Wedding Deposits

Maybe this should be in the wedding forum I couldnt decide!

Im currently writing up a wedding contract for my use and and putting in that 50% of the total package price is to be paid on signing of the contract.

I know this might be a silly question but is it a returnable deposit or should i state it is non returbable? whats the usual thing to do?

Also all the talk if this particular wedding has been done Via email as the couple live a bit away.
For the signing of the contract should I take it to them personally or do some people just post them?

If offered to take it to them when its ready ect just wanted to know what most other people do.

Thanks In advance

However you word it, a "deposit" is refundable in English Law.

Many pro's use the term "Booking Fee" as this isnt. Most get a percentage on booking, more nearer the wedding and the balance approx one week before the wedding.

Nothing wrong with emailing it to them, just ask for a printed and signed copy to be sent back.

Gary_Evans wrote in post #2140982
However you word it, a "deposit" is refundable in English Law.

Many pro's use the term "Booking Fee" as this isnt. Most get a percentage on booking, more nearer the wedding and the balance approx one week before the wedding.

Nothing wrong with emailing it to them, just ask for a printed and signed copy to be sent back.

Oh very good idea on the wording of it!

Thought it might make it a little bit more personal - but its up to them anyway. Ive given them the option of when and where they would like to sign it!

Thanks for your Help Gary!

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2140946
Maybe this should be in the wedding forum I couldnt decide!

Im currently writing up a wedding contract for my use and and putting in that 50% of the total package price is to be paid on signing of the contract.

I know this might be a silly question but is it a returnable deposit or should i state it is non returbable? whats the usual thing to do?

Also all the talk if this particular wedding has been done Via email as the couple live a bit away.
For the signing of the contract should I take it to them personally or do some people just post them?

If offered to take it to them when its ready ect just wanted to know what most other people do.

Thanks In advance

Booking fee is definatley better than deposit, you have more chance of making it non refundable, but in the end if they are really going to put up a fight about it, you are more likely to give it back to save the court costs and your image.

Everyone has their own way of doing things, so please don't think I am imposing my ways on you. I take 20% to reserve the date, called a booking fee, and the balance prior to the wedding. I think 50% is a little high, I figure I am happy with 20% if they pull out, especially when I don't really have to do anything for it.

I post out two copies of my contracts (called an agreement to make people more comfortable in signing), signed by me and have them return one of them signed, the other is for them to refer to. I am a little more casual than most in my approach, but that is also part of my marketing strategy, to make people feel more comfortable with me.

I have had one couple that I met in passing one day at an expo and did not see them again until the Wedding Day. I offered to meet with them but they said they did not feel it necessary as they were comfortable with my work and how I would shoot their day.

I hope this helps.

Nathan

I'm kind of with Nathan... 25% for the date containing a $100-200 non-refundable portion that is still applied to the final contract with the balance due at the two week point. (for large event/wedding)

Gary is correct, under English law a deposit is refundable. Any UK pro will charge a booking fee which is not refundable. Charging a large amount though may be challanged in court if the wedding is cancelled.I charge £100 for the booking with the balance 7 days before and have never had a problem.

MagicallyDelicious wrote in post #2140946
Maybe this should be in the wedding forum I couldnt decide!

Im currently writing up a wedding contract for my use and and putting in that 50% of the total package price is to be paid on signing of the contract.

I know this might be a silly question but is it a returnable deposit or should i state it is non returbable? whats the usual thing to do?

Also all the talk if this particular wedding has been done Via email as the couple live a bit away.
For the signing of the contract should I take it to them personally or do some people just post them?

If offered to take it to them when its ready ect just wanted to know what most other people do.

Thanks In advance

I take a modest deposit and then the rest of the price is due on the day of the wedding. The deposit - and almost any amount will suffice - will stop the B&G from shopping, and that's what I want it to do. What I don't want to do is to discourage a B&G from hiring me because my deposit is too high. My thoughts are that most B&G's are cash rich on the day of their wedding, and I've had no trouble getting paid; but six months before the wedding they may well be counting their pennies.

That is obviously a business decision and you have to decide what to do. As for keeping the deposit/booking fee I try to use some common sense. I think that I've kept two or three deposits since I've been shooting weddings and have returned at least three times that number. I had one bride's mom die a week before the wedding, so the wedding was postponed, and I returned their deposit. Maybe others would have kept it in those circumstances, but that's how I would have wanted to be treated if it happened to me, so this was a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Another wedding was planned for May and then got changed to September. Well the change happened a year before the wedding so I returned that one, even though I was already booked for their new date.

But I had one bride call me the week before the wedding to tell me that her uncle was now going to shoot her wedding for free and could she have the deposit back? I said no, and she went on her way. I guess that if my clients treat me with respect and some common sense then I'll do what I think is right, and that's a business decision too.

As far as contracts go, signing anything is going to make the client pause before they do anything like start a lawsuit. It's kind of like a model release, if they sign one - even if it's legally uninforcable - then they are unlikely to start the ball rolling down the hill. So maybe send them a contract as a WORD document and have them print it out, sign it and mail it back to you. One in a thousand will later deny signing it but they are going to be a problem in any case.

I take a deposit of 50% at signing, and the other 50% on or before the wedding. The only way I will refund a deposit is if it's something that I did to compromise the agreement. However, I'm in the States where deposit has a different meaning.

I do 25% booking fee, 50% a month before the wedding (or the ballance if they haven't ordered an album), 25% 6 weeks after their wedding or when they order their album.

Thanks everyone