commissions in the Wedding Industry

We found this interesting article about kickbacks for wedding vendors.  Read here:

Preston Bailey did a blog post yesterday on transparency and vendor kickbacks and fees and it prompted me to pull out a post I have had sitting in drafts for a while.

It is a dirty little secret of the industry that some planners charge kickbacks to vendors in order to recommend them.  It is more common in cities on the coast but it is certainly happening here in Columbus as well.

This is long so click below to read more….

So, here is how it works – a planner charges a lower fee to a couple (usually WELL below market value) and then the planner shakes down vendors for kickbacks and referral fees.  They will then push those vendors that are willing to pay the kickbacks onto couples whether they are a good fit for the couple or not.

Let’s be honest here – this sucks.

A professional wedding planner charges a fee to the couple and then represents them and their best interests during the planning.  In my opinion, a professional planner should not take kickbacks or commissions from vendors for recommending them.  If they do, you have to ask is the couple getting the best fit for them in the recommendations or the best fit for this planner’s bottom line?  And in the end where does the planner’s loyalty lie?  If they are taking money from people other than their client – their loyalty isn’t with their client and it becomes a huge conflict of interest.

Beyond dealing with a dishonest planner, there is another reason this is a bad idea for you as a bride or groom.  It will likely cost you money and/or quality of service from the vendor.

Consider this scenario – Mr. Photographer charges $3000 for their most popular package.  Most business people know that they are going to need to work with a certain number of clients at a certain price to make a living.  If Mr. Photographer usually books 25 weddings a year at $3000, he will make $75,000 gross.  Take out at least 1/3 for taxes, at least another 1/3 for camera equipment and studio rental and albums and prints and other general business costs and he is likely taking home less than $25,000 a year.  Also, only shooting 25 weddings a year allows him to meet with each couple and really get to know them through meetings and engagement shoots, allows him to edit every picture to perfection and means he averages about a 1 month turn around time on pictures.

So, Kickback Planner (KBP from here on out) comes along and says, I need 15% of your fee to recommend you.  If Mr. Photographer agrees and KBP’s clients book him, Mr. Photographer is only going to make $2550 on that wedding.  Now, let’s say that KBP brings him 15 weddings out of the 25 he normally books.  His gross profit drops to $68,250 for doing exactly the same amount of work! Heck of a pay cut for doing nothing different, huh?

Mr. Photographer now has two choices: figure out how to live on less money and have fewer expenses or find a way to make more money.

Read the rest of the article:

http://blog.emilieduncan.net/kickbacks-and-commissions-in-the-wedding-industry

Money Saving Tip: Hire a wedding planner

we found this list of money saving tips for your wedding!

One of the most overlooked and misunderstood money saving tactics for your wedding is to hire a wedding planner. When your wedding budget is already stretched thin, it hardly makes sense to add another line to your budget to have somebody coordinate something you can handle on your own. However, what many couples don’t know is that working with a wedding planner can actually save you a significant amount of money — and at the same time take away the stresses that go along with planning a wedding, so you can focus on the fun part!

http://www.eleganceandenchantment.com/money-saving-tip-12-hire-a-wedding-planner/

Saving Money With a Wedding Planner

Planning your wedding can become very costly.  There is a certain kind of flair and glamour in today's wedding ceremonies and receptions.  A wedding planner can facilitate the planning process and make it a successful wedding.  A wedding planner can tell you which venders have the best prices, and also might get you an additional discount due to their relationship with a vender. 

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/will-wedding-planners-in-los-angeles-be-able-to-save-me-money/

How To Know If Your Wedding Planner Charges Reasonable Fees

How much is a reasonable charge?  Some wedding planners charge a percentage of the total cost of the wedding and others charge per hour.  The percentage of the total cost should be about 10 to 15%.  It is important to incorporate your wedding planner fees in your budget from the beginning of your planning.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/what-are-reasonable-fees-to-pay-your-wedding-planner-that-all-depends/

How Much Do Wedding Planners Cost?

we found this article for you to read about wedding planner costs!

Wedding planners can be invaluable vendors for the busy bride and groom, but many worry that they are expensive and unaffordable. The truth is that the cost of wedding planners vary widely, and most couples can afford to hire someone to help them with at least a portion of their big event.

• Full-scale Wedding Planners handle things from beginning to end, designing the look and feel, keep things organized, find and manage vendors, and coordinate everything on the actual day. They might attend meetings without you, make decisions on your behalf, and find many ways to make things easier for you. They charge between 10% and 20% of your total budget, depending on their experience and the size and scope of your event.
  
• Day-Of Wedding Planners make sure your wedding day goes smoothly, create timelines, confirm vendors, and coordinate all details on the actual day. They typically charge a flat fee between $500 and $2000, depending on their experience, the size and scope of your event, and the prevailing costs in your local area.
  
• Coordinators and Consultants Most couples are looking for wedding planners that do more than a day-of-coordinator but don't cost as much as the full-service couture event designers. The wedding planners that most hire will help you get organized, create budgets, schedules and timelines, give advice, and help avoid pitfalls. But make no mistake - you'll still be responsible for a fair amount of the work. You'll make phone calls and send emails, find vendors, attend meetings – sometimes on your own, and make hard decisions. These wedding planners typically charge between 5% and 15% of your total wedding budget.

Before you hire anyone or sign a contract, make sure you understand more about what different kinds of wedding planners do.

http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingplanners/a/weddingplannerscost.htm

Wedding Planner Pros and Cons

Every engaged couple looks forward to their big day, but the weeks and months leading up to that day can be extremely stressful.  There are a million things that need to planned and thought about before the happy couple can relax.  This is where a wedding planner can become very handy.  

http://www.myelitewedding.com/blog/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-hiring-a-wedding-planner/