Wedding Negotiation: Tips for Success

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Avoiding a contentious negotiation process and succeeding in a win-win, fair price for all, can be done with careful preparation and empathy for the vendor that you are negotiating with.

Do your research. Look for vendors that list their prices; find out what your friend paid for her DJ last summer; email a few caterers and see if they can send a few sample menus. Get to know reasonable pricing for your area.

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Think carefully and consider that their costs are. For example, a caterer needs to not only buy food, but hire lots of staff to prep and serve the food.

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Some venues and vendors- such as the stunning estate pictured below, Malibu Rocky Oaks – are priced at a premium on a peak Saturday night. Many couples are considering weeknight wedding dates to receive concessions from vendors and venues.

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Couples who charge into the wedding negotiation process like a bull in a china shop with a contentious haggling style, tend to put everyone on the offensive. But offering a solid reason will open the door to brokering a fair compromise.

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Look for vendors that list their prices; find out what your friend paid for her DJ last summer; email a few caterers and see if they can send a few sample menus.