Almost every wedding-day disaster is traceable to a contract that was vague, verbal, or never signed. These 9 clauses are non-negotiable for every vendor — caterer, photographer, decorator, DJ, planner, transport, everyone.
1. Detailed scope of work
Hours of coverage, headcount served, deliverable counts, equipment list, on-site team size. "Full-day photography" is not a scope — "10 hours, 2 photographers, 600 edited photos delivered within 45 days" is.
2. Itemized pricing and taxes
Every line item, every tax, every service charge in writing. Total at the bottom. No "+ extras as discussed."
3. Payment schedule
Deposit, milestone payments, and final balance with explicit due dates. Final balance should never be due on the wedding day itself.
4. Cancellation and refund policy
Define what each party can refund, when, and the sliding scale as the wedding date approaches. Both directions — what happens if the vendor cancels too.
5. Force majeure
Post-COVID, this clause is mandatory. It must cover pandemics, government restrictions, weather, and venue closures, with rebooking rights at no extra cost.
6. Substitution clause
If the lead photographer, planner, or chef is sick or double-booked, who replaces them? Same skill level guaranteed in writing, with your right to refuse the substitute and refund.
7. Intellectual property and image rights
Who owns the photos and video? What can the vendor publish on social media? Can you opt out of being used in their marketing? All written.
8. Liability and insurance
Vendor's general liability cover and limits. Many premium venues require proof of insurance from every vendor — you do not want to discover this 48 hours out.
9. Dispute resolution
Mediation jurisdiction, governing law, and a clear escalation path. A one-line "disputes resolved in good faith" is not a dispute clause.
How Weddings.io enforces these by default
Every booking through the Weddings.io app uses a standardized vendor contract template that already contains all 9 clauses, pre-filled with the vendor's KYC-verified entity. Couples and planners get an audit trail of signatures, payments, and deliverables — so if something goes wrong, you have proof, not just messages.
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Every Weddings.io booking comes with a 9-clause standardized contract and a verified vendor on the other side.
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