Negotiating

FH and I are going to sign the contract for our venue on Tuesday (I'm so excited!!!!) and I'm looking for advice on how to negotiate getting more into our contract. When I originally looked at the venue I went with my mom while FH was at work and they quoted me a price for a sept date and gave me some limitations based on the minimum I gave them (he said we had to go with a specific beef entree bc it was cheaper and no secondary dessert only the cake would be plated). When I went back a few days later with FH we asked about an oct date and they said the price would be the same but didn't mention anything about the limitations I was previously given. I feel like my only bargaining tool is my minimum which I had low balled originally, but I'm really surprised that the price isn't lower for oct. what did you ladies say to get extras thrown in?

Thanks!

Negotiating

October is ridiculously popular now for weddings so you wont get an off season price. As for getting the price lower. Having an afternoon/fri/sun will get you a discount vs a sat night which is prime time. Also I had my fare share of venues that wouldnt lower the price even with a higher minimum. Places are usually more likely to throw in stuff before going down on the price per head. Where are you booking??

Negotiating

Woodbury CC for a friday this oct. I'm not super concerned with the price because its still within our budget, I was just surprised that it didn't change at all bc I found that most places we looked it was a little lower if only by a few dollars. Did you have any luck with any places discounting the site fee when having a ceremony on site?

Negotiating

I didn't try to negotiate because I felt like we were getting a great deal anyway. We do have ways of saving that were option given to us by the rh. Definitely try raising your minimum though.

Negotiating

My FH and I saved about $20 pp since we chose a Thursday date. I guess it depends on the venue. We visited WBCC as well and I notice they were being a little limited with the menu options.

Negotiating

Most places have a ceremony site charge anywhere from 300 to 1000 I saw. Many wont waive it because youre paying for the extra 30 mins of time to your party. Our RH was on the lower end. Some of the places I looked were willing to waive it or discount it but that really depends on your BM (I dont remember which venues to be honest) it never hurts to ask!

Negotiating

I asked my RH to throw in wine on the tables for the guests and a pasta dish.

Negotiating

Well we booked today and we ended up not having to change the minimum even though we said we could up it (which I'm not sure was a mistake on the BM or not but where it says minimum it says 125). We got the option to select any beef entree and the secondary dessert put back and we got $300 off the ceremony fee! I went in asking for everything thinking that the worst they could say was 'no' so I'm pretty happy with what I got.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Negotiating

that's great news!