i just wondered how many of you negotiated on the price for your venue? we have found a lovely venue but it is slightly out of our budget so i was thinking of asking if they would reduce the costs pp. i have never done this before and feel bit nervous and wondered if this was the norm?
thanks
CommentAuthorLauraM9144
i did ! they quoted £3200 for our day with some adjustment i.e doing my own centrepieces, doing most of my flowers and changing the meal to 2 options for each course i managed to get it knocked down to £1200!!! it is up to £1320 now but thats because i added more guests. personally i think most venues would expect it and have allowed for it in your quote its definitely worth asking !!!
One BIG day will lead to lots of little happy days !!
CommentAuthorAna40
I didn't, but I think quite a few of the ladies on here have. They should be able to give you some tips. X
CommentAuthorValentinaK
Got mine free... got my uncle to liaise as he is a mason there... we got the venue free, deposit refunded and masonic lodge members bar rates! WIN!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorCanyouspellthat?
Definitely negotiate! I say this even though it kills me, but H2B is great at it. If you don't ask you don't get is his motto. He used to manage hotels and says its perfectly acceptable to negotiate. Good luck!
I did this with photography, I saw the photographer I liked, read her bio and knew she was my photographer after just reading that (she'd been recommended to me by the catere we trust). I told her loads of details and we seemed to operate on the same wave length.
She said she liked my ideas so much that she offered 10% discount... that may seem like nothing when we're talking £150 off, but that pays for another bridesmaid dress, or 3 other people at the reception... so it was worth it. I also discussed setting up a payment plan with her so we can have paid it by the wedding but without having to deal with huge sums all the time.
I use online auction sites too and the cheaper home stores for decohey often have one off deals in there for products that are selling for 3 or 4 times as much on the web and in other shops, branded as luxury products, I literally found identical products with an £8 markup and the only difference was the sticker on the box... no word of a lie!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorJadeH41
i didnt but wish i had now, do u think it wud b cheeky and too late? lol
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Most venues inflate the prices slightly so that they can offer a discount - its worth getting an overall quote and asking for a percentage reduction...
Before you go, think about any other good reasons why they should offer you a discount - is your weddi g particularly large (so extra bar revenue for them, potentially more accommodation etc)...or on a Friday, sunday or even a weekday...is it out of the main wedding season etc.
A word of warning though seeing as your date is currently two years time, the venues prices might increase twice before then...make sure the amount you've negotiated will still apply and is stated clearly in any contract.
Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
I really want to but as mine us a midweek deal so massively reduced already but was thinking of getting my mil2b to see if we can get it any cheaper or if not if theres anything extra we can have included like say hotel room the night before? As even that would be half the money towards o/h's car! Aswell as we want live band snd djs included in price, so won 't need him!
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorValentinaK
You should always try and negotiate, at worst they can say no, that's the best price they van offer. Don't feel bad baout aksing, it may be they make some minor changes or you agree something on your part in order for them to offer a better price.
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
If you feel the price is already quite good, try getting a few extras thrown in..as Valentina says, the worse they can say is no! Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorclive
It's your wedding, weddings are expensive, you are on a strict budget. so we negotiate. Most important, DON'T tell them your budget for the venue!
CommentAuthorHelenW
We didnt bargain on the price as we get married on a sunday so already got a cheap deal! We did however get loads of exteas thrown in (2 rooms the night before the wedding, free manicure/pedicure for bride and bride mum) things like that! Were also having 2 courses and using our cake as dessert for the wedding breakfast. Hoping that will discount it! X
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary
life, love gives us a fairy tale"
CommentAuthorValentinaK
My motto is, if you don't ask you don't get!
I wrote that to my photog... I said, I know it seems brazen, but its a fact, if you don't ask you don't get. We had a budget in mind and we love your work (change to venue/package) but it's a little over what we had hoped (even if it isn't!!). With that in mind, what is the best price you could offer us for that deal?
