What are some ways you have negotiated lower lower prices with your venues?
Did you do a buffet instead of sit-down? Three course meal instead of 4? Were you able to negotiate a lower price by paying in full at booking? etc.
LaBellaVita622
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
I booked on a thursday
cherryblossom
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Posted by LaBellaVita622
I booked on a thursday
That's not a problem for your guests?
Cassie15
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
If you do a sit down dinner, it's actually cheaper than buffets. Buffets require stations to be refilled whereas sit down course consist of 3-4 course entree. You certainly ask them to lower the cost for vegetarian, children, vendor meals. I read this tip from the Budget Handbook guide, not sure if you want to try this-- most vendors immediately charge higher when they hear the key word 'wedding'. However, if you let your venue know it's for a reunion or bachelorette/rehearsal dinner then they'll lower the prices for you. The only drawback is your wedding cake, if you are also planning to book your cake with the same venue then that might be a problem if you get the discount. Also, ask which season are slower as well as the time/day of the year. This way you are guaranteed a lower price pp.
cherryblossom
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Posted by Cassie15
If you do a sit down dinner, it's actually cheaper than buffets. Buffets require stations to be refilled whereas sit down course consist of 3-4 course entree. You certainly ask them to lower the cost for vegetarian, children, vendor meals. I read this tip from the Budget Handbook guide, not sure if you want to try this-- most vendors immediately charge higher when they hear the key word 'wedding'. However, if you let your venue know it's for a reunion or bachelorette/rehearsal dinner then they'll lower the prices for you. The only drawback is your wedding cake, if you are also planning to book your cake with the same venue then that might be a problem if you get the discount. Also, ask which season are slower as well as the time/day of the year. This way you are guaranteed a lower price pp.
All good information.!...
But wouldn't the venues be kind of angry when they discover that they've been lied to? I thought of doing this... but I don't want them to get even with me later on my wedding day for not being upfront with them.
DanielleMF
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
When FH and I went-- We just went with my parents and were all very interested we told them our budget and they worked with us from there. I got the Month and Date i wanted for the price I wanted I think these days they just want any business so its a little easier- at least it was for us.
Good Luck
MrsS2011
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
I just told them I really really wanted to book there, but the price per person was a little too much, and then he automatically brought the price down a few dollars pp, and lowered the minimum # of people I had to guarantee. It helped a lot!
FutureJOC
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
sit down is definitely cheaper than buffet... i didn't necessarily talk them down in price considering I thought they were way affordable as it is (way under out budget at least) but I was able to separate my payments more since I am getting married in 2011 and i booked now
depoc1011
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Thursday Nights are becoming more and more popular! YOu can really get your dream reception hall this way and honestly all other vendor prices are a bit lower....i would have NO problem going to a Thursday night wedding for a person that I was close with and what not.....IMO its smart to save when and where you can-and your guests will understand....
As for bringing down costs...i didnt ask to bring down inital costs it was more which extras i knew i wanted....I said i really would like to add this and this in but the cost would then be way too much for me- I was able to add in the extras i wanted without breaking the budget!
HTH good luck!
cherryblossom
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Posted by depoc1011
Thursday Nights are becoming more and more popular! YOu can really get your dream reception hall this way and honestly all other vendor prices are a bit lower....i would have NO problem going to a Thursday night wedding for a person that I was close with and what not.....IMO its smart to save when and where you can-and your guests will understand....
As for bringing down costs...i didnt ask to bring down inital costs it was more which extras i knew i wanted....I said i really would like to add this and this in but the cost would then be way too much for me- I was able to add in the extras i wanted without breaking the budget!
HTH good luck!
It took me a while to warm up to the idea of a Sunday wedding... I imagined no one would come or everyone would just eat dinner and leave...Thursday seemed like an impossibility!
But now the more I think of it Thursday is sounding better and better! It would be nice way to weed out some of those guests we are obligated to invite actually and keep it small & intimate. I like it, but I don't know how FH will feel about it (he wants a big blowout).
It is tempting considering my first choice was out of my price range even for a Sunday. Never seriously considered doing it on a Thursday though! Thanks for putting the idea in my head.
SoinLoveRwe2
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Def the day of the week-- DH and I were dead set on a Saturday night when we met with one vendor who said to us:
in a month no one will remember the actual date of the wedding, in 3 months no one will remember the day of the week, in 6 months no one will remember the month of the wedding and in a year no one will remember the season of the wedding. All they will remember is the WEDDING! The rest of it will fade away!
