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I’ve seen clients request everything from a taste testing, to a mock up of how their wedding decor will look, just to turn around and hire another event planner to perform those same services cheaper. Planners get burned when they don’t require a deposit. It sends the client a message that your time and services are valuable. Always require a deposit for your services. Deposits can range anywhere from 25-50% of the total cost of the event.
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The purpose of the deposit is to secure a date on your calendar. Or worse, the event planner that had to serve as janitor, stuck with cleaning the reception hall, because that service was not provided by the venue, or catering company. We’ve all heard stories of event planners that ended up being the personal assistant to a needy bridesmaid because the full scope of services rendered to the client was not fully spelled out. Those things should be listed as well for clarity. When detailing the scope of services provided for the client, do not take for granted that they will automatically know what is not being provided. In addition to including basic client information such as full name, complete address and phone, this section is where you would include specific details of the event Payment Policy (Deposits, payment schedule, how payments will be made).General Information (the who, what, when, where, and how).The body of a contract should contact four basic elements: They are usually the ones who will cause you grief and/or try to take advantage of the services that you offer. Side note: It is imperative that family and friends should always have a contract. Had a contract been in place, the client would have been informed that she would have been responsible for the payment of any additional hours and/or charges incurred related to her event. Nor did the planner get paid for the centerpieces that she had created for the wedding that could not be used, because the bride changed the concept of the whole look of her wedding at the last minute.
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Since there was no contract, and the planner gave the client a set price for services based upon her word, and a handshake, the extra hours were not billed to the client. The planning experience ending up being a catastrophe, resulting in wasted time, and money.Įvery time the bride changed the date, the planner had to spend countless hours looking for a venue that would accommodate the client’s guest list. Therefore, the planner felt comfortable not using a contract. This bride was referred by a family member. A bride that a planner was working with kept changing the date and color scheme of her wedding. One story in particular that comes to mind. Relying only on a word and a handshake, these planners ended up out of hundreds of dollars. I’ve heard my share of event planner horror stories, (especially new event planners who are eager to build their event portfolio, and get their name out into the event industry,) planners who have taken on clients without having them sign a contract. Contracts can serve as a tool to keep you on task, and to set the perimeters of what services you will or will not be offering to the client. Your contract is a tool that will protect your time, reputation as well as your bank account. But what if you are a new event planner, and don’t have the funds to pay a legal professional?ĭon’t fret, this article will help you create a basic event contract that will include clauses to help protect your event business.īefore going into the meat of what a contract should contain, it is important to know that you should never agree to provide event services without a contract. For most, it’s easier to pass that task off to an attorney. Creating event contracts can be intimidating.