Photo by Wild West Weddings at Hidden River Ranch. The Hidden Truth Behind Many Preferred-Vendor Lists Walk through venue doors and you’ll often get a “trusted partners” brochure. Sounds convenient, right? But convenience can cost you creativity—and sometimes cash. What REALLY happens Pay-to-Play or Family Favors. Some venues charge vendors 10-25 % of every booking, or they simply recommend a relative. That cut can slash a vendor’s profit, so they either raise your price or