We shaved quite a bit off by having our wedding on a Friday night!
Another thing-- I 'demanded' certain things in my per person price and sort of just said, this is what I want and I'm not paying extra for it, period.
I considered those items 'deal breakers'-- I wanted intermezzo, champagne served to guests as they arrived, kettle one AND grey goose, doormen at the door to hold the doors etc. All of those things add up as additional charges, even if they're only a few bucks each-- if you go in knowing exactly what you want you'd be surprised at what they'll 'throw in' at the list price if they know you'll be sold if they say yes!
Im a Pepper
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
First thing I did was ask. And they happily accommodated. Didn't have to change or substitute or forego anything. Just told them I loved the place but couldn't afford what they were asking.
Melvin1297
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Posted by depoc1011
Thursday Nights are becoming more and more popular! YOu can really get your dream reception hall this way and honestly all other vendor prices are a bit lower....i would have NO problem going to a Thursday night wedding for a person that I was close with and what not.....IMO its smart to save when and where you can-and your guests will understand....
As for bringing down costs...i didnt ask to bring down inital costs it was more which extras i knew i wanted....I said i really would like to add this and this in but the cost would then be way too much for me- I was able to add in the extras i wanted without breaking the budget!
HTH good luck!
We are having a Thursday night wedding next July. We were going to do late Jan/Feb or March/April but were worried about the weather. We love Westbury Manor and it beautiful grounds and thought if it snowed, we were really missing out. The rain I can deal with but the snow (even though it would look beautiful) would be more of a challenge especially for important out of town guests. We were able to have a summer,hopefully outdoor cocktail hour for a spring price. WE asked our family & friends and they all said they would rather a Thursday than a Sunday. Its easier to take off Friday or muddle through one day than it is a whole week. The party ends at 11:30 pm anyway so people still can get home fro work if they have to. It also helps that many people are teachers who were off anyway or are self-employed. People also had a year in advance to decide whether or not they will need to take off. Hope this helps!!!!
peaches42587
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
we opted for sunday instead of saturday and a twiliight wedding instead of night time. we're paying 77 pp.
EsquireBride
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
We had them take out 1 of the 4 food stations at the CH. They took off $10 pp.
We also had our wedding in the winter not on a Saturday night, so the cost had already dropped $30 pp just for that alone.
halfbaked
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
We're having it on a Friday night. That was about half the price of the saturday night price.
slyman1101
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
i had to sleep with my banquet manager...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA jk!!!!
QueenPeach
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Here are some of the things that were offered to me to lower the price, however, it doesn't apply to all venues. ie: some were ok with removing # of stations, some were not.
Remove one hot station or cold station Switch and expensive item to something else - the cold shrimp cocktail station(was included) to antipasti/mediteration station Change carving station items (ex. round of beef in place of filet mignon) Reduce the # of entree selections for the guests Remove the dessert tray (still have dessert per guest plus cake, but no mini pastries and cookies to share at the table)
You can also talk down the ceremony fee if you're having it there or they remove it all together!
Some are willing to throw stuff in but not reduce price (ex. martinin bar plus ice luge for martinis and custom ice sculpture)
Hope this helps!
mag2010
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
I booked a Sunday evening vs. a Friday or Saturday paying $15 to $20 less pp.
LaBellaVita622
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Re: How did you bring down costs with your venue?
Posted by cherryblossom
Posted by LaBellaVita622
I booked on a thursday
That's not a problem for your guests?
Unfortunately we're paying for it ourselfves & 'our guests' realize we do not come from money & who ever wants to be there will be there..there's plenty of times I've had to go to Sunday night wedding's & be up for work the next day. This is what worked for us..& like Christina said this is a wasy for us to get our dream place, all the vendor's that we want, take a great honeymoon, & buy a house :) ..& yes weekdays weddings themselves are becoming more popular..when we booked our DJ he told us they had a wedding to do the next monday night & it was not a holiday tuesday morning..I think with this economy people understand why we're kind of altering the usual way fo doing things..& if they want to help pay for it then 'll have it on my friday night it june that I wanted..but if not then they don't then they dan't have to come & that's fine..I have patients of mine from work asking to be invited so I'm not worried about anything...I know if I need people they'd come haha
