Booked a wedding and asked for a retainer, now what?

How do you guys ask to be paid when you book a wedding? Do you send/email a contract and ask for a check and a signed copy of the contract? How does that work? Do you ask for a payment via Paypal? What is the standard way of doing this? Thanks for your help!

I require the retainer with the signed contract. I just do checks or money orders. I also, whenever possible, cash the check at their bank instead of mine in case the funds aren't available. An extra step but saves me a fee on my end.

I usually do a check and copy of the signed contract in the snail mail. Sometimes they do cashiers checks/money orders since it is going through the mail, it is more secure. Paypal works too, but you'll lose out on the service charges.

Cool, thanks guys. I'm going to have to quickly bang out a contract. First wedding ...

Hmmm, considering the title of this thread, I'm inclined to think it a little late to be asking the question. That said, I take a check for the deposit upon contract execution. I require the full balance (including any package commitments) two weeks prior to the ceremony so I can confirm the check clears. And Bndgrl, I have a clause in my agreement that specifically makes the client liable to reimburse me any bank fees owing to insufficient funds.

Signed contract along with the retainer. I send and invoice out a few weeks prior to the wedding date for the balance due.

The wedding is March 5 (2011) and there's an engagement shoot December 11. I asked for 30% now upfront to be sent back to me with a signed contract and the balance is due 30 days before the wedding. I gave it plenty of time to deal with non payment or insufficient fund issues.