Tiny Details for Your Big Day: Wedding Scams and How to Avoid Them

Getting hitched is a hefty investment. Many couples even go into debt to fund their big day. You don’t want to start your union with financial hardship, but unscrupulous people will stop at nothing to swindle you out of your hard-earned cash.

With that in mind, here are five common wedding scams and how to avoid them.

If you’re hosting your wedding at a professional venue, you shouldn’t run into too many problems. Do your due diligence and research online reviews. They should alert you to any potential red flags. One bad experience shouldn’t necessarily give you pause — look for patterns.

However, if you plan any improvement projects to host a home affair, beware of contractor scams. They sometimes offer deals that sound great, like lifetime guarantees. These often cover parts but not labor — and you pay an arm and a leg to use your coverage versus DIY.

If you’re already taking on debt, why not delay major improvements until you recover from your other costs? You can DIY a garage remodel with ease. It takes hardly any effort to hang a pegboard for organizing garden tools and installing a few tall shelves or locking cabinets to keep dangerous chemicals like antifreeze out of little hands.

You ordered a stretch Hummer limousine to fit your entire wedding crew. The vehicle that arrives at your door is a different model, leaving you feeling cramped.

Another common transportation scam is charging outrageous prices for food and drinks on your ride. If you request champagne service, be sure you understand the cost.

Everyone arrives at the church on time — except the photographer. Your frantic calls and texts result in no reply.

Having one of your contractors pull a disappearing act is a nightmare on your big day. While you can’t prevent every broken-down car or family emergency, you can do your due diligence. Before hiring wedding contractors, check their reputation and references online and talk with others who used their services.

It’s hard to tell what’s worse — a no-show caterer or one that brings subpar food. You don’t want your guests hitting the drive-thru, like one unlucky couple.

Please ensure you sample your meals — those taste tests matter. Likewise, contain a place in your RSVP for guests to note any food allergies to avoid them going hungry if they have celiac disease, and you serve pasta.

Finally, you can’t overlook the post-wedding scam party. You might be tempted to save money by taking advantage of a timeshare giveaway vacation. What could be so bad about sitting through an hour-long sales pitch? You might end up staying far from your destination, all the while getting tempted to spend more money you can’t afford.

Don’t get swindled out of your hard-earned cash. Avoid these five common wedding scams.