If they come back and say that is the best price, then you haven't lost out, at worst they'll tell you that's the best price, at best they'll knock off a few bob!!!!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorDecember
We knocked ours down from £85 pp to £60 pp. We've also gotten them to take 20% off all their par prices for our guests.
Certainly worth trying, as with 80-100 guests we've saved ourselves thousands and our guests money too.
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
My venue's original quote was £6,496.00 for 80 guests. We went to one fo their showcase events and had another look round and we spoke with another events co-ordinator there. She asked if we had been to the venue before and we said yes we had had a show round a couple of weeks previously with the other girl. What did you think she asked. I said it was one of my favourite venues, i actually told her it was my favourite venue, however I had another venue that I liked not quite as much but would settle if i had to as the could do pretty much the same package for £1,000.00 less. I told her budget wise we had set aside approx £4,500.00 to £5,000.00. I told her I liked the venue but to shave £1,500.00 off of everything else was going to be a huge task. So she asked if we had a copy of the original costing we had been sent, which we did. So she got to work and tweaked a few things here and there and the price came in at £5,291.00.
Bingo I was ready to bok right there but my h2b said that we would have another look around and get back to her. So off we went and had a cup of tea and I came up with some more questions. We sought her out and asked the questions we wanted to ask...were teas and coffee's included in the cost at end of meal or did we need to pay a supplement, can guest use confetti etc. I also asked how much to upgrade to a suite on the night and she said usually £160.00 but if we booked within 30 days she would include that complimentary. I asked how much for suite the night before so that I have space with all the girls to get ready..She said she would charge £160.00 instead of £360.00.
Then h2b, cool as a cucumber says....if we book tonight will you do the package for £5,000.00? a wee quick look over the figures and she said yes. Happy happy wife to be :) even happier when we went back the following week with the contract to be told that the suite the night before was being included complimentary too. All in almost a £2,000.00 saving.
Make sure you just go for a show round and stay cool. Call a few days later and ask for a costing of everything discussed and then get some comparisons so that you can go back and say such and such can do for x amount. and we only really budgeted for xxx. SO if they say £6,000.00 tell them you can only really afford £4,500.00 so when they offer it for £5,200.00 you can pretend you are prepared to spend a little more but always stress how much you are streching you budget xx
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Wow that's good going Cathryn!
Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorclive
That is the model way to handle a situation. Hats off to BOTH of you. The wedding industry is huge business - and that's the key word. Treat it like a business first, and your wedding second, and as Cathryn has proved, there is always a deal to be had. The mark-up is horrendous!
I have a feeling future brides will be head-hunting you very quickly! Well done again! :o))
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Haha if me and h2b do a cow renewal or something like that, I'm enlisting Clive and Cathryn to negotiate! Lol
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Sorry, vow renewal....damn autocorrect!
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorclive
edited
you were very shrewd when you both negotiated, for the simple reason being that you're getting married in three years. Their prices will increase by 30% ON TOP of their original price, so you will have easily saved in excess of £2500!
Really - its brilliant stuff!
CommentAuthorclive
Laura, you have a cow renewal if you want one - I can get you one very cheap! ;-)
CommentAuthorValentinaK
I've done this... said i was hoping to spend xxxx which is less than i am prpared to pay and then sometimes they've come back with lower figures than that! At the end of the day they want the business as people are being more and more savvy about it and playing off companies, there are enough out there!
And we lived happily ever after!
CommentAuthorlelgal
ah thanks ladies for all your responses some really good ideas and some really good negotiating going that i will have to try ; )... that was always my grandad's saying if you don;t ask you don;t get. i have emailed the venue for an exact costing so will try a few things you ladies have suggested... wish me luck : ) xxxx
CommentAuthorBev
ALWAYS worth asking for a discount. I think the key is to not be afraid to walk away if they aren't prepared to compromise on the price. As the ladies and gents have said, most venues inflate their price purely because of the word 'wedding' so they expect you to ask for discount. Be brave, the results are well worth feeling a bit out of your comfort zone for!
We got an excellent deal on our new venue, and they've even added canapés, champagne toast and centrepieces in!
