Having the wedding of your dreams does not come cheap. Buying that perfect wedding dress, the gorgeous rings you always wanted, the wedding cake, and most importantly, the wedding venue cost a fortune.

An essential aspect of wedding planning is cost evaluation and budgeting. While some of us have set aside wedding savings, some people struggle with the wedding budget. There are some ways you can reduce your wedding costs. If you could strike a great deal on your venue, there are chances the expenses of your wedding will fall.

Finding a venue in your budget may seem like a challenge to you, but there are some effective techniques which will help you negotiate prices.

Be Confident

One of the many reasons why to-be-wed couples end up paying a high cost for the venue is fear. The fear of losing a suitable venue, the fear of losing the chance of that perfect wedding, and the fear to break down in tears are some of the reasons why you might end up paying way more than a venue actually costs. Therefore, the first and the foremost rule of striking a good deal with the wedding venue is to be confident. Before you head out to the venue for a deal, know that confidence is everything.

Never start a negotiation with a fixed budget in mind; else your efforts will bear no fruit. Try to stay practical and demand a price that seems negotiable. You can ask for a 10% discount for a start and even cut down some items from your package for a lower price. Whatever you choose to do, remember, confidence is the key.

Don’t Forget to Do Your Research

The more you know about wedding venues, the better armed you are for negotiation. Researching will always help you have an edge during negotiations with the wedding venue owner. A smart approach is to visit at least three venues; it will give you the confidence and help you get the price of your choice.

The Timing

When negotiating the price of the venue, understand that the timing plays an immensely important role. To know exactly when to ask for a discount will help you get a considerable discount. Asking for a discount for a Saturday wedding is highly impractical. A wedding venue will never be short of couples who want weekend weddings so the owner will not show any interest in offering a low deal when they can get a higher cost.

Therefore, it is smart to ask for discounts for weekdays, when there fewer weddings. On weekends and even on weekdays in peak season, you will never get a discount. Choose your dates wisely!

Keep Your Word

A mistake many couples make when negotiating for wedding venues is that they do not keep their word. When you make an offer, you must stick to it. Venue owners lose their patience when they agree on the price the couple put forward and then tries or haggle it further down. Not being sincere might make you lose a good venue deal. Work out your budget and make an offer that you can offer and stick to it. Be respectful towards the venue owners and do not deviate from your word because it just messes things up.

Hiring a Wedding Planner

Professional wedding planners have their network of wedding vendors, including photographers, caterers, decorators, and even wedding venue owners. There is a vast difference between a couple negotiating with the venue owner and a professional wedding planner negotiation with the owner.

There are chances that a wedding planner can get the wedding venue of your choice at a much lower price. These professionals have their ways around the vendors and are aware of the tactics and tricks that help them strike an affordable deal.

These are some of the most effective ways you can negotiate the price of your choice for a wedding venue. Before you jump right into it, you must know that respecting towards the venue owner and being practical are the two most important things to consider when negotiating.

Ruining Your Wedding Venue Negotiations

Some couples end up ruining their negotiations. Do not want to be that unlucky couple? Well, here are some ways you can ruin your wedding venue negotiations.

Disrespecting and Insulting

What many couples do is that they ask for a 50% reduction in the price. It is not smart, rather its an insult to the wedding venue. Reducing the cost to a 50% means loss for the venue and by demanding such a thing, you disrespect the owner.

Threatening Will Never Work

Think threatening a company to write bad reviews about them will help you get a good deal? You are wrong. It is highly unethical and will never give you the results you desire. Ruining someone’s business just because you cannot afford their services is unacceptable and entirely out of the question.

Lying is Not an Option

The wedding industry is a network of vendors and is small. Lying about a venue that they offered a lower price will never help you get the right deal.