Planning a wedding? Some tips to avoid getting ripped off

Planning a wedding can be fun and exciting. However, it can also be stressful creating your perfect day. Going into a wedding with no knowledge of where to begin is normal. In fact, many who have planned their own weddings wish they would’ve known a few more things before making any final decisions. Before you start to plan, consider all your options.

With many vendors to choose from for wedding purposes, you don’t want to just choose anyone. Be cautious of what you invest in when planning.

Better Business Bureau offers these tips for planning a wedding:

■ Look at online reviews from past customers sharing their experiences. Also, ask family and friends for recommendations.

■ Find out how many people are using the business’s services to avoid paying a business that might close before it can provide the product or service.

■ Double-check prices if you’ve learned about a vendor at a bridal expo or other special event. Make sure you ask if prices are the same after the event. Be careful of high-pressure sales tactics to make you commit on the spot.

■ Ask for a list of all fees before committing. Some caterers, hotels or reception venues try to charge extra for “plate splitting,” “cake-cutting” or “corkage” fees.

■ Ask how the transportation company handles problems if you aren’t satisfied and what they will charge if you need the vehicle longer on your wedding night. Don’t pay the entire amount in advance.

■ Don’t rely on a website, demo tape or phone conversation when hiring a band or other music service. Find out where you can hear the musicians play before you hire them. Ask who will actually perform at the reception and get a written commitment, including the amount of time they will play and costs to extend the time the night of the event.

■ Make sure your wedding dress and bridesmaid dress order specifies new merchandise, sized to fit you and your bridesmaids. Remind the shop of your schedule in advance. Keep time and cost for alterations in mind.

■ Find out when and how pictures/videos will be delivered, whether you will have the option of getting all the images on a DVD or CD, how much time you’ll have to choose the pictures and whether other members of your family or wedding party will have access to them when hiring a photographer/videographer.

■ Ask how the florist will handle any last-minute substitutions and charges.