Is it normal to pay photographers in full before the actual wedding day?

It is becoming a lot more normal to pay your photographer in full before the actual wedding day.

But I understand that there are some fears about that - So let’s chat about it!

So some of the fears that brides have are:

Question - If I pay in full prior to my wedding day, what's the guarantee that they'll actually show up?

Answer- If you have a professional wedding photographer, you should also be signing a contract. And that contract should say that if for some reason the photographer is not available for your day, they MUST advise you a minimum of a week prior, and offer a full refund. (Bonus if in their contract they guarantee a replacement.) Hopefully, there is never ever any problem but if push comes to shove, you can always take the contract to civil claims.

Question - What if I don’t like the photos

Answer - Whether you pay 80% or the full 100% prior to the wedding day, your feelings towards the quality of photos will be the same. However, I would talk to your photographer about it. Because if you don't like the photos, then you should be entitled to some measure reimbursement. In saying this, I would recommend thoroughly stalking your photographers work beforehand so you know that you love their style!

Question - What is the benefit of paying beforehand?

Answer- You relax into your new life as a married woman or man without having to worry about leftover payments and you will receive your photos sooner. Many photographers don't actually start editing until the full payment is provided so if it is paid before the wedding day, there should be no delay in delivering the photos. And my favourite reason is that paying in full before the actual wedding day means that I can send you a sneak peek the very next day which also means that you will have a few photos to share with family and friends -not to mention FB- as soon as possible. I think this is really important because then you can really see and re-enjoy what an amazing day it was

What are your thoughts?

Do you think you should pay your photographer and vendors in full before the actual wedding day? What some pros or cons that are coming up for you?