When Brad and Jenny Osten got married last August on an island in Casco Bay, their caterer did not show up.

The Ostens had paid the caterer in full in advance to secure a 20% discount. Not only are they still waiting to recoup all their money, it cost $14,000 to replace the food at the last minute.

“On the topic of catering, definitely do your research, and ask for references, and for other couples’ experience who’ve used them in the past,” Brad Osten said recently.

As the wedding season kicks into high gear, there are some clear warning signs for prospective brides and grooms to look for.

We consulted with the National Association of Catering and Events Maine, wedding planners, recently married couples and a family planning a wedding for next year. Weddings are inherently expensive and the choices can be overwhelming.

Their No. 1 piece of advice? Do your homework.

HOW TO VET WEDDING PROFESSIONALS

“Recent events in our community are a reminder that not all vendors operating in the wedding and events space meet the professional and ethical standards couples deserve on one of the most important days of their lives,” said Reuben Bell, director of memberships for the association.

The organization recommends that people dealing with wedding vendors:

• Ask for a detailed written contract. Vague promises made verbally or over email are not
  enough protection.
• Verify they can deliver what they’re promising. Ask specifically how many events they’re
  booking on your date.
• Ask how they handle emergencies or staffing shortfalls.
• Ask for and check references — not just reviews — from recent clients and inquire about comparable events they’ve successfully done.
• Ask for direct contact with two or three recent clients and actually follow up.

SHOULD YOU GET INSURANCE?

Professionals say it’s a small price to pay for the risks associated with a wedding. Venues may have their own requirements for insurance. Check with the venue operator.

The three main types of insurance to consider are:

• Event liability (often required)
• Cancellation
• Liquor (may be offered by venue)

Insurance companies:

• Travelers
• WedSafe
• Wedsure
• Markel
• eWed Insurance
• BriteCo

Your homeowners insurance may offer one-day event coverage.

WHAT THE PROS SAY

Wedding planners Ashley Gilbert and Stacey Nast own Coastal Elegance Events in Saco. They agree with Blue Elephant Catering‘s Fausto Pifferer and Reuben Bell on several key points.

WHEN IN DOUBT, GOOGLE IT

Here’s a story that reflects the power of good wedding research, from a woman who would like to stay anonymous as her daughter continues to plan her nuptials for next year.

The woman, in upstate New York, was helping her daughter and fiancé plan their wedding. Looking for a caterer, she came across a woman presenting herself as Micromony on Zola, a wedding site.

As of June 11, the name appears as the first caterer listed in Ithaca, New York, and gets a “Best of Zola” pin on the posting.

After a Zoom call with “Marie” the family was asked for a $1,000 deposit within a week to hold the date for the wedding, to be paid by Cash App, but in her son’s name.

That was the first red flag. The wedding is more than a year away.

The family asked for a written estimate and when it arrived, the mother said the numbers didn’t add up. The vendor was offering a 10% discount to pay the estimated $20,000 in full, in advance.

Another red flag.

It is standard practice to expect 25%-50% of the total contract to secure your date and as a deposit. Some contracts will ask for an intermediate payment 30-90 days out. The remainder is expected 14-30 days before the wedding.

Asked for a reference, the mother said a man only named as “Amor” responded with a heavy Jamaican accent. The mother described the conversation as “weird.” Asked to send photos of his wedding experience, they were the same photos on the Micromony website. Another red flag.

Finally, the name on the contract was B. Marie Judge, whose last name is believed to be Gregory, as evidenced by a school class photo on an Instagram page previously associated with Gregory that has since been taken down.

From the Zoom call, the mother described the woman as “heavy-set with red hair and a distinct voice,” characteristics associated with Gregory and evidenced in media stories about her and on her LinkedIn and TikTok pages.

The mother said she was very suspicious about all the red flags and Googled B. Marie Judge’s name, landing on her LinkedIn page that had her name as Bethany Gregory.

Also coming up in the search was a link to a Sun Journal story posted Sept. 15, 2025.

The mother said after reading the story she blocked the caterer and her company and reported her to Zola.

Reviews and references should be taken at face value. They can be made up; overly flowery reviews are a red flag.

These lines are included in the review for Micromony: “Marie and her team were an absolute joy to work with…” and “Micromony’s spectacular, extreme, artistic, creative, and flavorful catering was executed with precision…”

References on the other hand offer the opportunity to ask specific questions.

Remember, if the answers don’t sound right, they probably aren’t.