2026 has been a wonderful year for weddings so far! My fellow florists and I have been so busy flowering beautiful weddings. With all of the weddings going on I definitely have come across more than average vendor horror stories from both other vendors, clients, and wedding Facebook groups this year.
With the increasing costs that have come with inflation over the past couple of years and prevalent scams, many couples are having bad experiences with some of the vendors they are hiring. This includes no-shows, underdelivering, and other general lack of professionalism.
Here are some ways to tell if the wedding vendors you are hiring are likely to be good quality and some notes on red flags to look for:
1. They have good reviews
Research the wedding vendors you are looking at hiring. See if they have Google reviews, or reviews from other couples on Facebook groups. While some scammers do have fake reviews, having a footprint of reviews online is something most legitimate and good vendors have.
2. They have a real portfolio
Whether it be on websites or social media pages, don’t hire anyone without seeing examples of their work. Check the ‘Tagged’ sections of their social media to see if real brides and other vendors have worked with them. If you feel a vendor may be stealing images to create a fake portfolio, you can reverse Google image search the images to see if they pop up anywhere else online.
3. They use a contract
Legitimate vendors will ask you to sign a contract. This protects both themselves and their clients in business transactions.
4. They use a professional channel of communicating
Please don’t book your wedding vendors using Snapchat or other forms of social media that can be easily deleted, or where messages disappear. Most professional vendors communicate through email or other traceable communication channels. Most scams I have seen have been where vendors were booked through Facebook Messenger. While first contacts with vendors can often happen through social media, most professional vendors will move the conversation to email/other professional channels.
5. They have average/realistic pricing
If something seems to good to be true, it probably is! If a vendor is offering their services extremely below what other vendors are quoting they are likely either scamming you or inexperienced. While everyone starts somewhere, if someone is undercharging expect there to be a catch. I have seen so many Facebook posts this year of people’s wedding photographers and DJs canceling last minute, only to find out they had offered their services at $500 or less. These vendors were likely never taking your event seriously. If they did they would charge what it costs to get the job done. At this cost couples are unlikely to easily be able to find a replacement.
6. They offer consultations before booking
Having a consultation with your vendors and talking to them is something you should definitely do before committing hundreds or thousands of dollars to them. Most vendors offer video calls to discuss their processes and go over questions you have. If a vendor is unwilling to do this I would take it as a red flag.
7. They are licensed and insured
Checking that the vendors you are hiring are licensed and insured are another way of checking that they are a legitimate vendor. Many venues require all their vendors to be licensed and insured so checking at booking can save headaches later.
While some good wedding vendors may not have all of the attributes listed, I hope that this list can help you to start differentiating the good ones from the scammers. I wish all couples the best of luck and happy wedding planning!
Photography: photofilmbyschye
About Maree Floral
Maree Floral is a Utah wedding floral company. We are based near Salt Lake City, Utah and serve all of Utah and the surrounding states.
We offer floral design services to all sizes of weddings, from elopement to full service weddings. If you are in need of a Utah wedding florist, inquire with us here.
Meet Michaela
Hi! I started Maree Floral when I was a teenager. Catching a passion for floral design when I was seventeen, I have been obsessed with it ever since! I started out making corsages and boutonnieres for school dances and eventually ventured into weddings.
I have written most of the entries on this blog and love sharing my insights on Utah wedding flowers and planning. If there is anything that I can help you with reach out to me at michaela@mareefloral.com.
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