Wedding Vendor Red Flags 🚩 (and what to look for INSTEAD)

Planning your wedding is such an exciting time! But when you’re newly engaged and starting your vendor search, it can quickly feel overwhelming. As a Calgary wedding planner with 15+ years of experience, I’ve seen how the right vendors will make your wedding day seamless ... and how the wrong ones can create unnecessary stress!

Keep reading for some of the most common wedding vendor red flags to watch for before you book... and what to look for instead!

❌ Slow or lack of communication: Taking more than 3-4 days to reply, not responding to follow ups, or ghosting you for weeks once the contract is signed is often a preview of what's to come. And you don't want to be stressing in the weeks leading up to your wedding that your photographer might not show!

✅ Look for vendors who reply at least within 72 hours, or even better, if they are the ones initiating the conversations with you to help you stay on track. You shouldn't be the one chasing them down to fill out the DJ questionnaire!

❌ No online presence: Even newer vendors should have an online footprint to showcase their business . If you can't find much (or any!) information through Google searches or social media, that's a red flag not to ignore.

✅ Look for wedding businesses that have at least an Instagram account, website, landing page or Google Business listing.

❌ No contract (or a vague one): If a vendor won't provide you with a written agreement, says “we don’t usually use contracts” or sends a one-page invoice instead, pause before you pay. A contract isn’t about mistrust, it’s about clarity & protection for both you and the vendor.

✅ You should always be provided a clear contract with (at minimum) an outlined scope of services, cancellation terms, payment terms & schedule and cancellation policy.

❌ No insurance: It seems obvious, but a lot of wedding vendors that are new to the industry, or don't have a proper business setup, don't have insurance. So it should be one of the first things to ask about before you book!

✅ Professional wedding vendors plan for the unexpected so your wedding doesn’t suffer if something goes sideways. Insured vendors are usually established, experienced, and running a legitimate business. It shows they take their responsibility seriously and will provide peace of mind on such a big day!

❌ “Too good to be true” pricing: Pricing that seems far below industry standards, has very limited details on what’s actually included, or low starting prices with many add-ons can come with many headaches down the road. And in the wedding industry, you often get what you pay for.

✅ If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. It helps to do some research with similar vendors & get a few quotes to see what typical price ranges should be. That way, you come into any negotiations armed with the knowledge of what you need and what to look for.

While not every red flag is a deal-breaker, patterns matter and some things are non-negotiable. If something feels off early on in the process, it's important to trust your gut. Your wedding vendors play a huge role in your overall experience, and choosing professionals who are organized, communicative, and trustworthy will make all the difference.

At MORE Events Co we help couples source trusted, vetted wedding professionals across Calgary & Alberta, and help guide you through every step of the planning process. If you’re looking for an experienced wedding planner, we’d love to support you, so please reach out and let's connect. And as always ... happy planning!

IG: @moreeventsco

💌 hannah@moreevents.ca