Ok...so I'm here in a different situation about this bride and groom that I met with just the other night.

To make a long story short...the B and G really love me and want to book me. But the bride's mom can only afford 3500 for her wedding. They really want this cutomized package that I did for them for 5000. So...this is what the groom does. He calls me up and tells me that he's going to go behind their backs and pay the balance for the 5k wedding...BUT he doesn't want the B and her mom to think that he's paying. He just wants me to pretend to the B and her mother that I agreed to give the 5k all to them for 3500.

So should I make two contracts? One for the bride and one for the groom? He's the one wanting to upgrade but not tell the bride and her mom because he says they would never allow him to do that if they found out.

So...basically I told the groom that he will need to tell them at least before the wedding that he upgraded their package as a gift or something...to fess up what he did.

What would you guys do? I just don't want to agree to his "lie" I guess. But he's just trying to be a sweetie to his bride and her mother. Deep down inside I don't want to produce a "fake contract" just so that the bride and her mother can feel like they booked me from 5k down to 3500.

DJ...Chris...anyone? What would ya'll do on this one?

Yea...just make two contracts! It's a perfect situation b/c now everybody thinks you're sooo nice (which you really are) for giving them a deal and you're still getting your full amount.

Don't make him tell if he doesn't want to...especially not before the wedding!

Ok well you're gonna go think i'm soo not cool because I did the SAME thing with my wedding photographer.
My grandma was gonna pay half of my photography for me. I lied to her and told her it was 1/3 of what it really was and I just paid the rest . I just told my grandma to just give me the money and I'll take care of everything. I don't see why anyone has to know or why you would even need to show the contracts to anyone, except just the groom. That's what I did. No know knows how much I really paid for my photography, not even my husband! LOL! Bad bad. My photographer neve knew either. I was the only one and well know you guys! ha!

They would of killed me knowing how much I spent (bet they are not laughing now on how much I charge) But I had to have the best in St. Louis (www.tinaphotographers.com). And only Tina would do. I must of looked at a million photographers. Too bad I didn't know you guys back then!!
.............lie...............
~Alisha

ditto.

Remember your goal is to please your customer. So now, you really have two customers! Maximize the experience for both of them by making them feel like they got a great deal. What I would even do is try to figure out a way to give the groom a little something for wanting to be so nice to his women (the bride and her mother.) That way he won't just feel like he's the one doing something nice for them, but you BOTH are. I think he'll really appreciate it. I'm not sure what that would look like, maybe a free larger print, or a small package credit or something. My dad was really big into always telling me to give as much to your customer as you can, particularly things that don't cost you much. The small amount you may pay will pail in comparison to the loyaty you will gain from them as customers.

Hmmm....I was thinking that maybe he and my husband can visit the spa together and get pedicures. My husband goes with me all the time but I'm sure he'll have much more fun with a guy.

Sign me up.... is it free? ;-)

One thing you might want to do, if they KNOW your prices and things aren't adding up in their mind, is to say there was an anonymous donor. But don't tell them until before a week or so before the wedding.

But then they'll probably try to figure out who did it, which may be a bad idea.

I personally would make one contract telling the bride and bride's mother that this is a confidential contract and noone is to know of the agreement made. Giving them the wedding package at a discount of $3500. I would allow the groom to pay the difference and respect his wishes. Call me a southern gentlemen, but what he is doing is very honorable and for him to confess of his great doing would be an unjustice to him the bride and the brides mother. Let the groom pay you cash or whatever. The groom must trust you to have asked you this and to have shared this with you, don't muck it up by all the "business stuff" trust yourself and your business! Two contracts? Nah! NO NEED in my opinion. The grooms family maybe knows of this and would definetely not want the other family to know. HONOR. A contract is a CYA agreement. You'll have one for $3500 for the wedding, but a verbal agreement and handshake with the groom.

Ok...

But my main concern is that contracts are supposed to make sure that it will cover my booty if anything goes wrong. What if they turn on me....or if he got into a bind and changed his mind about paying his portion....that's why I thought that doing two contract would be better...and the groom can just hold on to both of them.

dontcha think?

Katherine have him pay you now or do a seperate contract. But still respect his wishes for keeping a secret.

I'm with Charles on this one in every regard. I don't think the "back-up" contract is all that necessary. What you might want to do is have him pay you the balance FIRST, and then have B's mom handle the contract itself. Dealing with it in that order keeps everyone happy and covers your butt.

--J.

EDIT TO ADD... OK...I JUST noticed the original date of this thread, so I'm guessing the issue is already resolved. I thought just about everything before the crash didn't survive! Where'd this come from?