this is the code for the render ad
Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Etiquette Forum
Wedding Etiquette Forum
New Discussion

Room for negotiating venue pricing?

LwaryjasLwaryjas member
10 Comments 5 Love Its First Answer
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Hi I just recently got engaged and have decided on a destination wedding in Key West. One of the venues I had looked at told me there was a 6k food and drink minimum on Friday and $7500 on Saturday. I know they probably have the upper hand because it is a "destination" but is it inappropriate to try to get them to lower the cost? And if so, how?
Also since it is destination a lot of the prices per plate are $100 and up with many upgrades available, e.g. Cheese/cracker table, specialized drink bar, desert bars, etc., which are not included in the base price per plate. Is there room to negotiate here?
I found a venue online I really like and I plan to go visit but I don't want to ask all these questions or try to negotiate and potentially lose the venue I want.
Lastly, does the time of year leave any room for negotiating? I'm planning the wedding to be sometime in Jan/Feb 2015.

Thanks for your time.
Report Reply to Post

Re: Room for negotiating venue pricing?

  • misssunshine17misssunshine17 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    I seriously doubt they'll give you much for hard pricing for 2015 since they can't anticipate how much things will cost then. I think you can ask if there is room for negotiation, but I found, in my area, there isn't. 
    Report Reply
  • msuprincess04msuprincess04 member
    Knottie Warrior 500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Answer
    Jan/Feb in Key West is a high time. So the prices would be higher than if you did it during the summer. I doubt there will be room for negotiation.
    "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." -Friedrich Nietzsche, "On Reading and Writing"
    Report Reply
  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    It never hurts to try and negotiate. The worst that would happen is you'll pay what they want you to pay - you won't lose the venue because you tried to negotiate. From what you've said about the time of year though - that it's in 2015, and in Key West - I highly doubt you'll get anywhere. 
    *********************************************************************************

    image
    Report Reply
  • loca4pookloca4pook member
    1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper First Anniversary

    It never hurts to try, but it helps if you price other places in that area so you can kinda know what others are offering and kinda use it that way

    I had gone to several places here and then it was between the two. One place served soup and salad for dinner. When I mentioned that to the catering person, she isntandlty said "oh, we can do that, too"  I didn't get the price LOWERED but I got extra things added. Like a specific liquor my DH liked and the extra course for dinner

     

    Report Reply
  • ashleyepashleyep member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper First Anniversary
    You can try and negotiate, but if you're on a popular day, during a popular season, it's not really in their best interests to negotiate if they can just find someone else to book that day.

    I tried it with my venue,  but because it was a Saturday during the summer (busiest time in New England) and I was booking over a year out, they weren't willing to budge. They might have given me a deal for a Friday or Sunday, or a 2013 wedding.
    Anniversary
    Report Reply
  • MayDay513MayDay513 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments 5 Answers First Anniversary
    We were able to knock $500 off our venue rental fee, and the $500 ceremony fee waived (set up tear down etc). The food and beverage minimums can also be talked down. We didnt have an issue hitting ours just because we knew we wanted to serve good food and open bar all night.
    Report Reply
  • AprilH81AprilH81 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    You will probably get further by asking them to include more services into the existing fee than you will get by asking them to lower the cost since you are getting married in their high season.  Have you thought about moving your date a few months forward or back?  That could help with the costs.
    photo composite_14153800476219.jpg
    Report Reply
  • annathy03annathy03 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    One venue we looked at offered an "early booking" discount of $10/pp on their packages to get commitment and fill the date.  On a popular Saturday they couldn't do anything else since they know someone else would book it later, but she was very open about dates she could be more flexible with, so if your date isn't set in stone and you love the venue I'd ask about less popular times.
    Report Reply
  • rkborkbo member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I had one venue drop their minimum from $15,000 to $10,000 for me on a Saturday night, but that $10,000 was still too rich for my blood so we went somewhere else. 

    It never hurts to ask if they can lower the minimum.
    Report Reply
  • thisismynickname2thisismynickname2 member
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    I found lowering the minimum to be impossible but adding free extras doable. One venue was willing to offer a reduced minimum on undesirable weekends (I.e. Chicago Marathon weekend) but even then, it's undesirable for good reason. Never hurts to ask though!
    ________________________________


    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards