Planning a wedding? Know the red flags so you don’t get scammed out of thousands of dollars

Digital News Video Producer

Couples spend thousands of dollars on average for a wedding. They’re costly and complex, especially when working with multiple vendors.

If you don’t watch out for these red flags, you could be scammed out of thousands of dollars.

“Scammers love to prey on emotions, and planning a wedding is a highly emotional time,” said Claire Rosenzweig, the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Metro New York.

She tells us common red flags couples should look out for while planning a wedding.

Always research potential vendors

Scammers will pose as wedding vendors like wedding planners, photographers, caterers and venues by creating websites and profiles with fake or stolen pictures, videos, and testimonials to appear legitimate.

A great place to start is by asking trusted friends and family for their recommendations. Take time to look up the vendor online and check customer reviews. If there are multiple profiles of the same person but on different websites, that is a red flag.

“If you don’t find the vendor in bbb.org, if you can’t find any user experiences, that’s a red flag right there,” Rosenzweig said.

Meet vendors in person

If a potential vendor is difficult to reach or unwilling to meet in person, Rosenzweig said that’s a red flag.

Before signing any contracts, meet vendors in person to ask questions and get a feel for their work.

Scammers can easily steal videos or photos from other websites, so it’s always best to meet in person.

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Get everything in writing

Once you’ve narrowed down your vendors and talked through expectations, make sure everything is in writing. Don’t send any money until you’ve signed a contract.

“If they don’t want to share the contracts up front of you to review, that’s a red flag,” Rosenzweig said. “Legitimate, reliable vendors want you to understand what the agreement is.”

Make sure the contract clearly lays out the cancellation policy, including anything that happens if the venue shuts down before your wedding. This is where buying wedding insurance could give you peace of mind.

Pay with a credit card

Scammers love to ask victims to pay by wiring money or cryptocurrency. No legitimate vendor will ask you for these payment methods.

“We always recommend using a credit card, which has the most legal protection,” Rosenzweig said.

Be wary if a vendor asks you to pay the full cost upfront or almost the full cost upfront.

“Deposits are normal, but you don’t want to pay more than a fraction of the total until the wedding is over,” Rosenzweig said.

Don’t rush into a big decision

Never let a vendor rush you into making a quick decision on a big purchase.

“This is a major investment, it’s a major decision, it’s highly emotional, and they should respect that and take their time with you,” Rosenzweig said.

How to report a wedding vendor scam

If you believe you’ve given your money or your personal information to a scammer, freeze your credit. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.