Weddingbee boards

Hi Hive, sorry for the length, but need lots of help!

 A friend of mine is having major issues. She booked a wedding planner last year at a wedding showcase. She met with the planner and the planner guaranteed her a downtown Boston wedding at $30,000 for over 200 people (I thought it was impossible, but the planner said she could make it happen), so then she went on to explain that she will give the bride so many discounts, that her services would be well worth her $3,000.00 fee. I had read up on planners and have heard many brides say this can be true. So I went with my friend to meet the planner, we had an hour consultation at Starbucks and I asked her to view a portfolio of her work. She said she has high profile clients and couldnt share any photos. I was confused and said I dont want to see photos of your clients, I want to see photos of your work, ie decor. She said she would show them another time (which never happend).

 Well months went on. So far she has brought my friend to view venues, none of which were downtown Boston. She later said after the deposit had been made that it just isn't possible in her budget. So my firend went for something out of the city to save moeny, but did not get a discount through the planner-she paid the sites full price. The planner also only showed places that we already knew about even though she said she had so many unqiue venue ideas.

 So my friend had already booked her photographer so that was set. When it came to video- friend had done this through craigslist to save money. The planner brought in all florists out of friends price range, so friend found this on craigslist too. The planner tried to get her to buy invites from her own line, which were super expensive, so friend went elsewhere. When it came time to pick a caterer, she was shown a few options, all a little over her price range. There was one options friend said to look into to the planner and planner said they were out of her price range. Friends mom worked with that caterer before and called them up to get a price quote which actually included more than the other places at a cheaper cost, which she was told she gave the planner a similar quote months ago. (We are assuming the planner wouldnt get kickbacks so left this info. out, but that is just an assumption and we could be wrong).

The planner did recommend a rental company for tables and chairs- which we are not sure if special discounts were given.

So pretty much - she only helped with tables, chairs and getting the venue- but no discounts were made.

 Now it is 4 1/2 months until the wedding and the groom lost his job.

 My friend called the wedding planner to explain that they could no longer afford her services. They have already given her $2,250 dollars, so she would only lose the 750 which has not been paid yet.

The planner brought my friend to tears and said she expects the $750 dollars regardless of whether she is used or not. We have not had time to look at the contract, since she is at work and this just happend.

But hive- what do you think she should do, what would you do and what would you say?

Do you think it is reasonable of the weddingplanenr to expect the bride to give her the outstanding balance for a job she has not been doing? she has broke many promises and guarantees along the way. My friend really needs help so all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 The brides mom wants to send an e-mail out tomorrow after gathering the contract and all the facts.

The problem with using her if they still have to pay is, apparently the planner was a little hostle on the phone. So I dont think my friend would want to use her even if they were paying. She wasn't very nice-at all. I don't completely know what happend because the bride was so upset, that she couldn't really talk about it. I'm sure I'll get the full story later, but it just happend a couple hours ago.

This is what is included in the package she paid for:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin: 0px"><tbody><tr><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Creation of personalized wedding budget</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance in locating Unique & Exclusive ceremony and reception venues</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Recommendations of Preferred Wedding Industry Professional to fit your budget</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with scheduling professional vendor appointments</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Creation of vendor payment schedule</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Review of contracts, agreements, and catering menus</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with selection of menus and attendance at final tasting</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Attendance at signed-vendor appointments, Excluding Destination Weddings</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with invitations, save the dates, programs, etc. & arranging calligraphy</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with selection of linens, floral items, and all decorative aspects of the wedding and </font></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">reception</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Direction of </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px"> rehearsal and ceremony</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Creation of wedding day itinerary - distributed to wedding party, families, and vendors one week </font></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">prior to wedding</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Scheduling of wedding day hair and makeup appointments</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">seating chart & </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">seating assignments</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with set-up of ceremony & reception </font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">venues</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with wedding night arrangements</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with honeymoon arrangements</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Favor and/or Gifts Selection and Ideas</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with hotel blocks for out-of-town guests</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Point of Contact and Distributor of final payments to vendors</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Unlimited email and phone calls</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Assistance with ceremony music selections, if desired</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Access to extensive Wedding Day Emergency Kit</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Etiquette guidance</font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">
</font></td></tr><tr><td width="40" align="right"></td><td width="3"> </td><td><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#666666"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px">Includes Day of Coordination</font></td></tr></tbody></table>