Venue price negotiations

D3PO

I just said Id start a thread re this because for the majority of people booking a wedding venue is a one off thing so you dont have experience or a reference point on the etiquete about it and what not.

We have been looking to book our venue for the last 6 weeks. Finally after copious hotel viewings we found the one we wanted , went back to make sure and agreed this was the place for us.

I had no idea what I should be doing in terms of negoting the price with the hotel being the eldest in my family and with none of my friends having got married yet.

I just want to say to boardsies in the same position as me that I managed to get a 15% reduction on the originally quoted price after a week of negotiation. Signed and paid the deposit on Saturday

So I hope that this helps anybody who was like me wondering how cheeky they should be in terms of getting the price they want and for what price.

I genuinely didnt have a clue so decided to lowball and see where I could get.

In this day and age with a savage budget on the way I think theres plenty of scope with venues to reduce on advertised costs.

Hope this helps.

SSFG

What exactly did you say?!!! Please share??

D3PO

SSFG wrote: »

What exactly did you say?!!! Please share??

I literally told them what I wanted and they came back to me with the price.

I told them what I was willing to pay for what I wanted and asked them to look at their numbers again, I specifically pointed out that I believed they should have scope to reduce tea/ coffee charge, the wine, that their sorbet was more expensive that x,y and z venue and that I thought they should drop the suppliment for the main course. I made it clear if they came down to an agreeable level they would have the deposit that week so they knew I was serious and not messing them about.

They came back part of the way and I told them it was still too high. They came back further and then I told them it was still off but Id be willing to meet them half way they agreed to do that and voila done deal.

Also made sure they "threw in" the late bar. I cant believe the cheek of some places expecting you to pay for it. I told them I wouldnt pay for it and that they would easily make back in profit plus more by having it open so it was in their interests to throw it in.

Honestly I was really suprised at how easy it was to negotiate. Infact 2 hotels I had visited and emailed back saying I was no longer interested were tell me they would chop the costs if we reconsidered them without me even mentioning price :eek:

One of them even told me they would throw in an extra 2 rooms for the wedding night (so 4 rooms plus the bridal suite) and throw in 4 Spa treatments aswell.

I just wanted to post this because Im sure theres loads of people out there that are just agreeing to the listed price for venue costs. If you dont have a reference point how do you know where to go.

Im lucky enough in that Im confident and have no shame when it comes to negotiation but theres a lot of people out there that arent.

SSFG

Fair play to you, and you're dead right you'll get nothing if you don't ask. I told one hotel that because my fiances relatives were all travelling for the wedding and they would be staying 2 nights there was no way I was paying for corkage and she agreed straight away. Am negotiating with 2 hotels, one of them gave my date away due to a 'mix up' between the general manager and the wedding coordinator and now they are mad for my business, but not before I name my price
The more I save, the longer the honeymoon!!!

snuggles09

we booked our hotel in April of this year (we are marrying August next year at the hotel, civil ceremony)

at the time of booking there were no packages so we had to pick out what menues we wanted, add the evening food on top of it etc, we didnt go for a choice as it was working out beyond our budget and i was going to leave the chair covers...we opted for no bar extension but we were paying for a round of drinks at the meal

last week the hotel rang me, they told me they had new packages they were introducing for 2011 that weren't available when I had booked but would I like them now! I was delighted

We have now saved 700 euro as we are getting

a) A choice of menu
b)2 free glasses of wine at dinner for guests plus a top up for the toast
c)All our evening food thrown in for free
d)Chair covers for ceremony and dinner included

If we had over 100 attending (we only have 60 for the sit down meal) we would have gotten a weeks honeymoon in Palm Beach in Spain also.

We are getting all of the above on top of the usuals you get (red carpet welcome, free rooms for parents, punch reception etc)

I couldnt be happier and they are giving us a complimentary guest book for people to sign and doing up lovely table plan..I'm delighted. I wouldnt have known how to haggle for any of the above but they came back and offered it to us which was very honest of them because otherwise we wouldnt have known and would have just paid the original price.

D3PO

exactly why i posted snuggles lots of people just accept what they are quoted.

I just wanted anybody planning their wedding to know they can and should haggle and not to accept what they are offered.

Like I said before for most people its the one and only time they do this so dont have a clue and hotels prey on this. I say haggle haggle haggle

snuggles09

D3PO wrote: »

exactly why i posted snuggles lots of people just accept what they are quoted.

I just wanted anybody planning their wedding to know they can and should haggle and not to accept what they are offered.

Like I said before for most people its the one and only time they do this so dont have a clue and hotels prey on this. I say haggle haggle haggle

totally agree:) i was planning on trying my haggling hat on when we meet again in February..was going to bring my sister for back up because i'd be useless so i'm delighted they saved me the job

i know a couple who got married within 6 weeks of each other..both had same amount of guests give or take 20..one couple got extra free rooms, chair covers and complimentary bar extension..the other couple didnt..why? because the second couple didnt ask for it..they were raging afterwards..definitley haggle haggle haggle:)

D3PO

snuggles09 wrote: »

totally agree:) i was planning on trying my haggling hat on when we meet again in February..was going to bring my sister for back up because i'd be useless so i'm delighted they saved me the job

i know a couple who got married within 6 weeks of each other..both had same amount of guests give or take 20..one couple got extra free rooms, chair covers and complimentary bar extension..the other couple didnt..why? because the second couple didnt ask for it..they were raging afterwards..definitley haggle haggle haggle:)

Dont ask, dont get. Trust me the mark up is huge. Im going to be doing the same with all suppliers invites, photographer everyone. I will let you know how I get on.

I suspect I will have more joy with some suppliers than with others but who knows.

snuggles09

we were looking at a band and they wanted 1600 with a 400 euro deposit which we were struggling to find

walked into a pub and there was a brilliant band playing..asked them do they do weddings and they said they did

they are 800 with a deposit of 50 or 100 euro the guy said..he was lovely..we booked them with a 100 euro deposit and have heard great things about them

my cake as well i booked with a local girl not a shop..she does her cakes from home and has a little stall at farmers markets on a sunday..i went out to her house and she gave me loads of different cake pieces to sample..i'm having a 12 inch chocolate cake for the base and a 10 inch cream sponge with fruit for the top and she's throwing in the cake topper i want for free and accessorising it with ribbons in my colours...got it for 160 euro and gave her a 50 euro deposit

i booked 4 suits with Blacktie at a wedding fair months and months ago..they only wanted a 20 euro deposit and i got the suits for 69.99 a piece which i though was excellent..suits, tie/cravat, waistcoat and shirt..only thing not included was the shoes

there are great bargains to be had on everything when you look around and dont' necesssarily have to go with "big" suppliers

SSFG

D3PO, will you let me know how you get on haggling with the photographer? Not sure what exactly I can haggle on, am meeting with one this weekend and as he is local am hoping to get the price down slightly. Seems you could do without the album and it would save alot of money. I'd imagine its easy enough to make your own?

snuggles09

SSFG wrote: »

D3PO, will you let me know how you get on haggling with the photographer? Not sure what exactly I can haggle on, am meeting with one this weekend and as he is local am hoping to get the price down slightly. Seems you could do without the album and it would save alot of money. I'd imagine its easy enough to make your own?

A lot of people now just ask for the images to be put onto a disk and then print them off themselves and buy their own albums..would be an awful lot cheaper as the album seems to be whats adding the cost

SSFG

Both the photographers I am looking at are offering the disc. It seems that it is a standard thing now.
And both are around the same price if I just get the photo package (getting ready, church, family pics etc) plus the disc. They are both around 1100 but am hoping to haggle this down slightly.

Theboinkmaster

D3PO i too booked our venue in past few weeks for next year and managed a 15% discount approximately off their listed prices, though it was tough going they were playing hardball. Also got 20% off the accomodation for our guests.

You have to ask in these times don't you. The church is running us €500 as we're not in the parish but my fiance has warned me against trying to negotiate with the priest :rolleyes:

Will be looking at music, DJ, photographer over coming months and have every intention of not accepting first quoted price.

Oscar K

snuggles do you mind if i ask where you are having your civil ceremony. I am desperately trying to find somewhere and am having awful trouble doing so. PM if you dont want to name the place

Hondo75

SSFG wrote: »

Both the photographers I am looking at are offering the disc. It seems that it is a standard thing now.
And both are around the same price if I just get the photo package (getting ready, church, family pics etc) plus the disc. They are both around 1100 but am hoping to haggle this down slightly.

Hi
We got photographer and assistant for the whole day and a couple of A4-A3 and disc 699.She is a third year student in dublin college with website and great references.

magneticimpulse

I think they are cutting their prices because people just cant simply afford a 3 or 5 course dinner!!!

