07/25/2026
I gave this a lot of thought before deciding to share my experience. I’m sharing it so other artists and small business owners can be more aware, protect themselves, and hopefully avoid going through what I’m experiencing.
I provided decorations for a Bangladeshi wedding. From the beginning, communication was excellent. The family was respectful, paid the deposit, and signed a contract stating that the remaining balance would be due on the day of the event. I trusted them completely.
After the event, when I returned to collect my rental items, they told me they would send the remaining payment later. I believed them because they had been kind throughout the process, and I had all of their contact information.
The following day, I politely followed up regarding the remaining balance. They replied and said they would send the payment. I thanked them and waited. Since then, I have reached out every day for over a week through text messages, emails, Facebook messages, phone calls, and respectful voicemail messages. In every message, I simply asked for the overdue balance and even provided multiple payment options to make it easier.
Today, I noticed that my personal phone number appears to have been blocked. Since my business number was also listed on the contract, I called from that number instead. The call went through, and I was able to leave another respectful voicemail asking them to please make the overdue payment.
At this point, I feel deeply disappointed and disrespected. I worked very hard on their event and even went above and beyond by adding extra touches that were never included in the original agreement. They repeatedly told me how much they loved the setup and how happy they were with my work.
What hurts the most isn’t just the unpaid balance, it’s the lack of respect and communication. As a small business owner, we invest our time, money, energy, and creativity into every event. We trust our clients to honor their agreements, just as we honor ours.
I hope sharing my experience reminds other vendors to protect themselves, follow clear payment policies, and never feel guilty for asking to be paid for the work they have completed.
