Vendor Tips
How to vet an event vendor before you pay a deposit
Almost everyone in Nigeria knows a story: the caterer who collected a deposit and stopped picking up calls, the decorator who arrived with half the items in the mood board, the 'photographer' whose Instagram page was full of someone else's work. Most event vendors are honest and hard-working, but a few bad ones can ruin a day you cannot repeat. Here is how to check a vendor properly before you send a single kobo.
Start with their real work, not their page
Instagram is where most Nigerians find event vendors, and it is a great place to start. But followers and likes can be bought, and photos can be copied from other vendors or from foreign websites. A beautiful feed is not proof of anything.
Ask for work from specific events: the date, the venue and, if possible, a contact from that event. Real vendors usually have plenty of behind-the-scenes videos, setup photos and client messages. If every picture looks like it came from a magazine and nothing shows the vendor's own team at work, ask more questions.
- Run a reverse image search on two or three portfolio photos to make sure they are not taken from elsewhere.
- Look for tagged posts from clients, not just the vendor's own posts.
- Check that the comments look real — names, faces and genuine conversations, not just emojis.
Check that the business exists
Many talented vendors run small businesses without formal registration, and that alone is not a red flag. But for larger bookings — a full catering contract, a big hall or a complete decor package — it is reasonable to ask for a registered business name.
You can search business names on the Corporate Affairs Commission's public search portal. It takes a few minutes and tells you whether the name you were given is real.
- Ask for a physical address and, for caterers and decorators, visit their kitchen or warehouse if you can.
- Make sure the bank account name matches the business or the person you met. Be careful if you are asked to pay into a third party's account 'for now'.
- Ask how long they have been in business and how many events they handle in a typical month.
Talk to past clients
Ask for two or three recent clients you can call. A short conversation tells you more than any review. Ask simple questions: Did they arrive on time? Did the final result match what was promised? Were there any surprise charges? Would you book them again?
Listen for hesitation. Clients rarely say bad things directly, but 'they were okay, in the end' tells you a lot.
Test before you trust
- Caterers — book a paid tasting. Taste the jollof, the fried rice, the small chops and the proteins you plan to serve, and ask how they keep food hot for late guests.
- Decorators — ask for a mock-up table or a site visit to a current event setup.
- Photographers and videographers — ask for full galleries and complete wedding films, not only short highlight clips.
- Bands, DJs and MCs — watch a full video of a live performance, not just a 30-second clip.
- Cake makers — ask for a tasting box and photos of cakes at real events, not only studio shots.
- Venues — visit on the day of another event, so you can see how the hall handles crowds, parking and power.
Get everything in writing
A WhatsApp chat is not a contract. Before paying a deposit, ask for a simple written agreement or a detailed quote that both sides accept. It does not need to be complicated, but it should include:
- The event date, times and location.
- A clear list of what is included — quantities, sizes, number of staff and hours.
- The total price, including VAT, transport and any extra fees.
- The payment schedule and due dates.
- What happens if either side cancels or the date changes.
- Who exactly will be in charge on the day, with a phone number.
Pay in stages, never all at once
A typical structure is a booking deposit of 30–50%, a second payment once details are confirmed, and the balance shortly before or on the event day. Be very careful with any vendor who demands full payment months in advance, especially with pressure like 'the price will go up tomorrow' or 'another client wants this date'.
Keep every receipt and transfer confirmation. If something goes wrong, a clear record makes it much easier to resolve.
| Stage | Typical share | When |
|---|---|---|
| Booking deposit | 30–50% | When you sign the agreement |
| Second payment | 25–40% | When designs, menus or details are confirmed |
| Balance | 10–30% | One week before, or on the day after setup |
Red flags to watch for
- They refuse to share any client contacts or full examples of past work.
- The price is far below every other quote, with no clear reason.
- They pressure you to pay immediately to 'secure the date'.
- They change the account details at the last minute.
- They avoid putting anything in writing.
- They are hard to reach before you pay — it will only get worse after.
- Their story about past events changes each time you ask.
A good vendor is happy to be checked. A vendor who gets angry when you ask questions has told you what you need to know.
How EventNaija helps
We built EventNaija because finding a trustworthy vendor in Nigeria should not depend on luck or who your aunty knows. Vendors apply to join, and we review their details and past work before they are listed. Every quote, acceptance and payment on the platform is recorded in one place, so you always have a clear history of what was agreed.
Reviews on EventNaija come from clients who actually booked through the platform, so you can trust that the person writing the review was really there.
Are you a vendor?
If you run a catering, decor, photography, music, planning or venue business and you take your work seriously, we want to hear from you. Our founding vendors get early visibility, reduced commission and direct access to clients across Nigeria. Apply through the 'Become a Vendor' page — it only takes a few minutes.
Key takeaways
- Check a vendor's real, recent work — not just their Instagram feed.
- Make sure the bank account name matches the business you are booking.
- Call past clients and book tastings or site visits before paying.
- Get a written agreement and pay in stages, never all at once.
- Walk away from pressure, last-minute account changes and prices that are too good to be true.