You'll be haggling on everything before you know it :) good luck x
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
I am really lucky because I have also been guaranteed lower than 2013 prices and my contract states price per head if my number increase or decrease.
Anyone in Edinburgh area wants help I will xx
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
Also just read lana2bmrshands comment......my wedding is a monday so the cheap package...still discounted...it is so over inflated you will get something off xx
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
edited
Can you come negotiate mine cathrynL?? Im a scaredy cat! I've worked out mine will be £4425 for the guests I want for midweek (£2,585 for 30 + £40 per extra, £20 kids, free under 5) for Compared to weekend -exclusive hire (norm £2000) -honey moonsuite night of wedding (norm £120) -use of civil ceremny licence (norm £375) -chair covers of choice (norm £4.50 each) -welcome drinks -3 course pre-selected choice meal ( norm £35pp) -glass of wine with meal -toasting wine -inclusive dj (norm £225) -all decorations of silf flowers/fishbowls/vases etc)
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorbarbie86
We didn't negotiate as hard as we perhaps could have; we got the following:
Price fixed for a date over 3 years away Choice of food for the guests at no extra charge (provided we give numbers before-hand); this should have cost an extra £10 pp, or £600 Special deal on the rooms, saving anything from £20-40 on current prices Bridal suite at £90 less Room hire for £600 instead of £1200
So, we saved about £1300 excluding the deal on the rooms, and any price increases.
We could perhaps have shaved more off, but I'm not sure; I already felt we were getting a good deal so didn't want to barter too hard. We're also getting married on a Saturday in August; had we been marrying off-season or on a different day, we'd probably have haggled a bit more.
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
Just remebered in our booklet from last year it says that theu can do the package for 50 instead of 30 during winter,hopefuly thats a good sign of negotiations to be done! X
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorSillybirds
Our hotel has different priced packages, so we got the £2500 which includes catering for three course meal for 50 people, table linen etc/sashes, table decorations including martini glasses, mirror plates, crystals over the table etc, red carpet, glass of wine with meal, glass of sparkly for toast, use of cake stand, evening do for 50 with catering and disco. We have the bridal suite for the night, a months free membership to their swimming pool, sauna, jazuzzi, and special rates for any wedding guests that want to spent the night etc. I don't think that is too bad for that price. I might see if they will include a drink on arrival, otherwise they have a bar there. We have paid an extra £150 for the room where we are getting married, but again this will be decorated with chair covers and sashes and flowers that the hotel are providing.
We are getting married the Friday before Christmas next year, and am glad we asked now, before they decided to book up with parties etc.
Future Mrs Chick!!!
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
I would totally come and help you Lana2bmrshands but you are soooo far away lol xx
CommentAuthorMundith
i emailed my chosen venue last night, hoping she comes back with a good price the current amount of £4495 is a little out of our price range and has alot of things we dont want or need....though there is a 10% discount for a friday wedding.
can you guys tell me what you think of how i worded it?
Hi (name of co-ordinator),
It's been a while since I was last in touch, had so much going on!
I was hoping you could give me an approximate cost for our wedding as we are debating several venues at the moment, though we all prefer (venue) its just coming out a quite a bit more expensive than another and I don't want to settle for second best unless budget says I have too!
