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Venue Question

Krysta6Krysta6 member
Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments
in Florida-South Florida
So I've been researching a lot of venues (beach front hotels from Palm beach to Ft Lauderdale) and some of the packages they send me include WAY more than I want (and cost much more than I expected!). So I was wondering did you guys negotiate with them or are these packages pretty set as is? If you did change packages what are some things that you negotiated? 
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Re: Venue Question

  • RU3234RU3234
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    What is your wedding date? If its the offseason they will be way more willing to negotiate. The things I was able to negotiate was top shelf bar to premium (which is still good liquors), no seafood appetizers, 4 appetizers to be passed around rather than 8 and a few other things. My sister did it because I dont have a negotiating bone in my body.

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  • Soon2bMrsJensenSoon2bMrsJensen member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Negotiate!!!!

    You can get nearly ANYTHING added or taken off, especially these days with the economy being so bad. These venues are hurting for business, no matter what their sales people say.

    Most of the time the packages come with cakes through vendors that get kickbacks - you wind up paying FULL price for the cake AS WELL AS the kickback they feed to the cake baker.

    The same thing goes for included DJs and Lighting and photographers, etc.

    My venue took off FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS because I didnt want their photographer and DJ and wanted to bring in my own.  The price difference paid for my videographer AND my shoes.


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  • adrielegorburuadrielegorburu
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I believe that especially now a days everything is negotiable to a point.  My venue was a very inclusive one and I was able to make it fit my budget by having my wedding on a Sunday (most of my vendors were less expensive on a sunday) also I negotiated the amount of food, what was included (I didnt want to use their DJ or Cake people) and even the per person price (by reducing the number of wait staff, discussing food choices vs. cost etc.) - Good Luck...
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  • Krysta6Krysta6 member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies! I am awful at negotiating so I think I'll stick my FI on them but first I have to explain to him everything I know so far to him. I didn't know that usually the cake places suck! I thought since some places use outside cake places that would be good, but I never thought about the kickbacks. Thanks for all the info!

    I find all of this info they send me just confusing and just too much!

    My date isn't set but we want March 2012
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  • ARose29.defunct635760306938291358ARose29.defunct635760306938291358 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think what works best is to be upfront with what your budget is and see what they can do to get you there.  Mention the items that aren't important to you and see if that can help you get closer to what you want.  I had a package groomed to what I wanted, added some things and then took things out we didn't care about.  I hate negotiating too, since I do it for work so much.  We didn't have to do much, but also some venues are easier to negotiate with than others. 

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  • KimA85KimA85 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    They will absolutely work with you.  I haven't signed a venue yet, but all the places I've spoken to so far have been very accomodating with the negotiations.  If you list a per person price you're aiming for, they'll customize a package to meet it.

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  • waterroxy17waterroxy17
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We are negotiating a lot... What is the worst they can say... NO. I also agree with pp that the economy is hurting and vendors are a little more flexible with prices. I look at it like buying a car. There is a list price but you always want to get less than what its listed for.
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  • Linz10882Linz10882 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Definitely negotiate!  Be up front about your budget (say $xx per person including taxes) and ask them what you can get for that price.  My venue (Hyatt Regency Coral Gables) assembled a package based on our budget and the things that were important to us.  Of course, they initially just presented us with all of their standard wedding packages.  Another thing: If you pick an off day (say Friday night), they might be more willing to negotiate.  Good luck!   
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  • Krysta6Krysta6 member
    Fifth Anniversary 1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies. I'm having a hard time with budgeting (which is making this difficult) because my parents have no idea how much things should/could cost so they are just waiting for me to tell them how much I think I'll need. But I have no idea either! What i do know is that these packages seem outrageous! Maybe I should just hire a planner to help me since I'm so clueless
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  • EvelynandMannyEvelynandManny
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Well beach front venues are going to be pricey...like the girls said they will negotiate though...I would go to a few and talk to them about what you need and go from there..also maybe see some non beach fron venues you might like to get prices to compare...

    If you tell them what your budget is (you should have like a full round number that you want/can spend and brake it down from there) Remember if you dont add things you have to include that into the budget. (Example if you can spend $10,000 on the wedding make sure that you include video and photography cause they are price...so really you might only have $8,000 for the wedding...and so on) try the budget thing on the knot it helped me out alot at first

    I got a great deal but I had to shop around A LOT to find a place I loved for the price I wanted...the budget will all start to make sense soon..trust me we all get SHOCKED when we first start planning then you start to see that you gotta negotiate and sometimes its a give and take on both parts... Try asking for Friday or Sunday packages as well as Saturday Afternoons..Also March is peak season (i know im a march bride) if you pick Sept- Dec your prices are better! :)
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