somethingprettyBy SomethingPretty editorial · Published · 7 min read
The quick answer
Start here
Before paying a wedding invoice, check the supplier, agreed amount and payment instructions through a reliable process. A familiar logo or email thread does not prove bank details are genuine. Scamwatch advises checking payment-detail changes using independently sourced contact information. This guide turns that advice into a practical wedding-payment workflow, while explaining why an ABN lookup is useful information rather than a guarantee that a transaction is safe.
Know the business behind the wedding brand
Ask which legal entity supplies the service and appears on the contract and invoice. A trading name, a person’s name and a company name may differ legitimately, but the relationship should be explainable. Keep the supplier’s genuine contact details from the initial agreement rather than relying only on the latest message.
Use official ABN Lookup and, where relevant, ASIC register information to check the identity details being claimed. A record can help you investigate consistency, but a real ABN can also be copied by someone else. Do not treat registration as a quality endorsement, solvency guarantee or proof that a particular email came from the business. The useful outcome is a clear understanding of whom you are paying and why.
Sources: Australian Business Register: official register and ABN checks · ASIC: searching official registers
Match the invoice to the accepted booking
Check the service, date, total, due amount and previous payments. A new invoice should fit the accepted quote or a documented change. If a balance suddenly differs, ask for an explanation before paying. Keep deposits credited against the total where that is how the agreement works.
A fictional check illustrates this: a $4,000 booking with $1,000 already paid leaves $3,000 outstanding before any authorised changes. An invoice asking for $3,500 needs a clear explanation of the extra $500. That does not prove fraud or an invalid charge; it identifies a discrepancy to resolve. Good records help distinguish a genuine variation, an administrative mistake and a suspicious request.
Treat changed bank details as a reason to pause
Scamwatch describes payment-redirection scams in which criminals alter payee information while impersonating a genuine business. The message can appear convincing and may sit within a familiar conversation. Stop before replacing saved details simply because the email asks urgently.
Contact the business using a number sourced independently from the suspicious message. Explain the change and ask it to confirm the actual instructions. Do not use a phone number supplied only in the same questionable invoice as your independent check. Keep the verification note with the payment record. This process is useful even when the change turns out to be genuine; a legitimate supplier can explain how it wants customers to verify updates.
Avoid pressure-driven decisions
A message saying the booking will be lost immediately can make normal checking feel awkward. Slow down and verify both the deadline and payment details through the genuine contact route. If the accepted agreement has a payment due soon, you can still ask the real supplier to clarify a suspicious instruction.
Do not send passwords, login codes or remote access because someone claims it is needed to process a wedding payment. Use the payment channel you understand and the provider’s genuine site or instructions. This article does not assess any particular bank or platform as scam-proof. If a request is inconsistent with the booking, treat that as a question to resolve rather than proof you should rush to protect the date.
Compare payment methods without assuming protection
Ask the supplier which payment methods it accepts and obtain current instructions. Different banks, cards and payment services can have different protections, conditions and time limits. Do not assume a bank transfer can always be reversed, or that every card dispute will succeed.
Keep the payment method, date and receipt in your records. If protection against a specific risk matters, ask your financial institution about the actual transaction before relying on it. Avoid publishing payment details in a guest page or group chat. A convenient method should still fit the legitimate booking and your own understanding of what happens if a problem arises. This is payment administration guidance, not a financial product recommendation.
Use a second-person check for significant payments
For a large payment, ask your partner or another trusted person to check the invoice against the booking record. Give them the agreed total and verified payee information rather than merely asking whether the email looks professional. A second check is useful when it tests facts, not when it provides a quick reassuring reaction.
Decide who approves payments so suppliers do not receive conflicting instructions. Keep a short log showing invoice, amount, due date, verification and receipt. You do not need a complex accounting system. A clear record can prevent duplicate payments and makes it easier to spot an unexpected change. Do not share online banking credentials with a helper; use an appropriate review process that keeps access secure.
