Anyone With Success Negotiating With Wc About Prices?

[nadiakat17]

I'm really stressed out, I just got an email from my WC trying to answer all my questions- I just feel like we are being nickel and dimed on everything and that they are charging huge fees. We are trying to do a lot of things to save money, but with the bare minimum (which I feel is already overpriced) it is already a lot. They want to charge me for bringing my own centerpieces, candy bar, etc - who knows if they charge for things like putting decorations on chairs, etc. Has anyone had any luck trying to negotiate these charges and bringing the cost back down and if so, how did you go about it? Thanks, it just sucks that I feel like they trying to suck me dry. 

 

Thanks

[NickiLynn1116]

@@nadiakat17 Who are you using?  I have to use Lomas because I am getting married at El Dorado Royale.  I feel the same way about them.  They nickle and dime for everything.  I have gotten them to bend on some items.  For example I am doing chairs with covers and bows at the reception AND the ceremony.  They normally charrge $8 a chair but they are charging me $6 a chair.  They are charging me for items I am bringing which I do find rather ridiculous.  

[081114OVCUBA]

Sounds like a lot of extra charges these days, here's some other charges to look out for in case you have not seen this thread: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/77644-whats-your-hidden-costs-so-far/

 

We didn't try to negotiate any of our resort's add on prices, we did go to the photographer to find out what she charged for a full day rather than just the ceremony (~1 hr for 120$)... it was insane so we ended up paying her 50$/extra hour x 3 hours.. This wasn't much of a negotiation though.

 

Have you already signed a contract and committed to this one resort? If not, you could price it out elsewhere and have them compete against each other?

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Hi there!

 

There are so many options on locations to marry. We knew before we booked our venue we did NOT want to have our wedding at a hotel, even though offered. I don't have a WC. But with a little research I found a beautiful private beach club in PDC that charges no fee to rent the entire place for a wedding as long as you buy dinner and drinks from them. They are allowing us to bring everything and anything we want with no vendor fees. I was allowed to create my entire menu too.

 

If you haven't booked your wedding our signed a contract you might wanna consider other options as well, even if your staying at the hotel.

 

Or like any brides do have ceremony at hotel and book a private venue for reception.

 

It seems like your getting a better deal at hotels but your so restricted and soon find your paying more to customize it then you ever thought!

 

Good luck!

[nadiakat17]

I signed my contract already. I didn't really have much choice bc my parents have a timeshare that we are using to have the wedding, so I guess I could have went elsewhere but wanted to have my wedding at the resort we were staying . At the time, I didn't think there would be much variation between different resorts and prices, but maybe now I am realizing there might be. I will have to see what the total cost ends up being and how that compares. 

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Ok take a deep breath and move forward from where you are at. You can have a beautiful wedding the way you want it.

 

I'm sorry that you are feeling this way. I totally get it.

 

Stick to your senses and see what areas you can really spice up and which you just have to let be.

 

Maybe they won't charge you extra for centerpieces if you explain you are making them and not an outside vendor. Things like that...

[TAkathy]

All weddings are different.  Each bride has her own idea of decor and additional items that she wants to personalize her ceremony and reception.

 

You are paying for the space, the staff and the services they provide.  But it takes time and manpower to provide the services you are requesting.  There is almost no other way to do fairly  it but price each item individually.

 

When a property provides a service, they either have the materials available or they have a vendor that provides them.  If you are bringing your own items but still want them to put them in place, they are losing revenue and using their staff so you will pay for that.  It's really no different than a restaurant charging a corkage fee for a diner who beings their own bottle of wine for their meal.

 

You could look at it as being "nickeled and dimed" but it is really under your control because you can decide how much extra cost you want to assume. Would you rather they charge a higher fee for all services and materials and not allow you to bring anything in at all?

 

There are many things to review in advance before signing a contract with a vendor.  This is one good example as they are all managed differently.

[JamaicaNicole]

I agree with you completely, you see one set price and then you realize how it quickly adds up. On the outside that package and we got the most expensive one looks great but then you notice that it includes the bare minimum. For example we get all linens but they are white.

 

I have decided to bring a lot of items with me such as chair sashes because I can get them for a fraction of the cost online. The resort we are staying at charges starting at $50 to assemble everything I bring. The caveat on that is it says starting at $50 I do not plan on paying more then $50 and will negotiate with them when I get there if they try and charge more. 

 

I did negotiate the vendor fee. I am hiring an outside photographer and they charge $300 per vendor and then $80 per person that comes with the vendor. I personally think this is ridiculous I am already paying enough for the photographer and it is not my fault that the quality of their on site is not up to par. I am fine with the $80 day pass but a $300 vendor fee in my opinion is ridiculous. I negotiated with them about this and they dropped it to $200 for now but said they would revisit waiving it closer to the wedding date since I am still 2 years out. 

 

How I negotiated was that I explained that I am giving them return business since I have been to the resort before. I am also bringing in a lot of revenue to the resort with all of my guests, paying for the wedding and extras, and we are staying in the highest tier room for 12 nights. 

[nadiakat17]

@@JamaicaNicole I agree with you. I understand that there needs to be a fee to set up things but I just feel like my resort is putting insane fees on everything. I would be OK with something reasonable, but like you said, 380$ for an outside photog to come in when you are already paying so much is crazy!