Buffet Dinners seem to be the way to go lately. And I know all 100 guests at the last wedding i was at, refused to stay overnight in the hotel. We hired a bus...and in the end the couple's parents paid for the bus there and back. Guest themselves dont even have the money to go to weddings, between buying new clothes, make up, hair....to having to stay overnight and give a gift. People prefer not to stay over.

When I will be looking for a hotel, im going to get buffet dinner, no band and have a local hotel so the guests can get home easily. Its amazing how many wedding couples these days dont even consider the budget of their guests let alone their own budget

snuggles09

Oscar K wrote: »

snuggles do you mind if i ask where you are having your civil ceremony. I am desperately trying to find somewhere and am having awful trouble doing so. PM if you dont want to name the place[/QUOT

Tower Hotel in Waterford:)

SSFG

magneticimpulse wrote: »

When I will be looking for a hotel, im going to get buffet dinner, no band and have a local hotel so the guests can get home easily. Its amazing how many wedding couples these days dont even consider the budget of their guests let alone their own budget

So true!! I want my hotel as close as possible to the church, I don't want my guests driving around all day!! The bus idea is a great one, shame my fiance will have all his guests travelling and they are too far away not to stay over, I hope to get as good a deal as possible for them with the hotel.:)

SSFG

Hondo75 wrote: »

Hi
We got photographer and assistant for the whole day and a couple of A4-A3 and disc 699.She is a third year student in dublin college with website and great references.

I found a website on boards from a guy in the north who will travel to the south and for his gold package you get
2 photographers from getting ready to first dance
disc and dvd slideshow
4 wks webpage
a1 boxed canvas of your fav print
album
photoshoot
all this for £500, plus if you add mileage (£140 approx) this is a brill deal and i am seriously considering it. It amounts to €620, a fantastic saving for what you get.

Theboinkmaster

SSFG wrote: »

I found a website on boards from a guy in the north who will travel to the south and for his gold package you get
2 photographers from getting ready to first dance
disc and dvd slideshow
4 wks webpage
a1 boxed canvas of your fav print
album
photoshoot
all this for £500, plus if you add mileage (£140 approx) this is a brill deal and i am seriously considering it. It amounts to €620, a fantastic saving for what you get.

Hi do you have a link or contact details?

SSFG

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Hi do you have a link or contact details?

Hi
I pm'd this to you good luck!

GaGa21

can you pm me with those details too please?

kc66

SSFG wrote: »

I found a website on boards from a guy in the north who will travel to the south and for his gold package you get
2 photographers from getting ready to first dance
disc and dvd slideshow
4 wks webpage
a1 boxed canvas of your fav print
album
photoshoot
all this for £500, plus if you add mileage (£140 approx) this is a brill deal and i am seriously considering it. It amounts to €620, a fantastic saving for what you get.

Could you post the link as Id say a few people may be interested in this? Otherwise please PM me. Seems a great deal.

Kiri

SSFG wrote: »

What exactly did you say?!!! Please share??

Yeah I think i'm a bit disconbobulated by the time continimum from D3PO there ?

Heineken Helen

GaGa21 wrote: »

can you pm me with those details too please?

Could you please pm me these details too?:)

gimmick

We have chosen our venue, but not booked it yet. The prices are reasonable until I see that it is all subject to a 12.5% service charge. That pisses me off. Defo going to try and have that wiped out. Thats a mad surcharge like....

D3PO

gimmick wrote: »

We have chosen our venue, but not booked it yet. The prices are reasonable until I see that it is all subject to a 12.5% service charge. That pisses me off. Defo going to try and have that wiped out. Thats a mad surcharge like....

:eek::eek::eek: Ive never see that in any venue and we looked at a lot of them !!

Forget trying tell them to shove their surcharge where the sun dont shine, thats not even the starting point of for your price negotiation.

gimmick

Ya, I have them down to 8% at the moment. Will go at it again just before I pay them a deposit. I know my tactic already.

Oscar K

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me. We had a look at coolbawn quay in Tipperary as a potential venue for our wedding. We fell in love with the place but not the prices to be honest!! I'm just wondering if anyone has ever dealt with them and if they are open to negotiating their prices??

krankykitty

gimmick wrote: »

Ya, I have them down to 8% at the moment. Will go at it again just before I pay them a deposit. I know my tactic already.

