How to compare wedding quotes
Two quotes that look alike can hide hundreds of pounds of difference. Here’s how to find the real price of each one, with a worked example.
An example: two photographers
On paper, Atelier Mila is the cheaper one: £1,800 against £1,900. But the quote excludes VAT, covers 8 hours instead of the 10 you need, and comes with a second shooter to feed.
| What counts | Lumière Studio | Atelier Mila |
|---|---|---|
| Quoted price | £1,900 inc. VAT | £1,800 ex. VAT |
| VAT at 20% | Included | +£360 |
| Extra hours, for 10 hours of coverage | None | +£400 (2 h at £200) |
| Supplier meals, £35 each | +£35 (1 person) | +£70 (2 people) |
| Real cost | £1,935 | £2,630 |
The cheaper one on paper actually costs £695 more.
The traps that skew the comparison
VAT included or not
An ex-VAT quote reads 20% higher. Many small suppliers aren’t VAT-registered: their price is then the final price.
Extra hours
Compare like with like. A photographer for 8 hours isn’t cheaper than one for 10 if you pay for two more hours.
Supplier meals
Photographers, videographers and DJs stay 10 to 14 hours: a meal is often in the contract, to order from your caterer.
Minimum numbers
Caterers charge for a minimum number of guests: if fewer of you come, you still pay the difference.
Travel and set-up
Mileage, a hotel night, set-up time: often at the bottom of the page, or missing from the quote.
Booking fees and cancellation
Check whether the booking fee is refundable, and how much is still due if you cancel or postpone.
The questions to ask before you sign
- Does the price include VAT? If not, at what rate?
- How many hours are included, and what does an extra hour cost?
- Is a meal part of the contract? For how many people?
- Are travel and set-up included?
- Is the booking fee refundable?
- What happens if we postpone the wedding?
Soon, Wedderz will do it for you
Your suppliers write to your shared address. Wedderz reads their quotes (PDFs, photos, emails), fills in the comparison on its own and drafts the questions about what’s missing. All that’s left is to choose.
Get your beta invite
The beta opens in early 2027. Leave us your email: we’ll write as soon as it opens, and you can try everything for 14 days, no card needed.