Act quickly if a payment may be wrong
If you think money has gone to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately using a trusted channel. Scamwatch also provides reporting guidance. Preserve the messages, invoice, account details and transaction reference. Do not pay a second amount to someone claiming it is needed to recover the first payment without verifying through appropriate official channels.
Tell the genuine supplier what happened through independently checked contact details. It may need to investigate its communications too. Avoid publicly accusing a named business before the facts are established, especially where its identity may have been impersonated. This article cannot determine liability or guarantee recovery. Quick contact and reliable evidence give the relevant parties a better basis to respond.
Sources: Scamwatch: business email compromise scams · Scamwatch: fake business invoice alert
Keep security part of ordinary booking administration
Verify the first payment, check changes and reconcile the final balance. Use appropriate security for the email account and document storage holding your wedding records. Remove access from helpers when their role ends, and keep sensitive identity documents separate from general supplier paperwork.
SomethingPretty can organise confirmed quote costs, but it is not a supplier-verification service or payment processor. Do not paste bank details or identity documents into public notes. A good payment workflow should be repeatable enough to use even during a busy final week. Its purpose is to make careful checking normal, so that a convincing message or tight deadline does not become the only reason money leaves your account.
Set the payment process before the busy final week
Agree how the two of you will approve and record payments. One person can prepare the invoice check while the other reviews the accepted amount and verified payee. Keep the process consistent for smaller changes as well as large balances, particularly where new account details appear. A busy calendar is a reason to use a reliable routine, not to abandon it.
Save genuine supplier contacts in your records when the relationship is established. If a later message changes an address or number, verify that too rather than letting the suspicious message redefine the trusted channel. Ask suppliers how they normally communicate invoices so an unexpected method is easier to recognise.
After paying, save the receipt and ask for acknowledgement where appropriate. Check that it is credited against the correct booking, and keep a clear outstanding balance. This reduces the chance of paying a duplicate invoice or confusing a deposit with an additional cost. The workflow does not eliminate scams or decide liability, but it makes important facts visible before money is sent rather than after a problem has occurred.
Check the payment acknowledgement against the booking reference as well as the amount. A receipt is more useful when it clearly identifies which service and date the money has been credited towards.
FAQ: Does a valid ABN prove a wedding supplier is safe?
No. ABN information helps check identity details but does not establish quality, solvency or the origin of an email. Scammers can copy genuine business information. Use the accepted contract, independent contact details and a consistent payment process. Investigate mismatches rather than treating one register result as complete verification.
FAQ: What if our supplier genuinely changes bank accounts?
Verify through a trusted independent contact route and keep the confirmation. Do not assume every change is a scam, but do not update details solely from the message announcing it. Ask the business how it wants customers to confirm changes. The same process can handle legitimate updates without abandoning ordinary caution.
FAQ: Can the bank always return a mistaken payment?
No recovery is guaranteed. Available processes depend on the circumstances, payment method and timing. Contact your financial institution immediately if concerned and provide the relevant records. Do not wait for the wedding supplier to solve the banking issue before asking the bank what action is available.
FAQ: Should we send a supplier our banking password to verify payment?
No. A payment question is not a reason to give someone access to your account or authentication codes. Contact the bank through its trusted channel if you need help. Keep supplier receipts and transaction references, and use the genuine provider’s instructions rather than a request that asks you to surrender account access.
Bring the details into your plan.
Use confirmed figures, keep unknowns visible and record the dates agreed with your providers.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked 24 October 2026. Worked examples are fictional illustrations. Rules and provider terms can change; check the official source for your circumstances.
- Scamwatch: business email compromise scams ↗
- Scamwatch: fake business invoice alert ↗
- Australian Business Register: official register and ABN checks ↗
- ASIC: searching official registers ↗
General information, not an individual legal, financial or contract assessment. AI-assisted drafting with source checks; independent professional review has not been completed. About our guides · Suggest a correction