Weddings - at what price?

Here’s what our panel of industry experts had to say on the issue of wedding prices and how a lack of standardisation affects different sectors of the industry.

Key Discussion Points
• Full disclosure is paramount – trying to skirt around the fact you’re planning a wedding to keep the cost down won’t benefit the consumer. It’s better to be up-front and honest about your expectations so they can be managed by the supplier

• All suppliers agreed that talking the consumer through the added value and benefits of their service will avoid any disappointment or confusion later in the project

• From a consumer’s point of view, asking lots of questions and being very clear about your level of service expectation might mean that you don’t need to let on it’s for a wedding initially

• Suppliers should be transparent about what consumers are getting above and beyond the normal service. Often this is left unsaid and not fully understood by both parties, leading to complications and a feeling of ‘being ripped off’ by the consumer

• A common problem is often the level of assumption on the part of the supplier that the consumer knows and understands the complexities and difficulties that go into a wedding, compared to other events and therefore do not properly outline the extra value and level of service

• The panel agreed that more customers should come with a budget in mind. Packages can also be tailored and customised for their specific needs

• In some industries there is a ‘take it, or leave it’ attitude when it comes to the packages. Consumers should request more flexibility and tailoring around them and suppliers should be more flexible too

• At present, the industry is not regulated. Many of the round table suppliers see the benefit of a regulatory body in principal but find it hard to see how it would be set up and run

Expert Advice for Consumers
• Come prepared with a budget outline
• Ask as many questions as you can of your supplier so that you receive the level of service you’re expecting
• Ask exactly what you get for your money and what are the extra charges, if any
• Be transparent and say it’s for a wedding. This will help the supplier to understand what extra work is going to be required
• Research supplier reputation: Websites, forums, social media and through word of mouth
• Always have a one-on-one consultation with your supplier to make sure you get along with them
• Don’t be pressured into packages and when offered, make sure you ask about flexibility
• You might be working with these people for 18 months or longer, so make sure the relationship remains healthy and open

Participants Quotes
Henry Roth
“In a highly competitive market, it’s how the services and products are marketed that makes all the difference. And the suppliers have the responsibility to make sure that all extra fees, services etc are clearly outlined and rationalized and they inform the customer as best they can”.

Matt Lee from Infinity Photography
“The level of complexity and level of service is different; however there is an obligation on the behalf of the suppliers to inform the consumer as best we can”.

Lynleigh McPherson from Belinda Franks Catering
“We’re now thinking of charging a management fee as we often end up acting as event managers not just caterers”.

Kate Browne from CHOICE
“The small print is sometimes left off which means the onus is put on the consumer to dig out the truth of what they’re getting. Sometimes suppliers can assume consumers want the full service and the consumer can feel hard done by when forced to use packages”.