If you are a Wedding Planner PLEASE READ.....Scam Alert....

In addition to brides and grooms, I know a lot of wedding planners and service providers log on to the Weddings Abroad Blog. Today, I'd like to take a moment to warn them to be on their guard for email scams targeting wedding planners. There isn't a week goes by that I don't receive at least three of these emails.

This current scheme has been going on for the past year that I know of, and basically involves sending in a cashiers check for an amount greater than what you've billed them, they then ask you to transfer the remaining funds elsewhere. The cashiers check clears into your account quickly, you transfer them the money, and weeks later your bank realises the check was a fraud and deducts the amount from your account.

Below is an email received yesterday, as usual it immediately raised my suspicion. Basically a groom or bride-to-be contacts you from somewhere in Europe or the USA saying that they need help planning their wedding from afar. See more details of the scam and a copy of a similar initial email wedding planners were sent last year here. The minor details (name/date/location) change, but otherwise, everyone is receiving similar emails.

As an International Wedding Planner, I am asked everyday to provide information on planning a wedding when overseas, but I am now an expert at ascertaining the genuine ones....others may not be so lucky, there are many new wedding planners joining our industry all the time, and may not be aware of this scam yet.

Here is the email I received:

My Name is Mr Cross James Allen,

I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange the reception dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.

The wedding is expected to hold on the 4th of Febuary 2009 and 25 to 40 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.All checks and balances will be made with you on 13rd October which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a a venue for the wedding (its a christian wedding), a place for the reception ,Videography, Music Entertainment,Photography,cake and flowers.

If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don't have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us.

Pleas get back to me via my personal email which is jcrossalen@rocketmail.com

Best Regards,
Mr Cross James Allen
jcrossalen@rocketmail.com

If this blog entry helps one person then it's served it's purpose....especially in the current economic climate we can do without giving away money and wasting our valuable time! If you have received similar emails lately please feel free to add them to the comments of this thread to make everyone aware.



UPDATED 29/01/2009 - Please read the comments attached to this post to see updates on other current email addresses being used on this and various other "scams"......

Wed on the same day, not in the same way!

A couple goes to their wedding ceremony on a go-kart in a group wedding in Guangzhou on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. [Photo: chinanews.com]

28 couples in Guangdong tied the knot in a group wedding on Tuesday, with the bridegrooms receiving their brides in red sedans, horses, bicycles, and even go-karts.

The bridegrooms were asked to draw straws to decide which vehicle they will have to take their brides to a local theme vacation village where their wedding ceremony was held, China News Service reports.

A bridegroom who chose to bring his bride in a red sedan like in a Chinese traditional wedding is the most eye-catching one, as he was led by a parade of people playing trumpets and lion dancing. Meanwhile, the most modern pair was the couple who went to the wedding on a go-kart.

Although it was a group wedding, it was unique for each couple as they choose different vehicles to go to the wedding ceremony. It is probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of them, a guest surnamed Xu at the ceremony said.

Click here to read the entire article.....

Wedding Ideas Magazine Budget Special.....

1000's of ways to save ££££'s on your big day

Check out the latest edition of Wedding Ideas Magazine from your newsagent or subscribe online.

Make sure you have a sneaky peek at the brand new issue of Wedding ideas magazine by viewing their fantastically flippable book!

You can turn the pages just like you would if you were viewing a printed magazine simply by dragging the page corner, and with the built in magnification tool - even reading small text is a piece of cake. So go on, get flipping!! Click here...

Weddings abroad and the current economic climate...

Speaking with several wedding and travel professionals over the past week, it appears that the current economic climate seems to be steering clear of the wedding industry. Many are seeing an increase in bookings for both honeymoons and weddings for 2009.

Increasingly, many couples have opted to get married abroad, with the trend for so-called wedding tourism, increasing year-on-year. Given the average cost of a UK wedding now to be in excess of £20,000 no wonder destination weddings are becoming more popular. With the affordability of low cost flights to many destinations, WeddingsAbroad.com offers exceptional weddings at fantastic locations around the world which are well within couples budgets.

In the current economic climate, the increasing popularity of destination weddings, shows that couples and their families are now taking a closer look at wedding costs, and are discovering that a destination wedding ticks all the right boxes, with the wedding, location, travel and honeymoon costing a lot less than the wedding alone at home would cost.

As the economic storm clouds gather, destination weddings are providing a ray of sunshine to the blushing brides and grooms in these uncertain times, proving that when it comes to getting married, brides and grooms are determined the show will go on.

What a month!

Finally I am back at my desk after a long summer holiday spent on the Balearic Island of Mallorca. We had a fabulous trip spending time making memories with our three precious children. Relaxing it certainly was not! Enjoyable it was! They went to bed only when we did and woke when we did too, so 24/7 in each other's company....hard work but so very rewarding. Also as I celebrated my 40th (sssh! don't tell anyone) two weeks ago I thought being in the sunshine would make it more bearable than the rain!

Yesterday my little boy Sebastian started school, was he excited? He barely slept in anticipation of what lay ahead. All I know is he made a volcano out of sand and ate fish fingers, so by his standard's this school is a dream!

After dropping Seb off, my first full day back to work was spent in Harrogate at the British Bridal Exhibition, wow what an awesome venue and the standard of exhibitors was exceptionally high. Both the Designer and the Bridal fashion shows were breathtaking and inspiring. The new collections were stunning and I don't envy any brides trying to choose a dress, the choice is amazing!

I was lucky to share my day with some fantastic people in the wedding industry, I met too many to mention on the various catwalks, stands and even in Costa Coffee (Hi Joanne and Sue from Amore in Rugby!)...but hi guys and girls, you know who you are!

A special mention must go to my friend and wedding expert Rachel Southwood of Wedding Ideas Magazine, and her colleague Rachel Moschke who is the editor of Wedding Ideas. We spent hours admiring the wares, chatting with fellow professionals and gossiping in the press office! These girls are true professionals in front of the lens too! We were there with Wedding TV filming the event....Simon Withington the Executive Producer is not only very talented and good at what he does but also very quick witted! Olga and Jack also from Wedding TV were super quick and totally professional at getting the job done under pressure. Sorry I wasn't able to join you all at the ball, but next year I shall be there.

So if you are still waiting for an email from me, I promise to get one to you soon. Only about 4200 emails to go through still. Off to the Theatre tonight to see Good Mourning Mrs Brown...and no it's not about me!