The Disastrous Downside to Planning Ahead
June 20th, 2008 @ 5:29 pm by Mrs. Peacock
I have now had three, potentially four, vendors leave me. Each had their own particular reason- moving back to their hometown for family reasons, changing jobs, the birth of a child- and there are no hard feelings. Life happens and my wedding is certainly not at the top of their list of priorities. But geez… you would think that a 21 month engagement would get me somewhere!
My make-up artist just emailed me to let me know that she is leaving the state. She will not be able to do the make-up for myself and my bridesmaids that morning. This is a little frustrating for me because she is independent and so she can’t just assign me a back-up. She did provide a few names for replacements, but there is no guarantee that I will like them as much as I liked her or that they will be as affordable. It’s not the end of the world, but it took me awhile to find her (more than a year ago) and now I need to start over, with less than three months to go.
Our photographer’s wife is due in September. Unless she is delivering on or very close to our wedding day, this shouldn’t affect him. We did, however, hire her to take a few photos of the guys getting ready. Our photographer has found a back-up for for his wife as she will either be about to burst or still recovering. I just have this weird feeling that I am going to get a phone call that morning, informing me that his little boy had just been born and he will not be able to make it. He was one of the very first vendors that I selected because I loved his work so much and I had to make it happen. It would break my heart if someone else took his place, even if they were an equally talented photographer.
I already whined about my caterer. The meeting went fine, although my contact owes me a few things and a week has gone by without a word. The final vendor to bail was my contact at my venue. Although she left before I had a chance to get too attached, her leaving marked a big change in the management of our venue. Rules changed, prices went up and the customer service fell off. The little extras that our contact had promised were no longer going to happen. It was my fault as I did not get it in writing.
I know everything will be fine. Aside from my make-up artist, I selected these companies based on their excellent reputation. It just seems kinda silly to me that I spent all this time booking vendors more than a year ago, and now I am doing it again.
I just need some good vibes- and recommendations for make-up artists in Chicago!
Has anyone else had vendors cancel on them?
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23 Responses to “The Disastrous Downside to Planning Ahead”
wow, that stinks. I can only imagine how disappointing it must be. I just found out last week that the Park View will not be open… so now I will be getting ready elsewhere and have to factor in transportation… I thought I was done with gettting vendors up to speed as well!
For make up- contact Sonia Roselli… she is fantastic. And if she is booked maybe Andie Cumber or one of the new associates will be available…
Yeah, I got that email this morning too. It sucks!!! I absolutely loved her work and now I’m frantic I won’t be able to match her skill and price. I am literally sick to my stomach over it. She’s not my first vendor cancellation either, I’ve already gone through two hair stylists too. Good luck!
Uh, YES!!! Our original cake-baker canceled because her son chose our same wedding date. HAHA. What’s up with that?
It’s OK though because it probably wouldn’t have worked out with her anyway…
Try Rachel Reiman Connor - I had an issue with my original make up artist, and Rachel was absolutely wonderful and calmed my fears…
I don’t understand..Didn’t they have contracts with you that would prevent them from just “getting up and going” like this? Even the makeup artist–She can move out of state, but isn’t she still responsible for your gig since you guys since you have an agreement on paper?
I must add that I’ve been planning for 26 months and nothing has happened yet. 
2 MONTHS TO GO!
So sorry this has happened… good vibes coming your way.
Try Andie Cumber, Sonia Roselli’s partner, for make-up. I just had my trial with her a couple weeks ago and LOVED it. Other ideas - Monique Madrid, Susan Rogan, Elizabeth Bilow, Erica Haynes… I’ll try to think of some more for you.
Try . She does a lot of costume makeup, but she’s done weddings as well.
Sorry - that should be http://www.deshawnonline.com/
I was going to use a college friend turned florist, but she just email me to tell me she was going to have to back out. Starting the whole search over again is frustrating and time consuming. I have come to terms with the fact that I have to move on, but I will miss the creativity I know she would have brought to the table!
