"Kick Backs" The wedding industry's dirty little secret!

When a bride is given a referral from the venue or coordinator that she is using, she trusts that the referral is being given for the right reasons. After all, why would a venue or coordinator refer a vendor that they don't consider the best quality vendor for that bride on her wedding day? Well the dirty little secret that has become an issue recently in the area, is that some venues and coordinators have been asking for and receiving cash back from the vendors they refer. What this does is remove the integrity of the referral. I personally as a wedding vendor have been approached by both venues and coordinators for "kick backs". I have refused the offers. This has cost me business, I know for sure. I will not name names is this article. That is not what this is about. What I want to accomplish with this article, is to expose the issue for people that assume they are getting referrals for the right reason.
Many excuses can be made for this practice, but the fact of the matter is that in most instances it is illegal, and in every instance it  is immoral.When I ask for a referral, I would hope that the person or venue that I have entrusted with my wedding day would not be trying to make a little side money by using me as a pawn. My wedding is the most important event to me, and I have chosen my venue and or coordinator because I felt they would do the best job for me. Otherwise, I would have chosen another venue or coordinator.
The problem is, how do you know? Well the truth of the matter is it's hard to tell sometimes. How do you deal with this issue? The best defense to this issue is a good offense. As a bride or groom getting referrals from someone, it is imperative that you ask the question - "Are your referrals based on who gives you kick backs, or because you consider these vendors to be the best in their respective fields?" The answer may not always be truthful, but you at least get your point made. Then, ask the referred vendor if they are paying that venue or coordinator a kick back. I know I would not have a problem answering that question. The more this is done by brides and grooms, the more pressure will be put on those who take advantage of their position.
And lastly, kick backs can be illegal in many ways. Under most circumstances, the receiver is not declaring these funds as income. The State and IRS consider this tax evasion. There are other matters concerning legality for non-disclosure, bribery, and collusion that can be considered also. Anyone, including vendors that know of kickbacks being paid should report it to the appropriate authorities.By eliminating these predators from the wedding industry, brides and grooms will not be taken advantage of, and vendors will be referred for their qualifications instead of their willingness to pay a bribe. That's a win-win for everyone.

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