7 Red Flags to Watch for When Booking Wedding Vendors

Let’s just call it what it is — weddings are expensive.

Whether you’re working with $15K or $40K, it’s still a lot of money.

So if you’re going to be handing over all that cash?
You want to be sure the people you’re hiring aren’t going to stress you out, ghost you, or ruin your vibe on the day you’ve been dreaming about.

Now, nobody’s expecting perfection.

Sometimes things go wrong, and that’s life.

But a lot of the biggest vendor disasters?

You can actually see them coming — if you know what to look for.

That’s what this post is here for.

These are the red flags to watch out for before you book anyone — so you don’t end up regretting that “good deal” or ignoring your gut when something feels off.

Let’s talk about it.

1.) They Take Forever to Respond (Or Don’t Respond at All)

If someone is taking forever to reply before you’ve paid them, best believe it’s not getting better after they get your deposit.

And no, they don’t have to reply in 2.5 seconds — they’re humans, not chatbots — but if it’s taking 3, 4, 5 days to hear back, or you’re getting ghosted?

Red flag.

You shouldn’t have to follow up multiple times to confirm your own booking.

And if they don’t acknowledge your questions or miss things in your message?

That’s not just a communication issue — it’s a sign they’re not really paying attention to your wedding.

2.) Their Pricing Is Vague or Confusing

You ask for a quote and all they say is “it depends.”

Okay... depends on what, please?

A professional vendor should be able to walk you through their pricing structure, even if it’s custom.

They should explain what’s included, what’s extra, and why.

If their prices feel all over the place or if you ask for a breakdown and they can’t give you one — that’s not just confusing, it’s risky.

You need to know exactly what you're paying for.

Clarity is non-negotiable.

3.) They Don’t Use a Proper Contract

If someone tells you "oh don’t worry, we don’t really do contracts," please worry. Worry a lot.

A real, professional vendor will always have a contract that outlines what’s included, what happens if you cancel, how payments work, what happens if they don’t show up, etc.

And also if you’re squinting to understand it, ask questions.

A vendor who gets defensive when you ask about the contract?

Redder flag.

4.) You're the One Doing All the Following Up

If every single update is happening because you reached out first?

Mmm.

You should not be the project manager of a vendor’s service.

Yes, you can remind them of things if needed, but if they’re forgetting calls, not confirming changes, or never sending the invoice or timeline when they said they would — it shows a lack of systems.

And that same lack of systems is what shows up on your wedding day as confusion, lateness, and stress.

5.) They Don’t Ask You Questions

You don’t want a vendor who just dumps their package on you like,

"Here’s what I offer, choose one."

You want someone who takes time to ask what you want.

-What your priorities are.

-What matters most to you.

Vendors should be guiding you while still making space for your preferences — not steamrolling your vision with a copy-paste approach.

Because even if they’re the expert, it’s still your day.

6.) They’re Talking Mess About Other Vendors or Past Clients

Professionalism is a big deal.

If a vendor is spending your meeting dragging someone else — whether it’s a client, a planner, or a fellow vendor — that’s a major no for me.

What happens when something small goes wrong on your wedding day?

Will they keep it classy and solution-focused — or start blaming people left and right?

You want vendors who stay calm, don’t gossip, and don’t bring past baggage into your wedding.

7.) Your Gut Says Something’s Off

Even if their Instagram is gorgeous, the vibes are cute, and the price is within budget — if you just don’t feel good about it?

Pause.

Your gut is a planning tool.

If you leave the consultation feeling more anxious than excited, or if something just feels "off" that you can’t explain — that’s worth listening to.

Don’t ignore a weird feeling just because you’re trying to book quickly or check them off your list.

Let’s wrap this up.

Booking vendors is one of the biggest parts of wedding planning, and it’s easy to feel pressure to say yes quickly — especially when dates are getting booked up and you’re trying to stay on track.

But Take. Your. Time.

Ask the questions.

Read between the lines.

Because your vendors are more than just services — they’re part of your wedding team.