It's June, which means wedding season is upon us.

It’s June, which means wedding season is upon us. Though weddings are cause for happiness and excitement, they can also be incredibly stressful. Preparations for the big day are often time consuming and expensive. To ensure the big day goes off without a hitch, Better Business Bureau Serving E. MA, ME, RI & VT (BBB) recommends doing your research when purchasing a wedding dress, choosing an event planner, and selecting other wedding related services.

“The average wedding now costs over $30,000, so couples really can’t afford not to do their research,” said Paula Fleming, spokesperson for the local BBB. “Selecting unreliable services could mean losing out on thousands of dollars.”

In the last year, BBB has received more than 215 wedding related complaints on industries ranging from photographers to florists, with some of the most common complaints including problems with the product or service and billing issues.

BBB has also seen over 82,400 inquiries from consumers into industries ranging from jewelers and bridal shops, to caterers and limousine services.

When preparing for the big day, BBB recommends considering the following:

Do Your Research. Take the time to consider all of your options. Check out BBB’s Accredited Business directory to find a trustworthy business. Reading reviews from previous customers can help give you an idea of how reliable a business is. You can also compare pricing from multiple services to get the best deal possible and stick to your budget.

Pay With A Credit Card. Paying with a credit card typically offers fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges over $50 within two months of a purchase. Additionally, many credit cards offer travel or cash back rewards. With travel rewards you can earn points towards a honeymoon and with cash back you can put that money back into paying for your big day.

Save All Documents. Hang on to any receipts, confirmation numbers, paperwork, and emails until you are entirely satisfied with the result. Additionally, make sure you get every detail in writing. You will want the expectations surrounding dates, times, products, and cancellation and deposit policies established in an official capacity.

Read The Fine Print. It is critically important for you to understand a business’s exchange, refund, and cancellation policies. You need to understand what you’re entitled to if the business fails to hold up their end of the bargain.

Think About Insurance. Wedding insurance may be a good idea as it covers a number of unexpected issues like bad weather, medical issues, and unreliable businesses. Wedding insurance often costs a few hundred dollars and can save you several thousand dollars.

To find reliable businesses for your wedding day visit BBB’s Accredited Business Directory. For more information you can trust, visit us atbbb.org/boston.

Click here to view BBB’s Wedding Tips infographic.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses and brands they can trust. In 2014, consumers turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.7 million businesses, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB Serving Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont, founded in 1912, is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America.

Paula Fleming is VP of Communications & Marketing for Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT. Find Paula on Google+.