Sorry it's been so long since my last post! I've been so busy with a myriad of things that I just couldn't get to my blog. BUT, I did want to share with you that I recently was asked to be a "guest expert" on the Wedding Podcast Network to discuss what essentially is a dirty little secret of the wedding industry: commissions. I thought about it, worried a bit, and then decided the time was right to shed some light on this practice.
The question essentially had to do with a venue that has a "preferred" vendor list. Now, most venues have this list - which is (usually) paid advertising for the vendors on the list. In this particular case, the venue went one step further - if you, as the bride and groom, choose not to use the vendor on the list, then you had to pay the venue a fee for using someone else! Let me tell you that this venue is NOT in New Jersey.
This practice is pretty slimy, in my opinion. Basically, it appears - and I didn't review any documents and have no first hand knowledge about the deal other than the question posed to me - that when a vendor is selected from this list, it has to pay the venue a certain fee. If the vendor is not selected, then the venue wants its "commission" and gets it from the client (i.e, you!).
I haven't heard about such an outrageous practice in New Jersey, but it is routine here for venues to offer a "preferred vendor list." The vendors on the list provided by the venue, then, are not recommendations for the best vendors for you. They simply represent advertisers willing to pay the fee for the advertisement at that venue. You, as the bride and groom, need to recognize this fact. By contrast, in my role as wedding consultant, I offer you vendor recommendations purely based upon your budget and your style - no kickbacks allowed!
To listen to this podcast, click here to go to Bridal Scene #37 with Holli Ehrlich and Robert Allen on the Wedding Podcast Network.
Don't just take my word on this subject. None other than Preston Bailey has blogged about commissions recently - to read his thoughts, click here.
What's your opinion about this topic? I'd love to hear from you!
Until next time, happy planning...
