E R A W E B BUYER Selecting
Reliable
Wedding
Vendors By Carla Mendez-Ambris T IS very easy for anyone to start a business page on any of the multitude of social networking sites currently available. Take Facebook, for instance — it is free and takes just a few minutes. But there is a catch! There is no way to verify the authenticity of a company or its claims — photos can be taken from off the net or from any of the wedding suppliers here or abroad; and well, there is always Photoshop! Just ask any of the couples who had their weddings railroaded earlier this year when one such person came face to face, on local television, with brides to be who all claimed that she didn’t give the services she promised to deliver and were not refunded. Marriage & Bliss has put together some useful pointers in helping you to find a reliable and trustworthy wedding supplier: Get recommendations Good ol’ word of mouth is still one of the most reliable forms of advertising. Ask around. You can check friends, co-workers, even family for recommendations. Who did your
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catering? Which photographer did you use? Do not simply ask for a name and contact; be sure to enquire about customer service. How well did the supplier work with you? Were there any issues after the wedding? How well were they resolved? Verify that the company exists A simple online check at the Companies Registry on The Ministry
of Legal Affairs website (https://rgd. legalaffairs.gov.tt) will show you if the company is a registered business. If the business has an office or store, pay a visit to see their items or even to meet the owners and have a one-on-one. Facebook Likes do not equal quality work While Facebook Likes are a great indicator of popularity, it does not