Paying vendors

Is anyone giving their vendors money as they get it. I want to slowly pay off my vendors so I don't have a huge balance when the wedding comes, but I'm nervous to give them money before they perform the service. Any advice or suggestions?

Re: Paying vendors

I'm getting married in January

In October: I paid my hall in full (for the guaranteed minimum)
In November: I will pay my limo & photo/video 90% of the amount and will pay the reamining 10% the day-of.


A lot of people say that money in your hands in better than in someone else's but to be honest ... It is a big relief to know that we only have to worry about the amount above our minimum for the hall and some small amounts the day-of the wedding.

Re: Paying vendors

I know what you mean. a couple of my vendors offered no tax, if i paid in cash. I was wondering how safe that is too.

Re: Paying vendors

A lot of people have discussed paying it off as they go and they have excellent reasons for it but we have decided to pay only when required and then finish out right before the actual wedding. I guess it's that fear - what if something happens like we get sick or someone get's hurt and we have to postpone - or even cancel - then the hall might keep whatever we gave. Plus we like the idea that we can earn interest on it in the bank (as little as it may be) for now. But that's just us - I know we are in the minority in this way of thinking.

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We did pay my photographer in cash to save on the tax. Our only payment left is when we have to pick up my proofs after the wedding. I am researching as much as I can on my vendors before we book them and having everything written into my contract. We want to have as much as we can paid off before the wedding.

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I make payments to the vendors regularly. Last month I sent a check to the limo company. This month is the hall. Next month is the photographer.

I find it much easier to pay it off in payments than one lump sum the day of. But, all of my vendors except for limo and hall, are associated with my family one way or another. So I don't really have that fear of getting screwed.

Re: Paying vendors

I just opened a separate savings account and as I get money I make vendor payments to that account (it is wedding only). As the wedding approaches anytime I nned to pay a vendor I will withdraw form that account or transfer said amount to checking and write the check. This can all be done via my bank's website. I wouldn't pay anyone early but that's just me. Why should I give them money early when I can make even a little bit of interest on it.

I tend to be really disciplined about money though. I'm one of those nuts that makes car payments to myself so I'll never have a car loan.

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I personally wouldn't feel comfortable pying anyone early also. I just keep the amount that we budgeted for the wedding in a savings account when we need to make a payment we just take it out of there. I'm also extremely disciplined with my money so this is what works for me. I like someone's suggestion of making monthly payments to yourself in a savings account and then using that to make payments when you need to.

Re: Paying vendors

We are paying as we get the bills, like Ang said I want to earn as much interest on it as I can. The balance for the DJ gets paid that night and the photographer is when we pick up proofs(which gives us a little more time to save that money)

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We also created a wedding account and instead of paying vendors early, we are putting the money in that account and making a list of what is paid for.

Like we put all the photo/video money in there, so that is 'paid off'

Re: Paying vendors

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Posted by Sweetpea130000

We also created a wedding account and instead of paying vendors early, we are putting the money in that account and making a list of what is paid for.

Like we put all the photo/video money in there, so that is 'paid off'

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We made a Wedding Acct, too. Most of our vendors want to be paid the rest on the Wedding Day. Our deposits were checks and we will pay the rest however as long as a receipt is offered.