Wedding planning takes time and money, but there’s also a healthy dose of emotions involved in the process. It’s easy to move from excitement and determination to worry and frustration. These may sometimes cause difficulty when making decisions, especially when it comes to selecting vendors. Unscrupulous individuals can try to take advantage of couples in these emotional states. Arm yourself with some important information to avoid becoming a victim of wedding scams.
Say No to These Common Bridal Dress Cons
Wedding dress scams are everywhere. The Knot explains how these hoaxes typically work, with many using fake websites to sell nonexistent or subpar quality dresses. Experian offers a few tips to help you spot a rip-off:
- Be skeptical of dresses priced at $200 or less.
- Avoid any websites that are based in China.
- Look for the vendor’s terms and conditions on its website. If you can’t find one, you’re probably dealing with a fraudulent seller.
To evade online scammers, it’s essential to do your homework. Research vendors, and read reviews and customer feedback. You should also scan the website and look for contact information, then verify that it’s genuine. Also, look for copyright statements or watermarks on product photos. For those claiming to offer designer frocks, confirm that they’re authorized sellers by checking the fashion label’s website. Finally, never pay in full before receiving your dress.
Phony and No-Show Vendors
Sadly, there are plenty of other ways to con engaged couples out of their money. Fake wedding photographers are perhaps the most numerous. The Better Business Bureau details how they promise amazing results, sometimes requesting a hefty deposit or quoting unusually low prices. They frequently construct beautiful and professional-looking websites filled with exquisite images that were likely pirated from legitimate photographers. Whether they show up to your wedding or not and actually take pictures, they’ll run off with your money and leave you with nothing to show for it.
Some con artists pose as caterers, florists, bakers, or entertainers, but they use similar tactics. Still, others capture financial data from fake websites posing as online storefronts. This data is then used to steal identities and make fraudulent purchases.
Again, careful research should help you tell the real vendors from the imposters. The BBB suggests asking friends and family for recommendations and requesting references from each professional you contact. It’s also important to research them thoroughly, verifying that they’re valid and reading customer reviews. When negotiating, be sure to get all agreements in writing. Most importantly, do not pay in full when you book a professional and never wire money to someone you’ve not met in person.
Watch Out for Wedding Crashers and Gift Theft
Not all wedding-related theft happens before the big day. Most wedding crashers show up for the free food and drink, but some also try to help themselves to the money and gifts you’ve received. USA Today advises having your guests ship presents to your home before the event. Barring that, consider securely storing or asking someone to watch them. Would-be thieves will either be deterred from swiping anything from your gift table or find nothing to steal in the first place.
Not everyone is out to take your money and deliver nothing in return, but scammers may eye your wedding as an opportunity to do just that. Research is the first key to sniffing out phony vendors, so focus on verifying that each one is legitimate. You can also see their track records by reading customer reviews and speaking to their references. Don’t forget to take your time and avoid rushing to sign or pay anything until you’re certain everything checks out. Lastly, take steps before your celebration to prevent wedding gift theft. With these smart habits, you can effectively protect yourself against getting cheated.
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