I had some crazy cancellations - our photographer a month before the wedding came down with some sort of disorder so we got set up with another one (who btw I LOVED - Peter Coombs - we’ve done THREE photoshoots with him - engagement, the WHOLE wedding day, and TTD) and oh, yeah - two days before my wedding, my violinist broke her hand and I had to fax over my wedding sheet music to my 11 year old cousins and hope that they could pull it off.
and makeup artist in Chicago - try Elizabeth Bilow - http://www.makeupchicago.com - she is AMAZING - private message me if you want their links or my photo albums. I also wrote up reviews on yelp on both of those, too.
http://www.donna.yelp.com and go to List –> Wedding Planning Made Easy
Were these professional vendors? Or were these vendors who just ‘do this on the side for a low price’. The latter is what is sounds like has happened to you.
Ack - that’s a bummer. I was afraid of the same thing with our long engagement, so asked all of my vendors before booking them what their back up plan was in case something came up that prevented them from working our wedding. Anyway, that’s not helpful info for you now but still may be worth asking for your new make-up artists. I would also suggest Sonya R, but I’m guessing that might be who you had previously booked if her right-hand gal is doing your hair? Otherwise, I had great luck booking the manager of a MAC store to come to me for our wedding next week in Ohio. So perhaps the make-up counter route will work — just try working with the manager, so you’re sure of talent. That way, if something comes up, they have a long line of people behind them who can pinch hit.
Because it’s common in my parents’ archdiocese to shuffle priests around (and at their parish priests last about five-six years tops), the priest who was supposed to officiate found out at the end of May that he was being moved to another parish to become the pastor (which he deserved, as he’s a great priest–that’s why we wanted him!) but due to his new duties (and being the only priest there) he wouldn’t be able to do our wedding. So we’re working on getting the new guy at the parish to be our officiant.
Blerg.
Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions! That is quite a list
@Christine: Are you in Chicago? I wonder if we have the same photographer! I found also found out about it on his blog and emailed him about it.
@Maddy: They are all professionals. This is what they do for a living.
@JCM9608: For most of these vendors, I just lost my contact, although they were the reason that I picked the company. For the make-up person, she said that she has to move for family reasons. I do have a contract and I could probably try to get her to fly in for the weekend, but I would feel guilty about it. I don’t want her angry with me while she does my make-up!
@elizabeth: I totally forgot, but that is another vendor who has backed out on me! I picked my church because I loved the priest so much, and now he is at another parish 
You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just what’s happening to you guys. You’ll laugh at this one day. A day far, far away, but you will laugh!
I am from Chicago, but now in DC–saw your post. My sister is a makeup artist in Chicago. Her name is Janice and her email is jmacgal777@aol.com-she may be available. Hope this helps!
Makeup Artist. Sonia Roselli. Period.
Sonia is FABULOUS! She did my makeup for my friend Erin’s wedding and it turned out fabulous. Like I expected, however, she is booked. She and I are discussing one of her associates- Jo- and I will keep you all posted on how that turned out.
@Maddy: I hope you are right! I bet that I will forget all this bologna shortly after the wedding Thank you!
@Lauren: I am in contact with a few people now, but if they don’t work out I will be emailing your sister! Thanks!
We used Kerre at Styles Down the Aisle, and I loved her work. Prices are reasonable as well. Just google it!
[...] like Miss Peacock, I feel like all of the advanced planning I went through is blowing up in my face as we get closer [...]
http://www.marladelangel.com
Makeup artist
Miss Peacock, Chicago
Age and Occupation: 26, PhD Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Internet Whiz
Engagement Date: December 5, 2006
Wedding Date: September, 2008
Blogging Since: December 13, 2007
Venue: St. Clement Church, Cafe Brauer (or a big church wedding and a fancy party at a cafe in Lincoln Park.
About Me: I am a grad student with a secret obsession for all things wedding related. I also love to read, travel, drink champagne and go for walks with our dog, Maisy, and Mr. Peacock. We are planning our very vintage wedding in the greatest city in the world, our hometown of Chicago. I am so proud to be a Bee!
So wierd - I’m in the same exact situation with my photographer, even down to the fact that it’s in September!!! I don’t know what I’m going to do if his wife gives birth on our day…. oh by the way, her due date IS our wedding date!! Plus, the only way I found out was thru their blog - they haven’t even said anything to us yet!!! Not that I’m down playing the birth of their child - that’s a very exciting time and I’m truly happy for them. It’s just a bummer because I really hope he can be there!!!