How the Savvy Bride Saves: Negotiating with Wedding Vendors

The average cost of a wedding today is fast approaching $30,000, and parents are less likely than ever to fork over the money. This means that young couples are paying the price, starting their new lives together buried under a mountain of debt. The good news is that a savvy bride can save a lot of money by playing it smart. In my "Weddings on a Budget" article, I discussed many money-saving techniques such as deciding priorities, knowing how to compromise, and employing a little elbow grease, but there was something lacking. I left out what is perhaps the most powerful weapon in a bride's budgeting arsenal: the ability to negotiate.

Why Weddings Cost So Much:

One of the main reasons that weddings are so expensive is because they are supposed to be once-in-a-lifetime events. This puts wedding vendors in the position to take advantage of a person inexperienced at wedding planning in an industry where earning repeat business is not really necessary. Talk about a terrible combination! Not all vendors are vultures, but they are businesspeople, most of whom are concerned about maximizing profits. Unfortunately, most brides are naïve and accepting of the prices and terms put in front of them by vendors, not realizing that they can get the same exact service (or better) for less money with some simple bargaining.

What Usually Happens:

The scenario is all too familiar: a young bride-to-be goes to meet with a vendor; she is shown a pamphlet with prices and terms and told that she must choose a package. The packages are expensive, and don't necessarily fit with her needs. She feels hesitant, but the vendor tells her that if she doesn't make a decision right away, then his/her services might be booked. Inexperienced and unsure of what to do, the bride chooses a package and signs a contract without questioning the process. The wedding vendor maintains control of the situation the whole time.

What Went Wrong: