By: Alex Karas, Executive Director

So you are planning your wedding and you start to add up all of the costs and things are getting a little expensive. All of a sudden that dove release and your projected monogram on the dance floor seem to turn from dream to reality then back into dream again. But wait, you remember that your 2nd cousin happens to be a DJ or Photographer or better yet, a videographer so you can use him/her and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars – doves look out; here we come.

STOP RIGHT THERE

While this may seem like a really good idea at first, based on the family friend; it may not be. Let me explain:

1. Your cousin who you asked to be your wedding vendor might have actually wanted to be in the bridal party or here’s another thought, maybe they would have liked to be a guest at a wedding instead of working another Saturday night. Ultimately they may not tell you and the only way to find out is through the work, then it’s too late.

2. Your cousin may not be a “wedding” DJ, photographer, or videographer at all. Let’s take photography for example, there are many, many different types of photography, portrait, landscape, sports, model, you name it. If your cousin doesn’t do weddings all the time, think twice.

3. You are not the boss, you are family. If you hire any other vendor and you send an email and don’t get a response within 48 hours you would be upset and you would let them know about it. If its your family, you can’t get upset, your family.

Always remember that hiring a family friend is a great way to save money for your wedding but their employment for your wedding should not be automatic. When interviewing family and friends to be apart of your day, put them under the same scrutiny that you would any other prospective vendor. Remember when all is said and done it wasn’t their wedding; it was your wedding.

Alex Karas is a full-time wedding industry entrepreneur in Manahawkin, NJ. He is the owner/operator of a wedding services company, Enchanted Celebrations. To learn more about wedding planning and tips you can visit his website at https://www.enchantedcelebrations.com or contact him directly at alex@enchantedcelebrations.com.