Don't be afraid to Bargain girls!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all the brides to be, Take my advice and don't be afraid to bargain with every single vendor (specially your hall) I paid an amazing price at FT becuase I wouldn't take No for an answer!!!!!
They threw in my venetian for free, plus I got married there for free and NO TAX/gratuity!!!!!!!!!!
Had I not been so persistent I would've paid for all those things!!!!! Money doesn't grow on trees, don't be embarrassed to take a chance!!! The worst they can say is no!
XOXOXO
Kitty

I'm glad you got such good deals! FH and I never accept the first offer. If you are ready to walk - they will chase you! The economy is tough right now - most vendors can use whatever they can get.

Good luck!

Wow that is great. I wish I had you with me when we were booking our venue!!

On that note, has anyone been successful bargaining with a band? We're interested in a Faze 4 band, which is the preferred band company of the Royalton, but they're pricey. I'm wondering if it's worth asking for some sort of 'Royalton discount.'

---

Posted by mmm117

Wow that is great. I wish I had you with me when we were booking our venue!!

On that note, has anyone been successful bargaining with a band? We're interested in a Faze 4 band, which is the preferred band company of the Royalton, but they're pricey. I'm wondering if it's worth asking for some sort of 'Royalton discount.'

---

YES U CAN!!!!!!!!!!! i DID IT WITH MY BAND AND I AM USING RENEGADE AND I GOT THEM TO GIVE ME THE SAME PRICE AS MY SISTER FROM 10 YEARS AGO

Kitty- first of all i love your icon- i'm OBSESSED with hello kitty as well!!!
but thats such a great point- My friend offered to pay in cash for all of her vendors and RH and then didnt have to pay tax- so i'm totally gonna try that.

but my one question is can you ever bargain down the guarntee of people? one place i LOVE says you have to guarntee 150 people which i cant-(i'll have 125 at the most) i even asked to speak with her manager- like begged and she wouldnt BUDGE- (they do only one wedding at a time)
anyone have a tip on bargaing for a lower minimum?????

---

Posted by mmm117

Oh well. Bargaining with Faze 4 didn't work. Sigh. The wedding industry is such a racket. They all go on and on about how they're the best and you'd be crazy to book with anyone else. We all want our wedding to be great but in the end, it's just one day and so dropping lots of money here and there to get 'the best' just doesn't always work. This isn't a house that I'm going to live in or a job that I'm going to have for years. It's just one day. Blah. I'm cranky now.

---

did you end up booking with faze 4? cause if they're that cocky and not budging i would be pissed and NOT book them! thats just so rude.

No I didn't book with them. The owner (Bob) was polite but certainly cocky. It's SUCH a turn off to me when they are arrogant and start sounding like a used car salesman.

I've been so back and forth on bands from the beginning. I feel even more confused now. We had an even worse experience at Hank Lane. The sales reps were so cocky and unhelpful. They basically talked over us when we tried to ask questions. And neither this Faze 4 band or Hank Lane showcase. We saw Timepiece live last week and we liked them plus they're a good $2000 less so maybe we'll go with them. Sigh. I guess we'll figure it out eventually.

---

Posted by cynandkeith

Kitty- first of all i love your icon- i'm OBSESSED with hello kitty as well!!!
but thats such a great point- My friend offered to pay in cash for all of her vendors and RH and then didnt have to pay tax- so i'm totally gonna try that.

but my one question is can you ever bargain down the guarntee of people? one place i LOVE says you have to guarntee 150 people which i cant-(i'll have 125 at the most) i even asked to speak with her manager- like begged and she wouldnt BUDGE- (they do only one wedding at a time)
anyone have a tip on bargaing for a lower minimum?????

---

They are more likely to lower the price $5-10 pp then to drop the minimum I found. Most wouldn't budge on the minimum they said this is the MINIMUM. SO I got the picture loud and clear.

I am surprised that you didnt have to pay Tax. I thought that by law you had to pay tax as a vendor must show that in their book keeping.
Kudos to you. Thats awesome !!

---

Posted by mls282

They are more likely to lower the price $5-10 pp then to drop the minimum I found. Most wouldn't budge on the minimum they said this is the MINIMUM. SO I got the picture loud and clear.

---

that totally stinks- yea after my begging, the managers solution to me was to get married THIS oct- and then there would be no minimum required!!!
so rude- just cause they want to fill a date THEN she'll lower the minimum but make me plan a wedding in less then THREE MONTHS!- yea right

---

Posted by cynandkeith
THEN she'll lower the minimum but make me plan a wedding in less then THREE MONTHS!- yea right

---

That's what I did! Actually it may be closer to 3 1/2, but not quite 4. It's possible!

---

Posted by cynandkeith

---

Posted by mls282

They are more likely to lower the price $5-10 pp then to drop the minimum I found. Most wouldn't budge on the minimum they said this is the MINIMUM. SO I got the picture loud and clear.

---

that totally stinks- yea after my begging, the managers solution to me was to get married THIS oct- and then there would be no minimum required!!!
so rude- just cause they want to fill a date THEN she'll lower the minimum but make me plan a wedding in less then THREE MONTHS!- yea right

---

That stinks. I had the same situation changed my day to a Sunday so I could afford 150 people and booked the place. It ends up being the same price as I was going to pay with 125 people now I can just have more people and have it at the place I want.

---

Posted by cynandkeith

Kitty- first of all i love your icon- i'm OBSESSED with hello kitty as well!!!
but thats such a great point- My friend offered to pay in cash for all of her vendors and RH and then didnt have to pay tax- so i'm totally gonna try that.

but my one question is can you ever bargain down the guarntee of people? one place i LOVE says you have to guarntee 150 people which i cant-(i'll have 125 at the most) i even asked to speak with her manager- like begged and she wouldnt BUDGE- (they do only one wedding at a time)
anyone have a tip on bargaing for a lower minimum?????

---

Would it be possible to change your wedding to a Friday evening or Sunday evening? Its substantially cheaper per person then maybe you can afford the 150 people??

---

Posted by Valerie-Joe

I'm glad you got such good deals! FH and I never accept the first offer. If you are ready to walk - they will chase you! The economy is tough right now - most vendors can use whatever they can get.

Good luck!

---

In truth I would agree...but I disagree b/c people are still getting married and still spending $$$$ on their weddings even with the economy taking a slide.

You just talk to them, get to know them....I had vendors drop prices, add things, pull things out, etc. Tell them what you want and what you are willing to pay and go from there.

I did not go over budget on anything and did not give anything up.
Except video b/c I didnt intend on getting one and even then I was still under my total budget after adding this vendor

---

Posted by mls282

Would it be possible to change your wedding to a Friday evening or Sunday evening? Its substantially cheaper per person then maybe you can afford the 150 people??

---

i've thought about it- but FH and I REALLY want a sat night wedding....so we might go with a different place- thanks for the suggestion

---

Posted by Valerie-Joe

---

Posted by cynandkeith
THEN she'll lower the minimum but make me plan a wedding in less then THREE MONTHS!- yea right

---

That's what I did! Actually it may be closer to 3 1/2, but not quite 4. It's possible!

---

you are BRAVE- we defiently thought about it- but i started having heart palputations
i dont think i can personally do it-
GOOD LUCK to you girl-