For couples who are considering marrying in Prague or the Czech Republic for year 2021 it is highly advisable to lock in your date and your vendors now. Many couples who were to have married this year have postponed to next year which means getting the right vendors (wedding planners, venues, hair & makeup artists, photographers and etc) will be a lot more competitive.
Usually with the destination market couples book anywhere from 3-12 months out. For couples having an elopement wedding the timeframe is even shorter. As of this writing (July) 90% of our destination weddings for year 2020 have postponed to next year. Naturally many of the dates they chose are those ‘premium Wedding Dates’ – usually Saturday’s and in the summer months. Suffice it to say, next year will be very busy – and thankfully so!
To make your lives easier we have put together a mini list of things that you can do now to make your lives as stress free as possible.
1. CHECK THAT YOUR VENDOR HAS AVAILABILITY
It goes without saying that locking in your vendors with a contract will be very important. When contacting them it is best to inquire about their availability and then proceed accordingly.
2. SCHEDULE VIRTUAL TOURS/CONSULTATIONS
With technology most of what can be shared in an in-person meeting can be communicated via video. Skype and Zoom are wonderful ways to get in touch. I personally think this is the best approach as opposed to emailing back and forth. It is also a great way to ascertain wether or not you are able to communicate fully your ideas and vision and to see if the other party is on the same page with you.
3. ASK ABOUT THE RETAINER/DEPOSIT
Usually, you need to pay a retainer and sign a contract to secure a vendor for your specific wedding date. Different vendors have different policies when it comes to the retainer and the payment. In case of a postponement you will want to know exactly what the vendors policy is regarding this. For my clients who postponed this year – we offered a free postponement to a new date – as long as that date is still available. There are no penalties for moving dates.
4. UNDERSTANDING THE VENDOR POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION POLICY.
Don’t wait until the last minute to find out what each vendors policies are. The last thing you will wish to deal with is paying for one vendor, moving the date and then being forced to pay for a new vendor. Each vendor has different payment policies, and you need to figure out the one that’ll give you the most peace of mind. If they are unavailable for your rescheduled date, do they offer refunds? Partial refunds? Will there be another person on their team handing the day in place of themselves? These are all questions you should be asking right now.
5. ASK HOW FLEXIBLE THEY CAN BE.
It all comes down to connections. Connections with your wedding planner (and the connections they have with their vendors), your photographer and everyone involved in your wedding all down the line. Flexibility is key to a successful business but this is a very trying time for many small businesses. If there is a part of their policy that you are uncomfortable with, ask them how flexible they can be.
6. DO NOT WAIT INQUIRE NOW.
Peace of mind comes when you have all of the details worked out in advance (and in writing). The more prepared you are for any eventuality the better off you will be.
{Prague wedding photographer / lifestyle photographer / pre wedding photographer available worldwide}
American photographer Kurt Vinion has been creating the highest standard in weddings in Prague since 2008. Known for his atmospheric and beautiful portraits as well as his reportage style, Kurt is regularly called upon to capture couples wedding days all around Europe.
Interested? Contact us today as we would love to work with you!
Prague Wedding Planners – the 5-0
Are you considering Prague for your elopement or destination wedding? Unsure about which wedding planners to contact? If you are in need of an honest and reputable wedding planner I would be happy to assist you based on your needs. Some agencies focus only on luxury (or foreigner) weddings, while others are best for the smaller, more intimate experiences. While other agencies are brilliant at having a stylish website – complete with models and fake weddings (styled shoots) but fail when it comes to the type of services brides and grooms come to expect.
As an American with over 12-years of international experience in weddings, I know which ones you can trust and which ones you should stay away from. More importantly as I believe strongly in transparancy and honesty – I would be happy to offer you my unvarnished experience as well as the opinion of my previous clients.
There is no quid pro quo.
If you wish to chat about your needs please feel free to contact me.
