subject: Tips For Saving Money While Contracting Vendors [print this page] Tips For Saving Money While Contracting Vendors
There's always room for negotiation in the world of wedding vendors. Even if you're working with the top vendor in town, there's alwaysa wayto cut costs or have extras thrown in. Steep discounts are a little unrealistic, but reduced costs can happen if you choose to have your wedding on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon.
Having your wedding on a Friday can save you hundreds of dollars in the budget. While planning my June wedding, I originally wanted a Saturday evening wedding, but because the venue was already booked for that day I was given the option to have it on Friday the 24th for a whopping $500 less! When searching for a videographer, I was told it could cost around $2,000 to start. The video was areally important aspect to me and I wanted it to be done by someone reputable. So I chose to meet with the best in town, the videographer who had exclusive rights to shooting an Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Baltimore. Because my wedding was on a Friday the price of two camera men for five and a half hours was quoted for $1,195. The same coverage for the very next night wouldhave been$1,750. A huge savings in my wedding budget. Other perks to having a Friday night wedding is that usually you will be the only bride having your wedding there that day. So you have access to the venue anytime you need that day without constrictions of other weddings going on.
Another way I've found to cut costs is to tell the vendor if you were referred by a previous bride. Word of mouth marketing is one of the best tools for DJ's to get new work. So when looking for a DJ, my mom's friend at work who got married in 2008 recommended a DJ who she said was absolutely wonderful. When I contacted the DJ, I mentioned the bride who recommended me and he quoted my price for ceremony and reception music at $1,000. Whereas, without the referral the price was $1,400.
But, if you're dead set on having a Saturday wedding, and don't have any referral brides to go off of then follow these tips for effectively negotiating prices with vendors:
Stick to your limit. Say you have a certain amount that you want to spend on flowers and really don't want to go over that amount. Be up front about your budget and the vendor will usually work with you to stay in it, but willalso make sure you're happy with the final outcome.
Make sure you adopt a friendly but firm demeanor when negotiating with vendors. If you politely throw it out there that you're looking for a deal, they may be willing to offer you some sort of solution. With the economy down, many vendors will go the extra mile to work with you.
While being polite may work, don't let yourself be fooled. You need to let the vendor know that if he/she won't meet your offer you will walk. You don't have to be harsh, but be firm. Maybe collaborate with your fiance to execute the goodcop bad cop routine.
