Another client enquiry, wedding bells are ringing—oh wait, or are they alarm bells!
All professionals in the wedding industry know that fake enquiries and attempted scams are rife—even industry leading platforms such as The Knot have been accused of sending out fake enquiries to their users in order to boost revenue and user retention.
In order to keep your wedding planning business secure, you'll need to keep a look out of fake client enquiries that waste your time and resources. Let's work together to stop wedding scammers and promote safe wedding planning for all.
In this article, you'll learn how to protect your wedding planning business (and your time!) by exploring...
- The signs of a fake client enquiry
- How to validate a wedding enquiry
- How to cope with scams and fake enquiries
- Examples of real vs. fake wedding client enquiries
What are fake wedding client enquiries?
A fake wedding enquiry (also known as a scam) is a deceitful request for wedding planning services, typically made with the intent to mislead or manipulate the recipient. Such enquiries involve fake names and details about the wedding, and always sound too good to be true.
Most wedding planners receive at least one fake enquiry throughout their career. But unfortunately false enquiries for some, it's a daily occurrence—a random email drifts into your inbox offering you a huge wedding project. Except, it's the same email over and over again under a different name. Scam alert!
People send fake enquiries for various reasons. Some individuals seek to gather information for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or fraud. Others may be conducting research for personal gain, competitive analysis, or simply for entertainment. In some cases, fake enquiries may be part of a larger scam or scheme aimed at exploiting wedding vendors or planners.
Despite the rampancy of wedding enquiry scams, a lot of planners still fall for them. Especially, new wedding planners who are hungry for new leads. The potential consequences of falling for a fake enquiry are profound. It's frustrating. Not only can it waste valuable time and resources, but also cause privacy breaches and financial losses.
7 signs of a fake wedding enquiry
On the bright side, fake enquiries always have distinguishable characteristics and often follow a pattern. Protect your wedding planning business by keeping an eye out of the following signs of a fake wedding enquiry:
- Same email, different sender. If you receive the exact same email under different names or wedding details, it's a major red flag. Scammers often work on a copy-paste system so fake enquiries usually follow a certain template.
- Everything is rushed. If the enquiry seems overly urgent or rushed, proceed with caution. Genuine wedding planning enquiries typically involve careful consideration and planning, while scammers will try to book the most expensive service as soon as possible with no questions asked.
- Poor grammar and spelling. Fake enquiries often contain noticeable errors in grammar and spelling. Be wary of messages that seem hastily written or lack coherence.
- Mismatched email address. Pay attention to discrepancies between the sender's name and the email address used. For instance, if the sender claims to be named Sarah but the email address is something unrelated like "businessname123@gmail.com," it's most likely a scam.
- Requests for personal information. Be cautious if the enquiry requests unnecessary personal information, such as your bank account details or social security number. Legitimate enquiries should focus on wedding details, not personal data.
- Refuses to discuss via voice or video calls. Fake enquiries may avoid direct communication through voice or video calls. If the sender insists on communicating solely via email or text, it could be an attempt to hide their identity.
- No budget limit or "overpayment" issues. Be wary of enquiries that don't specify a budget or raise concerns about overpaying for services. Scammers may use these tactics to manipulate vendors into accepting fake cheques.
How to verify an enquiry
While there is always a risk of receiving fake enquiries, that doesn't mean everything is a scam. In fact, some genuine clients simply like to follow templates in their enquiries to make sure they cover everything. Plus, clients naturally enquire with several planners and vendors to find the ones that best suits their needs.
Four ways to verify a wedding enquiry...
- Do a 'legitimacy check'. Ask your other wedding planner friends or acquaintances if they've received a similar email before. If it's a fake enquiry, then they've most likely contacted other local vendors under a different name.
- Verify business credentials. Confirm they are who they say they are by searching for their socials or professional profile. If it's a real person, you should find at least one profile that verifies their identity.
- Authenticate wedding vendors. Reach out to other vendors or service providers mentioned in the enquiry to cross-reference information and gather feedback. Like this, you can verify if they have booked with these vendors or not.
