How to negotiate?

ejeye

Hi:
My fiance and I (finally!) found a venue that we both like, however the total price they are quoting us is way out of our price range.  Does anyone have any pointers on how/what to negotiate?  Is it really possible to get the price down?

Julephenia

First off, consider an off day or season. Saturday nights are always expensive, but Sunday afternoons and Friday nights, particularly in late winter/early spring, are generally cheaper.

Take a look at the menu/contract. Does it have stuff you don't need? Give them your budget and ask if they can work with you.

Be prepared that they may not. Even in this economy, if they are WAY out of your price range, getting them to come down may make your wedding unprofitable for them.

What venue was it? What did you like about it? Maybe we can suggest others like it...

dadaguza

Glad you asked..this thread will help me out alot too.. haven't checked out any venues yet, but we have an appointment with the Venetian this Sunday.. we are thinking a Friday night sometime in November or early December of 2011..

I hear that if you give them a decent cash deposit on the spot and guarantee a certain amount of people, most places will bring the price down.

[Deleted User]

If they require a minimum of 100 people ask "if i can guarantee you 125 can we work on the price?" and go up from there. add 25 ppl each time (if you can - dont know how many guests you'll have.)

our place required 175 so i guranteed him 200 and the price dropped.

Also, i wanted an extra dinner choice and the vienesse hour and instead of paying the full pice for each choice (i believe 2 pp for the extra choice and 6 pp for the vienesse) we negotiated it to become 5 pp for both.

i'm never a negotiator (a.k.a. never take me car shopping with you) but this wedding budget is such a huge priority that i've patted myself on the back for my "skills" haha

npasquale16

I agree with PP.  We chose 11/26/11 for the off season and because FI's fam is form Indiana and need travel time.  Many places gave us a nice discount because of the off season.  In the end, we're having our reception at The Tides because we feel in love with the atmosphere there and we also got an amazing price plus a lot of added (raw bar, viennesse hour, extra hour for reception) either thrown in for free or at a really disocunted price. 

Reilly626

Just ask... and if that doesnt work leave.  We had a few venues call us with lower prices.... Madison Hotel called in 30 minutes and dropped the price by 15 pp in that time.  The Stonehouse and Pleasantdale ironically were also callers with lower prices/deals.  None of which we took.

We also got the photog. and dj down.

sgdc2011

We went over the menu and said what we didn't need in order to drop the price and told them where we would feel comfortable.  We left and they called back said what they would take out of what we said we were comfortable with and they dropped the price by $10 pp.  If you look TOO eager they might not drop the price def like pp said leave and they might call.

mbcdefg

"What can you do to get the price down to $x per person?" (lowball it by $5-10pp to give yourself some wiggle room to negotiate)

We got them to knock off $5pp by increasing the minimum from 100 to 125 people.

carlaspeed

we first ask for off season discount, then of course sunday and friday is cheaper than saturday. Also, we eliminated stuff from the menu like beef, we are just going to have salmon and chicken, and we also have one carving station less and no vienesse table/seafood bar. Some people will offer just wine/beer instead of full bar, this will save you $. Also, bring a close competitor quote, or you can even make up a number and tell them you got that quote. I have a lot of stuff from my MBA negotiation class, I will be more than happy to e-mnail you stuff, it comes handy for all the wedding negotiations!

dadaguza

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_negotiate?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:bac16dca-bde4-46d9-9ad2-c76ad3f72692Post:765af25d-c681-4c4f-b944-7191e19a3c45">Re: How to negotiate?</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, we eliminated stuff from the menu like beef, we are just going to have salmon and chicken, and we also have one carving station less and no vienesse table/seafood bar. Some people will offer just wine/beer instead of full bar, this will save you $.
Posted by carlaspeed[/QUOTE]

This is just my opinion but I think cutting full open bar and/or the Viennese display is soo not worth it if that's what it takes to get the pp price down. I much rather just go someplace else.

I know someone who is getting married on a Sat in June 2011 at the Graycliff. She is having the top of line, everything they offer package. Full cocktail, full open bar, Viennese which will include a fresh zeppole stand. She is paying $165 pp.
I'm sure a place like Venetian or Rockleigh would only give you that quote at that time of year after omitting quite a few things.. Graycliff is def not on the same scale as these two but it's also no VFW..



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lmcit23

I can't hurt to ask - we did but they would not budge but threw in some extras.  It's awkward but if you don't ask you will always wonder.

Peacefield

It's hard, but it's not unlike buying a car or a house.  To win at negotiating, you have to be willing to say no and leave.  That's when the true negotiating tends to start!

momod130

I've found that if you even ASK, many vendors will come down in price -- every dollar helps, right?  We're speaking with a few DJs and each have come down by about $200 just by asking.