There are parts of the package that we won't need as we are hoping to do some of our details to make it more personal. I'll tell you what we do want to make it easier (we even looked through the menu plans)
Based on 50 daytime (plus 4 children) and 120 evening guests on Friday the 20th February 2015, we'd like:
- The wedding co-ordinator - Exclusive use of venue - White linen - Civil ceremony Room hire - Bucks fizz for the ladies or beer for the men welcome drink (something different for the groom he has an allergy) - 3 course wedding breakfast (gluten free if possible as the groom has an allergy) - tea/coffee - 2 glasses of wine with the meal - Glass of prosecco for the toast - hog roast evening buffet (with veggie option) - Resident DJ - Room for bride and groom - 3 rooms overnight with space to get the bridesmaids/bride ready
There is also a possibility of day guests increasing to 55 max and 135 evening (however I am trying to avoid this)
We are a little concerned with the bar prices as well as we have very thirsty guests who we feel may be put off by them, is there any chance these can be discounted? well if you don't ask you don't get do you ;)
After looking through the menu we have certain preferences I was wondering if these could be taken into account ( the veggie option doesn't have to be gluten free, just fish free) :
starter - smoked haddock and potato tart with chive olive dressing - Ti-an of tomato, red onion and mozzarella pesto dressing
Main - rock rack of lamb with herb crust and rosemary jus - roast sweet pepper with cumin flavoured couscous
Dessert - vanilla cheesecake, strawberry compote and chocolate shard (gluten free option for the groom)
I know its a big ask but I really love the venue and am hoping you come in cheaper than the other place.
Thanks in advance
Sorry its so long :(
Tradition is not for us ;)
Future Mrs M
CommentAuthorDecember
Mundith, Instead of "It's been a while since I was last in touch, had so much going on!" say that you've been looking over your budget and viewing some other venues.
When talking about the bar prices, instead of saying "well if you don't ask you don't get do you ;)" be a bit more formal. Explain that you can not expect your guests to pay a lot for their evening drinks.
To be honest I would make the whole thing sound a little mroe formal, it comes across as youmight be a easy person to say no to. You have to show them that you are quite firm and have set ideas. Like Clive has said its a business, they are not there to do you a favour. Make them work for you.
"I know its a big ask" don't say that. Make it sound like its the least they can do!! It actually IS the least they can do! You'll be spending thousands there and they know that.
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
I agree with what December has said. If she gets back to with a slightly lower price...go back and say we will not be able to book your venue unless we can get it for under £xxxx.
Don't be unreasonable, be realistic and firm. They may well come back and say they can only do it at £400.00 above what you asked and in that case you say ok I will have to think about it, you know need to go and look over your budget again to see if there is anywhere that you can save the differnce, unless you have the money already to pay the deposit the deposit say to them if you book the venue today will they do it for the amount you ask for...if they say yes then great if they say no go back to youhave to go and look over your whole budget.
There is no reason you should not get a discount of some sort as they know their prices are over inflated and they also know what they take off of your wedding package they will get back at the bar xx
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
does email negotiations work? im better negotiating on a key board than in person. as i feel bad?
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorMundith
i havent heard anything back from her yet (id already sent it before asking advice, im a fool i know) but she knows im really friendly so wouldnt be formal in email as we have had a few conversations before. ive already expressed all this too her in conversation just wanted to make sure i have a written record of what ive already asked.
she knows 'we' will be hard to say no to as we have stated chief bridesmaid is a savvy shopper and wants me to go elsewhere ;)
xx
Tradition is not for us ;)
Future Mrs M
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
fingers crossed let us know how youget on xx
CommentAuthorMundith
will do thank you, i personally think the price is reasonable for what/where it is at £4495 with a discount for a friday wedding (she did say something about out of season discount too but we'll see) but im hoping i can get it for more like £2.5 - 3k if possible cos thats what the next venue one down costs that i dont love i just think is 'alright' x
Tradition is not for us ;)
Future Mrs M
CommentAuthorWhovianbride
im hoping i could get mine down to 3.5k from 4.4k as then will have save a grand and an get our band and maybe even our tardis at a push seeming as we won't be needing the dj aswell if we get a band
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorMundith
fingers crossed for the both of us then :) i want to get a special car just for an hour so we can have some time alone as husband and wife (everything will be in the same place) x
Tradition is not for us ;)
Future Mrs M
CommentAuthorMundith
I'm going to need to be more forceful like you ladies suggested as she has literally just given me the same price minus the 10% friday discount......its like she completely glazed over everything i said other than the numbers!
im rubbish at being formal and 'pushy' cos im worried she will let my date go and then il be gutted! Help!
how is your venue negotiating going Saraba1? i kinda hijaked your thread sorry :(
