One of the questions that pops up in our inbox quite frequently is “How can we negotiate with our vendors to save money on our wedding and stay on budget?”
Negotiating can be stressful when you are trying to juggle all the details of a wedding but we have 7 tried and true tips that we will help you save money, stay on budget and be confident during the process.
#1
Do your homework:
Don’t start negotiating until you have a few quotes from various vendors (within the same field: florists, photographers, etc.). You should know exactly what competitors are offering for the same price. This way, if your first choice has the highest quote, you can point this out to them and see if they will lower their price or throw in some extras.
#2
Know your budget:
It may seem obvious but knowing what you CAN spend will be helpful when bargaining.
#3
Get an itemized list:
Ask the vendor for an itemized list of what the quote includes. This will allow you to see exactly where your money is going. It may even alert you to services and items being charged for that you may not need (8 types of appetizers for a 70 person wedding). And, on the other hand, there may be items on the list that you need but didn’t know you needed (like a second shooter for a photographer to capture more moments and moments from different angles). Understanding exactly where your money is being spent will help you feel in control and will allow you to more clearly see where you can trim expenses.
#4
Always ask:
Remember that most things are not set in stone and prices are almost always flexible. But if you don’t ask for a discount, then you’ll never receive one.
#5
Be Nice when negotiating:
As the saying goes, you catch more bees with honey than vinegar. Being polite and phrasing your requests nicely will go a long way towards getting what you want. It’s not always what you say but how you say it.
Instead of saying: Your fee is a lot higher then we intended to pay for a photographer.
Try saying: We love your work but our photography budget is $2,500. Do you have any packages in this range or is there perhaps a date when you’d consider giving us a lower rate (i.e. a Sunday)?
Instead of saying: The flowers need to be cheaper.
Try saying: Your ideas are beautiful but the quote is about $500 more than we have budgeted. Is there a way for you to help us stay within our budget while keeping the look and feel we want?
#6
Don’t be intimidated:
Wedding vendors have a business to run but you have a budget to stick to. If they cannot work within your budget they will tell you, after all, a vendor doesn’t want to harm their reputation by offering more than they can provide within the allotted budget. Most professional vendors will be able to refer you to someone within your price range if they are unable to meet your needs.
#7
Don’t sign the contract:
Do not sign the contract until you are 100% comfortable with the wording and everything is spelled out in plain-to-read language. Have an expert (like a detailed family member, lawyer or your wedding planner) give the contract a once over to make sure everything has been included and nothing forgotten. If it’s not on your order/contract, then it will not show up! Only when you feel comfortable that all your needs have been put down in writing should you sign the contract.
If you follow these tips, we have no doubt you will save money and still have the wedding of your dreams. Yet, remember, getting a lower price isn’t always the only (or best) option. Vendors will often throw in extras to sweeten the deal, like free delivery, decorating the cake with leftover flowers or an extra ½ hour of music from the band.
Happy negotiating!
Want to share a negotiating tip that saved you money? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.