Wedding Budget: How to Negotiate With Wedding Vendors
While steep discounts are unrealistic, there's a good chance of getting a few extras thrown in. (Think an additional hour for your reception, or a champagne upgrade.) You just have to negotiate right. Here's how.
Photo: Jennifer Angeloro Photography
Even if you're working with the hottest vendor in town, there's always room to negotiate, especially if there's a good reason to reduce costs -- like having the wedding on a less-popular Friday night. Here are some more crucial pointers.
Know the market
Find out what other vendors offer for the same price point, and use this as leverage. Ask about every single thing that's included in your package. Then find out in advance what extras are going to cost -- and whether those costs can be waived.
Stick to your limit
A vendor may be willing to cut you a deal as long as you agree to something additional -- for example, he might consent to give you an extra hour of shooting, but only if you have him take your engagement photos. What you need to ask yourself is whether this will actually cost you more in the end.
Adopt a friendly but firm demeanor
There's no harm in politely asking for a deal. If vendors are excited to work with you, they may be more willing to come up with creative solutions.
Be indifferent
You need the vendor to believe that if he or she won't meet your offer you will walk away. Consider collaborating with your fiance to employ the old good-cop-bad-cop routine.
Practice makes perfect
Try your hand negotiating at a flea market to see what talking style works for you.
-- The Knot
See More: Wedding Planning Basics
share your advice on this topic
Write your own tips and ideas to share with other Knotties.
mpearson29
I pushed hard for a discount on a block of rooms at the hotel where we wanted to stay. If had held the ceremony or reception actually in the hotel, there would have been a 20% off today's prices. We booked the reception in a privately owned restaurant attached to the hotel instead, so were told we didn't get the discount. There are a dozen hotels nearby, so I researched their rates, brought the info back to the hotel we wanted to stay at and got a 30% on the Friday/Sat night.
JenaeKurtz
Go for off season prices or book way ahead. the location We chose offered discounts for weddings in off season, I was interested in the first week of October which was NOT an off season price but I asked if I booked the location that week which was over a year ahead if they would give me the off season discount and they did. that saved me about 1,300 just on the location. I also got the photographer to throw in engagement photos for no extra cost, I payed for them upfront and he considered it a deposit to hold the date, and then he subtracted that amount from my total bill in the end.
Lucky_wedding2010
Here's a tip from an insider (I work for a cell phone company, and they train us to talk people into buying things everyday): Remember what YOU want. Like someone else has mentioned, beware of vendors who tell you what you want. It's okay when they say "okay so what you want is..." to reply with, "no, what I want is..." Keep in mind, nice vendors are willing to help you figure out what exactly you are talking about, so when they say "it sounds like you want" or "I think this would be good for you" they really are trying to help. Watch out for what we call a "presumptive close" on the deal. That's when they pitch something, then say "and we can get all this set up today..." like you have already agreed. Not every vendor will do this, either. Just the politely pushy ones. Finally, if you know you have a problem with saying no, or if you are a shopoholic, invite your fiance to go with you, or just someone more capable of saying no.
spitfire_wyobride
Cash definitely seems to help. Being willing to walk away from a location also works to a certain extent. Obvisouly a "hot location" isn't going to worry if they lose your business but a smaller, less well known faciilty is much more willing to work with you. I've also found the less advertised locations are more willing to tailor their business to your wants/needs than the larger, cookie cutter locals. A little kindness and respect also goes a long way. When a vendor starts telling you what you want, it's time to run!
christine81
Be respectful and realistic with vendors. If I can get a person to perform a service who is reliable and does great work that goes a long way. Remember that if someones cuts you a deal and it sounds too good to be true it usually is!