Better Business Bureau: How quick payments are ruining wedding plans

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - They found the perfect place, paid for a year and thought their wedding was all set, but the business owner got locked out, and their wedding venue and $19000 is gone.

It can be the venue, the DJ, the flowers, the food, the dresses. pay too fast. 

BBB Scam Tracker complaints show you can avoid most wedding scams if you obey these four words: Research first, pay last!

A California woman had to pay a $750 deposit on a wedding dress. They only accepted cash, which should have been a warning. She never got the dress and lost her money. 

Losing that special dress is bad enough. But losing the venue two weeks before your wedding can be a crisis.

One couple paid a year in advance, but found the hall didn’t get city permits and closed. They lost their $15,000 upfront payment.

Checking out a business thoroughly online first, can make a huge difference.

This business had an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. Some older complaints may have warned the couple about the business financial trouble before it was too late.

Whether it's a wedding dress seller or planner, research reputations online, pay as little upfront as possible and avoid cash-only transactions.

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB's Scam Tracker.

Check out all BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

More wedding protections from Better Business Bureau:

When looking for potential vendors or visiting trade shows and wedding expos, BBB has the following tips:

• Ask vendors for references. Don't rely on brochures or online reviews, which can be faked. 
• Watch for unexpected fees. Some caterers, hotels, or reception venues try to charge extra for "plate splitting," "cake-cutting," or "corkage" fees, especially if you bring in a cake or liquor purchased from another source. Ask whether fees such as taxes and gratuities will be added to the cost per person. 
• Dresses that don't measure up. Brides have complained to BBB about bridal shops ordering the wrong sizes and colors of gowns and dresses that arrive too late for timely alterations. Ensure your order specifies new merchandise sized to fit you and your bridesmaids. Remind the shop of your schedule in advance.
• Wedding transportation problems. Get details in writing, including cancellation policies, and ask how the company handles problems if you aren’t satisfied. Don’t pay the entire amount in advance.
• Musicians. Couples shouldn't rely on a website, demo tape, or phone conversation when hiring a wedding DJ service, a wedding band, or another music service. Find out where you can hear the musicians play before you hire them. Get a written commitment from the band or musician, including the time they will play and the costs to extend the time the night of the event.
• Photographer issues. A common complaint is that the photographer a couple hired doesn't show up for the wedding or fails to deliver wedding pictures until months after the event. Find out when and how the pictures will be delivered.
• Floral changes. Fresh flowers are a perishable commodity, and your area is full of wedding florists to choose from. Make sure there is a full understanding, in writing, regarding delivery time and how changes or any problems will be handled. If you use a florist to preserve your bridal bouquet after the ceremony, get as much detail as possible.
• Bridal gown preservation. Check with a reputable cleaner on the cost of cleaning and storage for your wedding dress.
• Do your research. Look at several sources for ratings and reviews, and a great place to start is BBB.org. Remember, vendor website reviews may not be reliable.