Negotiating with suppliers

There were some suppliers we didn't negotiate with, such as the venue and the photographer, as we already felt like we were getting good value.

I negotiated some money from the car, and also managed to get £300 off the quoted cost of the band.

I was just honest, and said 'this is what my budget is, is there anyway you can get close to it'...the worst they can say is no.

Sometimes, it's better to ask for more included, rather than to have money taken off IYSWIM

I always ask for something! I think you have to be a little bit unemotional about the financial side and not be embarassed to ask. Just be polite and gracious if they decline. It is then up to you if you book anyway but so long as you have been classy about it it is fine to still book with someone who declined to give you a discount!

I knocked my reception venue down from 15k to 12.5k, so that was good. They also had an obligation to book a certain number of hotel rooms in their contract and I asked for the clause to be removed which they also did. I asked politely and they wanted my business! I told them I was having half the number of guests that the venue would hold and asked if they could reduce it - I suggested 12.5k was fair and they agreed.

For the flowers, I teamed up with a freind who was also getting married and we asked the florist if she would consider giving a discount if we both booked her! Not quite 2 for 1 but you know what I mean. She gave us free thank you bouquets for the Mums and knocked off a couple of hundred off the bill.

I asked the photographer if he could round it down to a flat 2k and although he declined that, he has given me extra pages in the photobook he is making me.

On my choir, they quoted £500 and I said that my budget was £400 and could they possibly do any better. They said no, that there were 20-30 people to be paid from that fee, and I said yes, I see that - and booked it at 500.

On the cars, they had two seriously flash big vintage jags, and two smaller vintage cars, I do not remember the make. I asked if I could have the two big jags for the price of the two smaller cars and they said yes - they said I was cheeky, but they did say yes! Prob saved me about £250.

When I bought my wedding dress, I asked if they could throw in any extras and they offered to give me a veil.

If you ask with a smile, and deal with people nicely, then I think a lot of places will give you something. If you do get a deal, you are then obliged to always be extra extra nice to that supplier!All of my suppliers will have personalised goody bags with their names stencilled on them on the day with chocolates, headache tablets, cola, mini suntan cream and deoderants, mints, tissues and a copy of my 'don't call the bride' call sheet with every supplier's number on it and the numbers of key guests like BM's and Best Man.

I would have your budget in mind and if you find a supplier you love, you can only tell them your budget and ask what they can do. They may offer a discount or they may be smart and tailor their service to hit what you can afford.

Don;t be squeemish or embarassed, you are dealing with professional business people. But also don't be rude or unrealistic. This is what I have done and I am happy with the reductions I have had.

I'm all for nowt ventured - nowt gained... but agree, just be polite - some of mine did knock money off, some didn't but offered something additional ...

From a suppliers point of view.....

I hate people trying to knock the price down. I also think it can damage your business. If you knock some money off for one client, then un-be-known to you a friend of theirs books and you quote the normal price, it can become awkward..... or even worse, they find out after the event. So, I have one price for everyone and then it's fair.

The last person that tried to knock my price down, I suddenly became unavailable for their date. I decided that they weren't my client.

I know I'm not the only person that does this. So the viewpoint that nothing ventured nothing gained is not strictly true.... you could end up losing the supplier you'd set your heart on.

It also depends on how the supplier prices themselves.

Very very few people overprice themselves.... Why would someone who wants to stay in business charge an unjustifiable higher rate and risk losing business because of it.

I did get this a few years back, everyone around me was saying 'put your prices up people are willing to pay' - Um, no, they're not. At least not in the quantities I want them to.

I know whenever I price up a quote I'm totally realistic and fair. I factor in many things. I've turned business away often but only because they usually want something much cheaper than my initial quote.

Sometimes I offer discounts for good reasons, i.e. I want to start filling up for the next year booking wise...a bit of an early birder so to speak. But even then I have to be careful because there's a very good chance I could get an inquiry for the same date later in the year.

Reminds me of "The Life of Brian"

"Burt......This bloke won't haggle"

Always worth a try to get a discount - but some suppliers won't give discounts for the reasons others have mentioned above. Also if your wedding is Friday - Sunday in peak season (March - November for us) it's much less likely too. But there's never any harm in asking ?