- Invite them on a voice or video call. Request a voice or video call with the potential client to directly discuss the details and verify their identity. Genuine clients should be willing to engage in real-time conversations to discuss and address any concerns.
Real vs. Fake wedding enquiries
Planning a wedding is a whirlwind, and sifting through genuine enquiries from tire-kickers can be a time-consuming hassle. So here's a quick guide to help you separate the "I do's" from the "don't bothers."
Real client enquiries are personalised
Foremost, a genuine couple will personalise their message. They'll mention details about their wedding date, venue (if chosen), or guest count. They might even express specific questions, compliments on your work, or come clean about knowing nothing about where to start.
Fake enquiries, on the other hand, will often be generic greetings like "Dear Sir/Madam" or even lack a salutation altogether. The body of the email might be a copy-and-paste job sent to multiple vendors, mentioning nothing about your specific services.
A real wedding enquiry should be something like this...
"Hi [name],
I stumbled upon your portfolio on Instagram and was captivated by your stunning floral arrangements! My partner and I are planning a romantic garden wedding with an expected guest size of 50-100 in May 2025. Could you please provide us with more information about your availability and wedding packages?"
Not like this...
"Hello dear,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inquire for your wedding planning services. Please send me details and I hope to get a good package that is best for our needs."
Real enquiries have clear budget limits
Couples with a genuine desire to book you will often mention a budget range or at least indicate their budget as a consideration. This opens a conversation about how your services can fit their needs. They could say...
"We have a budget of $20,000 for our wedding and are hoping to find vendors who can help us create a memorable day within this range. We value quality and creativity and are open to suggestions that align with our budget and vision."
On the other hand, fake enquirers are always rich. They will most likely agree with whatever rates you declare and rush to payment with no questions asked.
Real client enquiries are realistic
Couples who are serious about booking with a wedding planner are never in a rush. Understanding how much needs to get done for a wedding, their wedding dates are usually around six months to a year ahead. They should also be open to a few consultations and might ask for your availability or suggest a timeframe for a call to discuss the details.
A genuine enquiry might say...
"My partner and I are beginning to plan our wedding, which we're hoping to hold next summer. We're taking our time to explore different venues and vendors to ensure we find the perfect fit for our special day. Could you please provide us with more information about your services and availability?"
Conversely, fake enquiries often exhibit a sense of urgency with requests for immediate responses or services. This rushed demeanor may indicate an attempt to pressure vendors into making hasty decisions or overlook potential red flags. In addition, some recent scams have unrealistic requests like a 'surprise wedding.'
A fake wedding enquiry might say...
"Need wedding planner for my wedding next month, 24 May 2024. Please reply ASAP."
How to deal with a fake wedding enquiry
Unfortunately, there's no way for you to prevent spam or fake enquiries. Some platforms like WeddingWire can help by alarming you of potential scams, but it's not always a guarantee.
Firstly and most importantly, what you can do is ignore these enquiries. As soon as you've verified that it's a fake, cut contact with that person altogether. Better yet, mark them as spam and block their emails.
Secondly, never open attachments from enquiries. All wedding details can be typed within the email or discussed directly via call. There shouldn't be a need for you to open attached files.
Thirdly, verify everything. Search up the enquirer's name and social media, and try to find as much information as possible before responding. This applies for payments as well, as they can send you fake cheques and receipts.
Pro Tip: If you do fall for a fake wedding enquiry, report the scammer to the authorities and get in touch with a lawyer. The perpetrator can be sentenced under the Fraud Act 2006 under false representation or obtaining services dishonestly.
TLDR: Fall in love, not for wedding scams
Wedding planning is a fulfilling career. However, just like any other business, it is fraught with challenges like the rise of fake wedding enquiries targeting wedding planners and other vendors. These often use fake names, lack personalisation, and exhibit rushed behavior.
As a wedding planner, it's essential to spot even the tiniest of red flags to keep your wedding business safe. The most common signs are requests for personal information, refusal to engage in voice or video calls, poor spelling and grammar, and unrealistic budget offers.
To verify enquiries, make sure to check with other planners, verify the enquirer's business credentials, authenticate vendors, and invite them on a call to discuss details directly. Always remember, it's better to be safe than sorry!
