Venue Negotiations!

[FutureMrsW]

I have to call the venue that I'm hoping to book this morning, and I'm super nervous! Basically, we love everything about them, except there is one small detail that I am hoping to get them to negotiate on. I have already tried once and been told no, so this morning I am going to call back and make a second attempt.

I think in the end we will probably book them either way, but I know I will be much happier if I can get them to negotiate with me. It's just a silly extra that I'm asking for, but it's something that my FH and I both want, and that is outside of our budget if they won't work with us on price. And aside from this one detail, we haven't asked them to come down on price at all. So I don't think we're being unreasonable in what we're asking. Hopefully they'll give in. Wish me luck!!

Erica

[WebLady]

I am curious; what are you asking them to give on?

[FutureMrsW]

We want them to offer champagne as part of the open bar. They want to charge us an extra $4 pp to do it. That seems really high to us, since if people are drinking champagne, it means they won't be drinking the other alcohol that's available - so in theory it doesn't actually cost them anything extra.

[WebLady]

AH ... A lot of venues charge a $3-$5pp corkage/pouring fee for champagne and wine.

Maybe you can see if they will just do a one time champagne toast for less.

:goodluck:

[Micah's bride]

We are not paying for an open bar at our venue, but we are doing a champagne toast. By doing it that way, we paid for one bottle for each table, which is a lot cheaper. Our venue also allows you to bring in your own bottles, but they charge a $10 fee to uncork. I think it would be cheaper to just have a champagne toast, if your venue would allow you to purchase a bottle or two for each table.

[FutureMrsW]

Well, that was easier than I thought it would be!!

Apparently I was just asking for the wrong thing. Instead of asking about the champagne again, I asked if, since they couldn't help me on that, if they could lower the price of our hors d'oeuvres by $4 pp. They said sure, that was no problem! I'm not really sure why one was so hard, and one was so easy, but in the end I don't care. We're getting what we want for the price we want. Yay!!

She's supposed to email me the contract this afternoon. I can't wait to have this baby signed!

[WebLady]

Glad it worked out for you :)

[Docsgirl]

That's good that everything worked out! :D Our venue charges $20/bottle for their champagne, but they are allowing me to bring my own pink champagne since they don't carry it. :)

[RosieAngel]

Okay, so, if I heard this right, $4 off booze is a definite no, but the same amount off food is okay?

How weird is that?! It's the same difference, I'd think.

[FutureMrsW]

Okay, so, if I heard this right, $4 off booze is a definite no, but the same amount off food is okay?

How weird is that?! It's the same difference, I'd think.
Yup, you're hearing it right. And it makes absolutely no sense to me either. But it's working in my favor, so I'm not going to argue!!

Unfortunately I got the contract yesterday, and all of the little details that I thought were already worked out, are not stated properly in the doc. So now I'm trying to work with them to get the contract to a point where FH and I are comfortable signing it without feeling like we can get completely taken advantage of. Seriously, getting a wedding venue makes the house buying process seem easy!! I never realized how difficult this was going to be.

[WebLady]

Yup, you're hearing it right. And it makes absolutely no sense to me either. But it's working in my favor, so I'm not going to argue!!

Unfortunately I got the contract yesterday, and all of the little details that I thought were already worked out, are not stated properly in the doc. So now I'm trying to work with them to get the contract to a point where FH and I are comfortable signing it without feeling like we can get completely taken advantage of. Seriously, getting a wedding venue makes the house buying process seem easy!! I never realized how difficult this was going to be.
Good for you for reviewing the contract!

Hope you get everything worked out :)

[bluejay]

For our champagne, it's $3 pp, but decided instead on a champagne fountain.