Post # 1
Member
348 posts
Helper bee
I’m in the process of looking for my last few vendors, and it’s been harder than I expected it to be. I know that there is room to change prices for many wedding related services/vendors, but does that count for all of them? I don’t want to offend anyone by asking them to cut things out of their packages or to lower their prices, but isn’t that expected?
I was just wondering what other people thought about this. Vendors, I’d love some input on this too!
Post # 3
Member
6980 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I don’t think it is at all, as long as you are polite about it. My tactic is usually to compliment their work, then tell them my budget and ask if they can work with me in the budget. I never ever ever suggest that their services are not worth what they’re charging (because that is just rude!), I just say “Look… I’m on a really tight budget, this is what I can afford, and I love your work… do you think you can do it for x?”
They’ll either say yes or no but I don’t see how someone could be offended by that and I got great deals on both my venue and photog that way.
Post # 4
Member
348 posts
Helper bee
@CorgiTales: Yeah, that’s been my tactic so far. But I sent an email to one vendor and it made me wonder. I was polite, I told them that honestly I would love to work with them, but could they come down closer to another price (which was like $200 different). I still haven’t heard anything back and I’m getting nervous! I mean, I’d rather hear a NO than nothing!
Post # 5
Member
3928 posts
Honey bee
Negotiating on prices with vendors is expected, so no, I do not think it is offensive.
Post # 6
Member
2570 posts
Sugar bee
Negotiations will usually end in your favor if you do it in person or over the phone. Its harder to say no to you this way. And you are right, compliments will get you everywhere!
I ended up getting a very large discount on my photography and on catering by complimenting, being reasonable and going back and forth a few times with altering packages, getting discounts etc. It may have been a little easier for me because I am considered an off-season bride in April. Its one of the reasons I wanted an off-season date because vendors are more willing to negotiate. They have less business
Post # 7
Hostess
840 posts
Busy bee
i negotiated with every single vendor… and got better pricing on all of them. the key is to do it in a really nice way and ask if they are willing to work with you on your budget, package, etc. i mean what’s the worse thing they can do? say no and you’re still in the same boat that you’re in if you didn’t even try asking in the first place.
Post # 8
Member
1113 posts
Bumble bee
DEFINITELY negotiate….
I’ve negotiated with every vendor thus far (venue, photog, and videog) and have ended up with everything that I wanted for discounted pricing. It does help the fact that I’m having a Sunday wedding.
Post # 9
Member
22 posts
Newbee
We’ve negotiated with every vendor so far. All were very understanding and all but one did something to help alter the price somehow. Getting married in January helps ALOT. Every vendor (even ones we didn’t book with) told us how wonderful it is to meet a winter bride, it means work for them in the off season! Even our reception/ ceremony venue worked on prices with us alot – yay winter!
I have to say though, I’m a real chicken and Fiance did all the talking! Negotiating prices is a big part of his job, so he was right at home doing it 🙂
Post # 10
Member
3968 posts
Honey bee
I would usually ask if there was anything that could done about the price… some said no, others were more helpful. It really helps to determine what your budget is for something before going into the negotiation phase… so do you research, first!