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5 Tips for Negotiating with Wedding Vendors

Wednesday, 20 March 2019 by eventsbywhim

negotiating with wedding vendors

A lot of couples have a big time misconception about wedding planning and negotiating with wedding vendors, and I want to share some tips about how to artfully and tactfully discuss pricing with your vendors.  Almost every wedding vendor I know is a small business that has a family to feed, pays taxes  and works hard to make magic happen for their clients.  Truthfully I don’t know many of them that enjoy being asked to lower their rates, as it devalues the hard work that they put into every event that they work on.

My job as a wedding planner is not to bargain with vendors on pricing. My job as a planner is to educate my couples on the range of costs for the wedding services they need to book, and to help them find vendors that fall within their price point. My role is to also help with creative methods of making the most of their budget.

That being said, I’ve had many couples that have asked me to push for bargains and discounts, and so I’m sharing five tips for how to artfully negotiate while maintaining a great relationship with your vendors.

Do your homework about a vendor’s services before meeting them

It doesn’t make any sense to meet with a vendor who is out of your budget, no matter how much you love them. Be sure to request preliminary pricing with your vendors before meeting with them – especially for service-based businesses. While you may be willing to stretch your budget a bit for a vendor you really love, if they are thousands above your price point, it will save you both time to nix the meeting before it happens.

Be up front with your budget for that vendor’s services

A lot of couples are wary of this questions when vendors ask, and there is a misconception that vendors ask about budget so they can max it out. This simply isn’t true of any ethical vendor. The reason that vendors ask about budget is so they can qualify whether or not they can serve you best, and oftentimes, in the case of product-based businesses, to customize a design that suits your wedding AND your budget.

Ask for custom packages to suit your budget

Speaking of custom quotes, it’s a great idea to ask for customized packages that may suit your wedding better than the standard packages offered by a vendor. For example, if a photographer’s wedding package offers 12 hours of service, but you need 8-10, ask if there is a custom option available that suits the number of hours you need.

Consider requesting a freebie rather than an outright discount

In the example above, I mentioned asking the photographer for a custom package to suit a lower number of hours of wedding day coverage. A great approach would be to ask the photographer to throw in an engagement session, and lower the number of hours, rather than asking the photographer for discounted services.

Many vendors are much more willing to offer a freebie than an outright discount to their pricing. Negotiating on points like albums for photographers, stand rentals for wedding cake vendors, a toss bouquet from a florist, or extra decor for invitation suites from a stationery vendor are a better way to enhance your existing services without devaluing the work of the vendor.

Be polite in your dealings

I cannot stress this point enough. Many wedding vendors get multiple requests for any given wedding date, so approaching with a less-than-polite attitude may result in that vendor not even wanting to chat with you. While wedding vendors are business owners, the vast majority of them are well-intentioned people who want to show up and serve their couples well, and being rude will only result in them refusing your wedding outright. Be prepared for some vendors to be unwilling to negotiate on the pricing for their services – if you push the issue, you may damage your relationship with that vendor.

Finally…

Budget can be a touchy issue while wedding planning, and it can be tempting to want to push for discounts with every vendor. Bear in mind the tips above, and remember that a vendor who feels valued by their clients will likely go far above and beyond to ensure that the wedding is a smashing success, and a vendor who does not feel valued will do the bear minimum that the contract stipulates. Did we miss an important tip for negotiating with wedding vendors? Drop us a line and let us know!

Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples.  Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!

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  • Published in Vendors, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
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Wedding Glossary – Toronto Wedding Planner

Wednesday, 13 March 2019 by eventsbywhim

THERE ARE WAAAY TOO MANY WEDDING INDUSTRY WORDS, TERMS AND ACRONYMS, AM I RIGHT?!

I remember when I was planning my own wedding, it felt like there were so many acronyms and so many terms that were thrown at me in every meeting with every vendor. I felt like i was out of the loop and didn’t always understand the lingo.
Since launching Events by Whim, one of my biggest passions was to help couples feel empowered in their planning decisions by removing some of the mystery around the wedding industry. I hope this glossary helps you!

Aisle Runner: fabric or other decor that runs the length of the aisle

A-Line: a dress shape that has a fitted bodice and a slightly flared skirt starting from the waist

Appliqué: a french word that means ‘applied’ and in the wedding industry refers to decorating fabric by applying and layering other cut pieces of fabric over it

Arbor: a group of branches or latticework that forms an archway for a bride and groom to stand beneath during their wedding ceremony.

AV: refers to audio/visual – most venues require you to work with an AV vendor to determine your sound and lighting requirements. Often work hand in hand with a DJ.

Ball gown: a tight, fitted bodice and definite waistline with gathered or pleated full skirt.

Ballet: a veil that falls somewhere between the knee and the ankle. Also known as a Waltz veil

BEO: Banquet Event Order – this is the document that outlines your final selections for food, drink and service times with your reception venue. This powerful doc will determine your service for your reception and must be signed off by the venue and the couple

Bentwood Chair: a popular option associated with laid-back, effortless elegance

Birdcage veil: skims the face and head, never falling below the chin

Black Tie: A formal dress code that calls for tuxedos and evening gowns

This wedding glossary contains over 100 essential words and terms, so instead of making this the longest blog post ever, click this image below to receive the full version! Or email us at [email protected] 🙂
Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples.  Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!
wedding glossary
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  • Published in 2019, Wedding Planner Tips, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
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