Negotiate (Tip #5: Champagne Wedding . . . Boxed Wine Budget)

This tip is a biggie that can result in big savings! Negotiating terms with wedding vendors can take on many forms. It is not always as simple as asking for a lower price for any given service.

The first step to negotiation is doing your homework. Know what the going rate is for services in your area and make sure that you talk with more than one vendor so that you can make valid comparisons between them. Once you do this, you’ll have a better idea of who you are in a position to negotiate with.

Next is determining who has more “chips” in any given negotiation. If you choose to have your wedding during an off-peak season or day, your negotiating power can be pretty high. The vendor may really need your sale and with the pool of customers smaller for your date, they may be more willing to accommodate you. However, make sure to use great tact and diplomacy when negotiating. Demanding a lower price may not get you far. Instead, a great way to begin this discussion with a vendor would be . . . “we chose to have an off-season wedding because we have a limited budget. This is what we had in mind to spend. Is there any way that we can get the price closer to this number?” This respectful request provides the vendor the opportunity to make a proposal to you that may be more enticing.

In the contrary situation, having your wedding on a Saturday during the peak season, your negotiation power can be limited. After all, it is likely that the vendor could have their pick of brides and grooms for that date. However, if you aren’t able to negotiate a lower price for a service, try requesting modifications to their package/service in a way that works for your budget. For example, if you’re wanting to have an extra hour of open bar at your venue but cannot afford the extra expense, try to find an opportunity to exchange some other part of the package such as the champagne toast or the dessert and have guests toast with what is in their hand and enjoy the wedding cake as dessert. For photographers and videographers, try shortening the coverage period or cutting down on the number of DVD’s or prints. This form of negotiation may not lower your bottom line, but makes sure that you’re getting what is most important to you for the money that you spend.

The most important thing to remember about negotiating is not making demands but instead inviting a vendor into a mutual discussion of how to structure services to meet your particular needs and budget. If you find a vendor completely unwilling to accommodate you, don’t be afraid to keep looking for someone else who will.

So . . . get out there and negotiate!

Retail, Recycle and Recoup (Tip #4: Champagne Wedding . . . Boxed Wine Budget)

It takes a special kind of bride to really capitalize on this tip. If you love to shop and find bargains, this tip is for you. Use it wisely and save big bucks!

With elaborate craft and party stores in almost every neighborhood and endless online resources for wedding and party supplies, purchasing items directly instead of renting or purchasing them through a vendor can add up to huge savings. The basic idea is this, figure out what items you can buy directly at a lower price than what you would pay a vendor. After the wedding, sell those items to another bride looking to do the same thing, recouping a portion of your funds.

For example, glassware for floral arrangements can be a significant line item in your floral bill. Instead of renting them or purchasing them from your florist, buy them yourself at your local craft store. To really capitalize on your savings, make sure you use the handful of coupons that are in the weekly newspapers. Usually you can get 40-50% off of one item and most stores accept competitors’ coupons. Go a few times a week taking a new coupon each time or take a few friends to the store, giving them each a coupon to use, and walk away with your glassware at half the price. Better still . . . when your wedding is over, list the glassware for sale on a website such as Craigslist, Ebay or Weddingbee and get some or ALL of your money back!

You can use the same strategy with online shopping for items such as linens, lanterns, candy bar supplies, etc. However, there are a couple of things you should be aware of when ordering such items online. Be sure to review the return policy. Since you are not able to inspect the quality of items until they arrive at your door, make sure there won’t be a large expense for returning those items if they are not up to snuff. Also, don’t forget that a significant portion of online pricing is in the shipping and handling cost. When trying to determine your savings, make sure you account for those expenses.

Not all items you can purchase are appropriate for resale, but don’t let that stop you. Purchasing items directly such as favor boxes and fillings, candles, placecards, etc., rather than obtaining them through a vendor, will allow you the opportunity to get them on sale or with a coupon and without an upcharge often affixed by a vendor. Bear in mind that those same classified websites you can use to sell your items can also be a great place to purchase them.

Being a savvy shopper and giving yourself plenty of time to collect the items you need, will definitely help you stick to your budget. If you have the time and the bargain shopping skills, you’ll be amazed at what you can have and how much you can save!

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize (Tip #3: Champagne Wedding . . . Boxed Wine Budget)

Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking. Sometimes the greatest challenge is knowing where and how to begin. This tip really should be number one because it’s a simple way to get started planning a beautiful yet affordable wedding. All you’ll need is a piece of paper, a pencil and your fiancé (IF you value his or her opinion!).

FIRST, make a list of all the major elements of your wedding. Here is a basic list to get you started:

· Wedding Date/Season
· Location
· Food
· Bar Arrangements
· Flowers & Décor
· Attire
· Music/Entertainment
· Stationary (invitations, menus, programs, etc.)
· Favors
· Transportation
· Cake
· Photography
· Videography

NEXT, rank the items in the order of importance to YOU by re-writing the list in that order. For example, if you absolutely must have your wedding on a specific date or in a specific season, “Wedding Date/Season” would rank #1. If you then have your heart set on a specific band for your reception, that would rank #2 and so on.

FINALLY, start planning your wedding in order of your priority rankings. In the above example, you’d start by choosing a few “doable” dates, finding out which of those dates the band is available, and then finding a location that is also available on those final dates. In contrast, if location ranks higher than date, you’ll find your location and then choose an available date for that specific location. Continue booking your vendors and making your selections in the order of your list.

By using this basic guideline, you’ll ensure that you get first choice for most of the items that are most important to you. In addition, the majority of the money will be spent on those items. As you make your way toward the bottom of the list, you may find that money is starting to get tight or your choices are limited. But lucky for you, any compromises that must be made will be ones that matter the least to you.

In the end, you get what you want . . . a wedding that is uniquely you and peace of mind knowing that the money was well spent. Happy prioritizing everybody!