Would love to hear your tactic, if you don't mind sharing?

Kristin_87

Hey girls!

We got out hotel for 25% off the price they originally quoted us! We're having a midweek wedding but even on the weekend there are bargains to be found. I find if you know what you want just stick to your their guns, don't settle for any less but be reasonable and don't let them believe that they're your #1 but are in the running! Also if you find a price you like from another hotel email the hotel you really want and see if they can compete we found that to be our best starting point! Good luck in all the planning...

Bishop22

Slightly off topic but can I ask any of you please how the payment system typically works for the hotel side of the wedding? What % deposit, next payment(s) etc. and can you make a final payment after the wedding day (e.g. to ensure the service, management of the event, rooms and food etc was as expected)??? We are meeting two venues this coming weekend and negotiations will be done thanks to the advice of the posters here.

Many thanks for your advice.

emma82

Ours was €800 to book, then 6 weeks before the Wedding they want another €2200 & the rest on the day of or day after the Wedding. Every hotel is different though- my friends was €1k to book & the €15k the day before & then settled the morning of the Wedding. Ask them all.

snuggles09

we paid 500 euro deposit..we're getting married in August..they said we have to have 1500 paid off by May and then the rest the day we check out

Sofiztikated

gimmick wrote: »

Ya, I have them down to 8% at the moment. Will go at it again just before I pay them a deposit. I know my tactic already.

:eek:

I can't believe they're actually looking for a service charge. Do you know what your tactic is? You say, "No." "Blah blah blah." "No. Do you really want to lose the business for the wedding PLUS rooms PLUS F&B spend all for the sake of a service charge?"

Certain things won't work, if they are charging for a late bar, saying "You'll make enough on the bar to cover it." No, actually, the probably won't. That time of night, there isn't a whole pile of people drinking heavily after you factor in staffing and other costs. The way to work that one is to remind them of how many rooms would be staying over, and more if the bar is later. Rooms are more profitable than the bar.

When we booked ours, we had our eyes on a package that the hotel was doing for Jan/Feb/March (quiet periods) but ours is for September.

We were talking to the Sales Manager at a Wedding Fair, and told her that we were willing to book with her there and then if she gave us that package for September.

When we went in to pay the deposit, I said to her that with the 3 rooms we get, our suite plus 2 others, that'd go for the bridesmaids, and it would really be nice if she threw in 2 more for the groomsmen. I still had the deposit in my hand at this stage. If she sighed, it was going to go back in my pocket. She smiled, and the deposit was hers.

Remember folks, the hotel is trying to make money at the end of the day. If they have a decent sales person, they'll get more money, if you are the sales person, you'll get more for your money. But you need to know your own limits. I'm a cheeky fecker, with a cheeky smile, and I like to get my own way. But I'm not stupid. If the hotel doesn't make money, they close. I'm not asking them to make a loss.

(On a side note, videographer is costing me feck all through mates rates, but it was him that put me onto the photographer. I got a 20% discount by just walking in the door with the videpgrapher, and getting € for £ on whatever package we pick closer to the time. Remember to ask suppliers who they work with, they'll put you onto other people, and you'll get better prices if approach with them in tow. They don't want to lose the business or lose face in front of their friends.)

rmacd

Hi, could you pm me the photographers details also? Am looking for a photographer for July, but don't want a big intrusive rigmarole, just a quick few shots of our small event
(36 people)
And can anyone who used him let me know how it worked out for them?

Thanks all.

rmacd

Hi SSFG
Did you go ahead with this guy? How was it? Can you give me his details?
Thanks.
Rmacd

I found a website on boards from a guy in the north who will travel to the south and for his gold package you get
2 photographers from getting ready to first dance
disc and dvd slideshow
4 wks webpage
a1 boxed canvas of your fav print
album
photoshoot
all this for £500, plus if you add mileage (£140 approx) this is a brill deal and i am seriously considering it. It amounts to €620, a fantastic saving for what you get.

SSFG

rmacd I pm'd you

marty30

Hi SSFG,

Could you PM me those details as well

Cheers

twinkles9

And me please if you wouldn't mind,

Brill thread by the way guys, learnt a lot. In good time too cause about to book band and photographer! thanks for all the top tips x

City boy turned country

SSFG wrote: »

rmacd I pm'd you

HI,
SSFG,

Can you PM me with the details too?

Thanks

CBTC