Wedding Vendor Contracts in India: 12 Things to Check Before You Sign

Most wedding disasters do not happen because a couple chose the wrong vendor. They happen because nobody wrote down what was promised. A handshake and a WhatsApp message feel enough when you book; they feel very thin when something goes wrong on the day.

Before you pay an advance to any venue, caterer, decorator, photographer or makeup artist, check these 12 points.

The basics

1. Exact date, time and location. Including setup and teardown times, and which functions are covered.
2. Full scope of work. What is included and, just as important, what is not. For example: number of photographers, hours of coverage, number of edited photos, album pages.
3. Names of the people who will actually show up. The senior photographer you met, or an assistant?

Money

4. Total price with GST shown clearly. Is the quote inclusive or exclusive of tax?
5. Payment schedule. How much advance, when the balance is due, and in what form. Always get receipts.
6. Extra charges. Overtime per hour, travel, outstation stay, extra plates, corkage, generator backup. Ask for these in writing now, not on the day.

Protection

7. Cancellation and refund terms. What happens to your advance if you cancel, postpone or reduce the guest count? What if they cancel?
8. Replacement clause. If the vendor falls ill or double-books, who replaces them, and at what quality?
9. Delivery timelines. When will you receive photos, videos and albums? Weeks or months?

On the day

10. Venue rules. Music cut-off times, decor restrictions, outside vendor fees, fire and fireworks rules.
11. Point of contact. One phone number that will be answered on the wedding day.
12. Ownership and usage. Can the photographer post your photos online? Do you get raw files?

This is general guidance, not legal advice. For large contracts, it is worth having someone you trust read the fine print.

Keep every contract in one place

Signing is only half the job. You also need to find the right contract, payment and phone number quickly, often while ten other things are happening. The Indian Wedding Planner Box includes vendor comparison worksheets and contract checklists for each type of vendor, so you can compare quotes side by side, tick off every clause before you sign, and keep payments and contacts together.

Get the Indian Wedding Planner Box for Rs. 4,499 with free delivery across India.