Better Business Bureau offers tips on how to avoid wedding scammers

As wedding season begins, don’t let con artists, substandard wedding vendors or online scams steal your wedding joy, the Better Business Bureau warns.

The group says taking every precaution in planning for the big day is imperative. BBB has tips for finding good vendors and avoiding scams that criminals use this year.

In 2025, the average wedding cost in the U.S. is expected to be $33,000. In Illinois, that cost maybe $38,100. These figures do not include the engagement ring or the honeymoon, which can add another $10,500 to the total. Many weddings can easily reach $100,000.

“Identifying key red flags will help reduce the risk of a scammer turning your wedding celebration into a disaster,” said Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “Before you walk down the aisle, there is much preparation to do. You may even need to alert your friends and family to the potential fake wedding invites on WhatsApp. Clicking on an embedded link will install malware on the phone, which could steal data and access financial accounts.”

Beware of wedding-related offers in your social media news feeds. These likely are scams. Watch out for the “Win a free trip” contest for your honeymoon. Do not click on any unsolicited emails or texts related to weddings. Make sure incoming phone calls are legit before you answer them.

Wedding expo season and planning for summer, fall and 2026 weddings already is underway. Because of the intricate details involved with choosing the venue, florist, caterer, photographer, and honeymoon location, couples often find it difficult to have everything go perfectly. People often turn to wedding expos to reduce stress and make the process easier. However, that’s where their problems might begin.

“This can result in serious financial loss and identity theft,” Bernas said. “That’s why couples need to do their research and know who they are working with for this very important day. There are reported instances where scammers created a phony wedding expo event website to rip off both vendors and couples.”

BBB.org is a source to find reputable wedding businesses. If there is a problem, BBB-accredited businesses will make a good-faith effort to resolve any issues.

Wedding couples ought to be cautious when presented with one-day deals or discounts for advance payment. Read contracts, request references, and ask questions before signing anything. Be skeptical if vendors ask for most of the fees in advance. Don’t rely totally on brochures or online reviews, which can be easily faked, BBB warns.

“It’s also crucial to ask about refund policies for deposits or prepayments,” Bernas said.

Here are key red flags of wedding scams and BBB tips for avoiding them:

• Look for clues of phony websites. Scammers can easily steal images and take names that look and sound like reputable vendors. Make sure there is a physical address, local contact number, and never send personal information and payment until you have met in person. Scammers often advertise prices too good to be true.

• Dresses that don’t measure up. Brides have complained to BBB about bridal shops ordering the wrong sizes and colors of gowns as well as dresses that arrive too late for timely alterations. Ensure your order specifies new merchandise, sized to fit you and your bridesmaids and guarantees for timelines. Remind the shop of your schedule in advance.

• Wedding transportation problems. Complaints about limousine service include poor customer service and rigid cancellation policies. Get details in writing. If you aren't satisfied, ask how the company handles problems. Don’t pay the entire amount in advance.

• Musician switch. Couples shouldn’t rely on a website, demo tape or phone conversation when hiring a band or other music service. Find out where you can hear the musicians play before you hire them. Ask who will actually perform at the reception and get a written commitment from the band or musician, including the amount of time they will play and costs to extend the time the night of the event.

• Photographer issues. A common complaint is that the photographer a couple hired doesn’t show up for the wedding or fails to deliver pictures until months after the wedding or not at all. Find out when and how pictures will be delivered, whether you can get all the images on a DVD or CD, how much time you will have to choose the pictures and whether other members of your family or wedding party will have access to the pictures.

• Unexpected fees. Some caterers, hotels or reception venues try to charge extra for “plate splitting,” “cake-cutting” or “corkage” fees, especially if you bring in a cake or liquor purchased from another source. Ask whether any fees apply beyond the cost per person, such as gratuities or room rental, if applicable.

• Floral changes. Fresh flowers are a perishable commodity, and the final bouquet or arrangements may need to change depending on what’s available on the wedding day. Make sure you spell out a minimum size or number of stems in each bouquet or arrangement. Ask how the florist will handle any last-minute substitutions and charges.

• Bridal gown preservation. Some bridal shops or other businesses sell bridal gown preservation packages, including cleaning and a box, for $250 or more. Many of these packages are no more than regular dry-cleaning and a cardboard box, which may not be acid-free. Check with a reputable cleaner on the cost of cleaning and storage for your gown.

If you’ve spotted a scam, report it to BBB ScamTracker.