Price Negotiations!

Hi Let me preface this by saying that this is all just my opinion. I think that to negotiate you need to have a very good and clear idea of what is important to you. A Thursday night will get you into one of the mansions for the same price as a good hall on a Saturday night.

Your vendors should be paid for their time. Couples who do not want to interact with me at all before the ceremony do get to knock some cash off the base price but I'm still there an hour before the ceremony making sure that they are comfortable, and that everyone is on the same page as far as if there are things going on during the ceremony that need props or cues.

I did a wedding Saturday in a new venue. There was no Matra D, no Bridal Attendant and no Banquet Manager. Nobody was planning on running them through a rehearsal, nobody was there to line them up and tell them when to go, or even just to relax, be beautiful, look up and smile. The chairs were set with no room for the attendants to stand right and left of the couple, and hence no view. There was also no PA system.

If they had hired an officiant who is paid the bare minimum to just to get there do the 8 minute civil ceremony and leave, this wedding would not have went well.

Fortunately I was there to fix the seating, set up my PA system, I had copies of the processional order with me so I was able to prep them and then draft one of the guests send them down. I know I'm going on and on but the moral of the story is cutting corners can lead to your throwing stumbling blocks in your own path so make sure that you know where the sharp edges can be and that you have a plan to pad them.

It is also important to have vendors who understand how the other pieces all mesh together harmoniously and work together to get you the best day ever. Things need to happen on a time schedule in order for your day to be perfect. I think of it as the holistic approach! If we all see and fix anything that out of wack before it becomes a problem... that is the idea of your team working for you.

This eye for the big picture only comes with time and, again IMO, a good wedding planner can often pay for themselves by simply guiding you in making wise choices.

Not quite the answer you were looking for I'd imagine but I hope that all this has been useful. Please feel free to call me any time if you are looking for an officiant or just some friendly advice.

May you have the wedding of your dreams with many healthy happy years to follow!

L&L, Pastor April
631-893-1241

You are welcome!

I'm glad I didn't sound like a lunatic ranting and raving. Are you active military? There are some vendors that do give an active military discount. I should have thought of that before but as you can tell I was on a roll LOL!

Have a great wedding day and an even better life together.


L&L, April
631-893-1241