negotiating with a RH

Hellosailor11 Posted: Nov 18, 2009 08:31 PM

negotiating with a RH

I hear that it's possible to negotiate with a RH i just totally have no balls. Any easy ideas on how i can start negotiating to drop the prices? cut items? higher head count? I'm sure once I figure it out and become comfortable I'll be on a roll!

Thanks ladies!
Kristie Lee

AngnShaun Posted: Nov 18, 2009 08:39 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

we didnt negotiate price... but we negotiated about additions... she threw so much stuff at us... and we switched it for stuff we wanted that was the same, or similar $$pp...

Lucky2010 Posted: Nov 18, 2009 09:17 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

I didn't negotiate on price, but they lowered their minimum because I was willing to have an afternoon wedding.

xela Posted: Nov 18, 2009 09:36 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

How about FH? Is he a little ballsier then you? Maybe you could get him to speak up on your behalf and take it from there.

Im getting Married Posted: Nov 18, 2009 09:40 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

I just asked what they can do for us, the 2nd time we went...we increased the minimum and they lowered the PP

mag2010 Posted: Nov 18, 2009 10:24 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

I negotiated with my hall. They reduced my min head count from 100 to 90. Try negotiating what you want, the worst they can say is no. Good Luck!

FutureJOC Posted: Nov 18, 2009 10:25 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

we negotiated to spread out the payments since we booked so far in advance.

Lil OC Posted: Nov 18, 2009 10:37 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

I brought my dad! He has no shame and he negotiated a lot!

rdubs Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:24 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

We negotiated A TON (well FH did) and ended up getting what we wanted. In the past I may have been embarrassed with negotiating but my FH is now the 'favorite' of the two of us with our BM because he had so much contact with the RH!

We set an amount that we wanted to spend and a headcount we wanted to guarantee and told RH this is what we want to spend, this is what we want, basically go figure out how to make it work. We didn't want to spend extra on all the additions (for example, we wanted the downstairs cocktail room which is normally $2,500 extra) but we wanted to get these.

We went back and forth for a few weeks but ended up getting all we wanted and more (above our headcount we got a significant discount).

If you would like, I can FM you some ideas (and maybe even our conversations on e-mail) with our BM--my FH is a real shrewd negotiator so it helped us.

Pacie Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:28 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

We negotiated a lot!!! and the brought our moms in and they got them to knock an additional 10 pp off!!!! I'm too embarrassed to haggle like my mom or FMIL so we brought them to do the dirty work, Lol but it worked!

Gerbera Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:29 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

I always start off by saying ... 'it's a little higher than we are hoping to spend'. Then take it from there. Until we choose a place I won't get into swapping things out while keeping the same price.
I will say 99% of all venues have knocked prices down and minimums down for me just by saying that. When we go visit I will probably try to knock prices down some more and use the old age 'we are down to venue a & b. venue a is slightly lower can you meet me halfway at least?'

Good Luck! Don't be afraid!

JayBee216 Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:33 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

OMG we negotiated a lot!

we cut small items at the cocktail hour and cut out an extra entree option (that they were throwing in for free) and also spread out the payments and deposits!

they are used to it - just ask!! They will work with you - they'd rather have it booked now than to have to search for someone else!!

Hellosailor11 Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:40 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

Thank you ladies soo much for the info! I can feel my 'balls' growing. eew

AngnShaun Posted: Nov 19, 2009 11:54 AM

Re: negotiating with a RH

Posted by KristieLeeV

Thank you ladies soo much for the info! I can feel my 'balls' growing. eew

WeezyGirl2354 Posted: Nov 19, 2009 12:01 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

We did haggle too much - but I've heard that a lot of the times if you are just super nice, really show interest in things they offer (like the chocolate fountain) they may just throw it in. I think it helps to really build a good relationship with your BM b/c then they want to do those extra things for you.

Yea it's a business transaction but you will also being dealing with this person (BM) a lot so its important to build a more friendly relationship.

Also - if you are bookin in 2009 for a 2011 wedding don't be afraid to ask for 2009 or even 2010 prices since most places increase year by year.

Im_My_Own_Princess Posted: Nov 19, 2009 12:26 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

just tell them 'thats too high for us, can we work on the price'.. some will say yes and work with you, some won't.

what RH?

MrsLaT2be Posted: Nov 19, 2009 12:58 PM

Re: negotiating with a RH

your biggest negotiation tool is your headcount.... you can always say 'we would LOVE to invite more, if we can work on the price....'

usually if they know you have more people to invite, they will lower the price. They would rather have more people invited, since it increases their chances of more people coming.... = $$$ for them