Wedding Contract Terms and Conditions You Need to Know

D + E’s outdoor wedding ceremony at Spruce Mountain Ranch was captured by Lauren Pippin Photography. Floral decor by Eleven Blooms.

Looking at your Wedding Contract can feel a bit overwhelming. There are a variety of terms and conditions you may not be familiar with or may not think about looking into. As you’re sitting down with your wedding contract, there’s some key information that you’ll need to know to make the signing process as smooth as possible. 

As I’ve said before, it’s important not to rush through signing your wedding contract. Going through the contract and fully understanding what to expect from the execution is vital if you want your wedding day to be perfect. Once you’ve asked your wedding day planner any remaining questions, I highly suggest reading through your wedding contract in full, with this glossary of terms and conditions to help you understand your contract.

The Organization of Your Wedding Contract

Understanding the terms and conditions referenced in your wedding contract starts with understanding the contract’s structure. While each contract will vary, there are some key sections or “clauses” you should look for.

Services Provided - This section will give you an exact rundown of what you should expect to receive from your vendor. It will detail the deliverables you’ll receive, the time involved, who will be providing the services, logistical details, and much more. As a wedding planner, I will include all communication guidelines and both month-of and day-of timelines to help you understand the wedding planning process.

Travel - If you’re planning a destination wedding, this section will address any additional costs and expectations on meal/travel reimbursement.

Payment - Here you’ll find information on the non-refundable deposit, when payment installments are due, overage fees, and other financial details. These should all be clearly laid out and easily understandable. If they aren’t, you’ll want clarification before signing.

Common Wedding Contract Terms

While reading through your contract, this glossary of terms will help you to better understand what you’re agreeing to.

Force Majeure - This may also be referred to as an “act of God” clause. This clause addresses unforeseen circumstances – a natural disaster, fire, or medical emergency – and tells you how the contract will proceed under those circumstances.

Term - Indicates how long your wedding contract is active. 

Indemnification - The understanding that one party agrees to pay the losses incurred by them. Generally, your wedding contract prevents indemnification or has a “hold harmless” policy for your vendors.

Default - Addresses the reasons your wedding contract may be canceled. Some of these reasons may include non-payment or bankruptcy.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it’ll undoubtedly help you understand your wedding contract better. If you’re unsure of any part of your contract, the best thing I can tell you is to ask questions. Remember – if your day isn’t perfect on paper, it won’t be in person either!

Here at Blue Linden, we have years of experience in wedding planning, and we would love to help you plan your big day. Contact us for all of your wedding needs – we can help!