10 Things The Wedding Industry Won’t Tell You…#2
Posted on Feb 09, 2009 under Uncategorized |. “The groom may kiss the bride — and pay the kickback.”
Need help choosing a florist, caterer, photographer or entertainer? Wedding planners and others will be all too happy to provide a list of recommended vendors. But don’t think they’re doing you a favor. More often than not, insiders admit, the businesses that pay the highest price are the ones who get the referrals.
That’s right: kickbacks. How does it work? Daniel Davison, souz chef of catering in New York, says most locations have a “preferred” list of caterers. In many cities, he adds, if a person wants to bring in a caterer not on the list, the caterer has to buy a license to serve in that facility, at the expense of the client.
In order to get on such a list, a business must pay an annual fee “in the range of $300 to $500,” says Alan Fields, co-author of the bestselling wedding-guide “Bridal Bargains” — or pay a 5-10% commission. “People who don’t want to pay money aren’t on the list,” says Fields. Some caterers go even further, according to Danielson, and volunteer to organize the vendors for the client. “You’re paying a 17-20% service charge on something they would have to do anyway,” he says.