Negotiating prices

Vendors wanting to negotiate will do so on their terms if they want your business. Most don't choose to go that path due to government taxes conflict.

However, I did manage to get cash deals with 3 vendors that allowed it to happen and worked out great. As I had looked and inquired with many before the final photographer, videographer and centerpiece rentals, all the answers were NO to cash deals.

Never hurts to ask for a discount or to bargain pricing as everyone is saying to help bring costs down for budget. All the best in your search and hope you find the best deals.

You know what? I didn’t even realize that I’ve been negotiating prices until this post got me thinking about it!

I honestly just told each vendor that I have so much of my budget allocated to this aspect of my wedding, and I’m willing to compromise on some things. I got my reception to lower their price per head, my florists to let me bring my own vases, and my photographer to honour a 10% off promo that she already gave away.

So doesn’t hurt to ask!

Oh I have for everything! Be very forward with our budget and they will say yes or no! We have saved a few thousand dollars just by asking! The worst that can happen is they say now which some vendors have! Doesnt hurt to try!

I feel like it may not be easy to negotiate prices, but you might be able to negotiate the package/what you are getting.

We were able to do this for our wedding photographer. The original package included an engagement shoot but no second shooter. Since we wanted to do engagement photos at home (Thunder Bay) we are hiring a local photographer for those. We ended up substituting the engagement shoot with adding a second shooter for the same price (usually the second shooter is more $&dollar.

We also got 2018 pricing from our DJ for our 2019 wedding since we booked in advance, I would go about booking vendors early and asking if they'll honour a lower rate if you book early enough. I ended up saving $500 by booking early. Some vendors increase their prices year after year so booking early can save you $$.

You can always ask about discounts/early booking prices from vendors, but most will just take their business elsewhere if you try to negotiate a lower price. Save the negotiating for car dealers and real estate agents!

I agree with Brittany. Many vendors around me are so busy that they can just find another couple who is willing to pay the price they are asking for. I did get a wicked deal for my photographer since they are a preferred vendor from my venue. Our DJ will give us a good discount too because they have a good relationship with the venue.

One thing I will try to negotiate is the meal. We can play around with what we want included and will possibly be able to lower the price if we take out a course or 2 that are not necessary

My sister told me a friend of hers negociated and got a good discount from the photographer, since he offered to pay cash. Another friend of mine managed to get a videography package included with the pictures for much less. She got lucky i guess. They were willing to accomodate maybe because they were a very sweet young couple, and they hit it off with that particular vendor. They also got a deal on the venue, but that's because I think their siblings had also used the same place. So they got a small family discount. I agree that when having an in season wedding, and due to the demand, it's difficult and not likely to happen often, and it's all very circumstancial. But I was curious whether some here managed to pull it off for whatever reason.

The only thing that I have really tried negotiating price wise is "if I do cash...can I save the taxes". and at 13% taxes in Ontario. that's a good chunk.

granted. most of the pricing I have gotten for everything has been reasonable and around what I was willing to pay.

the one thing i'm going to try and negotiate is the meal (which we will do in the spring). We are doing a family style meal (platters of food brought to the table). so an app platter, salad, 2 meats, veg, potatoes and 2 meats and a dessert platter. and instead of roast chicken I want to see about chicken parm as an option.

some places will do a discount for a Friday wedding. but usually the discount isn't worth it when it comes to the amount of people that need to take off (the discount was only 500 bucks for us. not worth it to make my family use a vaca day)

I haven't tried yet - but we are getting a good deal on food ($20/person), wedding venue for the weekend at the daily price (off-season booking), getting the bar tenders at family discount (FH's family are close friends to someone who own a business), officiant is FH's uncle, photographer is my friend from work, and right now we are talking to a DJ - but he is the brother of my FH's friend so we are getting a deal there too...

I mean for the rental of the community centre for our social we didn't ask but socials are quite the big thing in MB so you don't mess with that or you won't be able to hold a social.

I will try asking about a dress discount when I go shopping though... hmmmm

If I didn't have all of these though I would for sure ask about it. Ask them if they have an off-season and if May is included in that. Also if they have aspects of a package that you would want to take out ask if you could get a discount instead or mix and match to have something else in it. Like Brittany said - It doesn't hurt to ask!!

I found photographers were a little more willing to negotiate. Not on prices, but stuff like if there was an engagement shoot included that you didn’t want, they will add that time onto the wedding day.

I’m in the same boat as Brittany- we’ve had no off season pricing except for the venue. Honestly most vendors aren’t really interested in negotiating- especially if you’re in season. Chances are they’ll find another couple who will give them what they ask for. It never hurts to ask but there’s really not much negotiating to it.

Ooooh, I'd say this is a touchy subject. Most vendors will not negotiate price. Especially during the busier season (May-September)... because most likely they are going to get business whether you book them or not.

Every single vendor I asked if they had off-season pricing, they all said no.

It doesn't hurt to ask... but I wouldn't push it if they say no. I haven't heard of any vendors negotiating price... maaaybe they might include something extra (photographer adding an extra hour for the same price, or something).... but I don't see much negotiating being done.