| 7 ways to save on an off-season
wedding |
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You could also look in travel magazines or ask hotels
in the area when their slow season begins, says Andrew Ward, co-author
with Shirit Kronzon of "The
Bargaining Bride: How to Have the Wedding of Your Dreams without
Paying the Bills of Your Nightmares."
Above all, seek seasoned advice before you book. Low prices sound
great, but you won't enjoy yourself, for example, if you find everything
shut down on the island upon arriving. During off-season you might
face bad service, few restaurant choices and fewer tours, says Naylor.
Besides talking to a travel agent, she recommends
a visit to travelandleisure.com
for destination reviews and advice on determining the "shoulder
season" -- that period of time right after the in-season ends,
when everything is still well-staffed and open in the area. And
of course, talk to people you know who travel a lot. "They
can tell you if April is bug season in Bermuda," says Naylor.
If your reception takes place inside of a hotel and you plan on
booking rooms there for incoming guests, point this out to the hotel
and ask for a reduction on the total price. By booking rooms, you're
bringing more business to them, and they'll be more likely to give
you a discount, says Becker.
3. Comparison-shop
online before shopping in person.
Research, research, research. Think of car shopping: Recognizing
a good deal can prove to be difficult if you have no numbers to
compare. Check local vendors' Web sites or call their stores, to
make sure you're comparing apples with apples, note prices and head
to your vendor of choice with a price list in hand.
"Preparation is key," says Ward. "Service providers
can manipulate the reference point, so it's good to bring in your
own numbers -- that way you can tell them what the store down the
street is charging for the same product or service."
4. Service
providers want business during off-peak months.
"All vendors are open to negotiation, but you'll find increased
opportunities with photographers, videographers and limousine companies,"
says Naylor. Weddings make up a greater percentage of their overall
business, so during off-season they actively seek out wedding couples,
unlike hoteliers and florists, who have plenty of business in other
areas.
Some vendors might not advertise their discounts, Cambria says,
but you'll have more room to negotiate with them because they want
to fill those gaps in their schedule.
When it comes negotiating a discount, it helps to
understand the vendor's perspective. People in the hospitality industry
make their living on their services, so they're not in a position
to just give things away, nor is anyone rightfully due a discount,
says Becker. That said, vendors might have months when their time
is not so demanding, and if you approach them with respect and knowledge
of their work, they might be willing to give you a price cut. "Don't
call them saying, 'I'm booking a wedding in the off-season, what's
my discount?'" says Becker. Tell them you've heard of their
work and admire their talent but that you're stuck with a small
budget.
On the other hand, a polite request doesn't necessarily
have to have a reason behind it, says Ward. The seven little words
"'Can you offer me any additional discount?" can sometimes
strike a bargain, he says. If this somehow insults the vendor or
ruins the relationship, you've learned something: You don't want
to work with that person anyway.
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