When you have to change an order with a vendor, it all depends on how far before the wedding you're making this call. Many vendors allow changes up to three months before the wedding, without your losing any deposit money. Some will allow changes up to two weeks before. Most vendors won't give you any trouble, since those experts in the industry fully understand that money's tight for everyone. They want to keep you happy, and keep your wedding, even if they'll get slightly less money out of you.

So make the call as soon as possible to let your vendors know you'll be e-mailing or faxing your changes to your original order. Put everything in writing, so that you don't have any billing or legal hassles later. Ask them to sign off on your note, and then you proceed from there.

A great many wedding vendors will be all too happy to help you re-work your budget and perhaps make some smaller changes to your plans that will allow you to have something closer to what you originally wanted...and some vendors will throw in some fresh elements for free. That's just good business! You'll recommend them to your friends! This might just turn out to be quite painless.

Don't fear changing plans with a vendor who has put in a lot of time working with you. Wedding coordinators, caterers, florists...they all have years of experience working with brides and grooms who change their plans a dozen times! Your one cut-back isn't likely to upset them. And if it does upset them, that's just too bad. Providing your contract allows for changes now, they work for you. They'll have to deliver as you request.