Should I haggle with this venue and how?

Definitly negotiate for a Thursday as they wont guarantee that they would get someone on a Thursday and would rather have less £ than none. I managed to negotiate on a Thursday in a venue that gets booked up every Fri - Sat throughout the year even though their Thursday price was a LOT cheaper already. Tell them your numbers and explain that the price is out by a set amount (but an amount where you would be able to/ want to meet them half way) and see what they can do. Good luck!

Although saying that if the £3500 includes all food, drink etc then it already sounds flipping amazing n they were probably making less profit off of that than my venue? (We negotiated down to £9000 for venue, food, drink for canapes and meal). Good luck

At our venue when we went for pricing I told them that the total amount was £500 over our budget, while haggling wasnt exactly successful they was very helpful in suggesting ways to keep the cost down without sacrificing too much x

I agree with the others - definitely negotiate on a Thursday as it is a quieter day.

If you have already purchased wedding insurance, then go ahead and offer to pay the full amount up front if they can offer a discount. If the booking falls through for any reason, you're covered by your insurance. I like your idea of pitching it as an 'early bird discount' and I think £500 is a good amount to ask for - if you don't ask, don't get. Be honest and tell them that you are struggling a bit. I find that most venues offer some really good money saving tips and options if you are honest with them because they want as many bookings as possible. We got £700 knocked off our hire price just by asking them what they could do to reduce the prices. They knocked off costs for spa treatments, champagne, toastmaster (didn't even know I had a toastmaster!) and so called 'free stationery' from thehire price.

Good luck x x x

Which venue is it?

Sounds like a very similar arrangement to our venue. We went for a Thursday wedding as well and tried to negotiate but as they're so popular they wouldn't budge (which is fair enough, they knew they'd probably get a booking anyway). They did offer us a very small discount if we paid the full amount upfront (think it might have been something to do with the change in VAT between when we booked and when final payment due), but we decided against it. They were a brilliant venue though, so even if they won't budge on negotiations, doesn't mean they won't be fab on your day.

I was thinking it sounded like 'the ashes' in Staffordshire...if it is then its worth asking but I believe they are VERY popular and so you may not have much luck!! Worth a try x

£3500? just for venue hire?? How many people does the venue hold?

That sounds a lot to me your effectively just for use of a venue with no food or drinks.....

Yep, that's where we got married...it sounds very similar!

They almost certainly won't negotiate on price, but they are absolutely fantastic and, OP, you won't regret going with them. They're brilliant and have some great supplier reccomendations.

If it is the ashes and you do go with them, let me know if you want any help/advice ?

I thought the same, I'm getting married is the same area-ish at Somerford Hall on a thursday, my package including food and drink and exclusive use is £3000.

That is a massive bargaining chip........

I would though ensure that you pay by credit card or have insurance...we do occasionally hear about venues going bust, so you do want some safety.....

Peter

Thanks for all the responses! The £3500 is for venue hire only and the venue can hold up to 150. And for those of you who have tried to guess the venue, you're absolutely right - it is The Ashes. From the posts on here it sounds like they aren't open to negotiation, which isn't a deal breaker as I love the venue so much. I might still try the 100% deposit but I won't be expecting too much if anything knocked off.

Haha, knew it was! Have replied to your PM

For just venue hire on a thursday id be seriously trying to get them down on that!!