The starting point
Before signing a wedding vendor agreement, locate the services, named parties, date and access hours, price, payment schedule, change process, cancellation terms and responsibilities. Write down unclear or conflicting terms and ask for clarification. This is a planning checklist, not a legal opinion about the agreement.
Write down what the vendor is actually providing
Identify the service, quantity, staff or named provider if specified, location and time window. A line such as photography package is less useful for planning than knowing the covered hours, deliverables and any second photographer or substitute arrangement.
Check what the couple supplies too: a meal, electrical access, a sheltered performance area, parking, a delivery contact or a particular setup time. Put these responsibilities into your planning list rather than treating them as descriptive background.
- Selected package and itemized inclusions
- Service start and end; setup and removal
- Substitution, staffing and deliverables
- Couple-provided items or access
- Documents incorporated by reference
Read price and payment timing as separate questions
Locate the total or pricing formula, payment installments, minimum quantities and separately priced extras. Ask whether an example price is a confirmed price for your wedding, and whether the proposal incorporates another rate sheet.
Make a list of possible triggers for a different bill: overtime, headcount changes, delivery distance, substitutions or added services. A potential charge is not a selected purchase. Record the condition and ask how a change would be approved.
Ask what happens when the plan changes
Find the sections about postponement, cancellation, refunds, replacement services and circumstances outside either party's control. Record the wording and relevant dates without translating it into a promise that money will be returned.
Check how notices must be delivered and when a change takes effect. If a term affects a significant decision or its meaning is disputed, take the agreement to a qualified professional in the relevant jurisdiction. This worksheet does not determine enforceability or replace that review.
Keep the final version and its answers together
Save a dated copy of the proposal or agreement and a separate record of your questions. If an answer changes the scope or price, ask for the document version that reflects it and make sure your planning notes reference that version.
Avoid relying on a checked box as proof of a right. The log below records what you located, what is unclear and what response you received. It is useful precisely because an unresolved question remains visible.
Agreement question log
Use one row for a decision or deliverable. Keep unanswered items visible. Download the blank worksheet to open in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
On a small screen, swipe the worksheet sideways to see the remaining columns.
| Topic | Document / page | What it says | Question to resolve | Response / revised version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services and access | — | — | — | — |
| Price and payment schedule | — | — | — | — |
| Guest count / quantities | — | — | — | — |
| Changes and added charges | — | — | — | — |
| Cancellation / postponement / refunds | — | — | — | — |
| Vendor and couple responsibilities | — | — | — | — |
A message you can make your own
Add your document reference and the questions that apply. You decide what to send and send it yourself.
We are checking the agreement against our planning notes before signing. Could you clarify the questions below and, where the answer changes a service, date or price, provide the document version that reflects it? We would like to keep one clear record of the scope and payment schedule.
Common questions
Does this checklist tell me whether a contract is safe to sign?
No. It helps organize planning questions and source references. It does not determine legal rights, enforceability or whether a particular agreement is suitable for you.
What should I do when the proposal and agreement disagree?
Record the exact difference and ask the vendor which version applies and whether a revised document is needed. Keep the response with both source documents.