Can anyone help me negotiate costs here on the venue ??

jackieglasgow

I actuall thought venue 2 looked nicer outside for pics etc., and if it has accomodation too, and is so much cheaper, I would be tempted to focus on that, but then your gut is imortant too. Why not use those things as a bartering tool, no accom, etc.

jackieglasgow

I had a look at the buffet menu for Dissington Hall, and it states you could mix and match the buffet, so if you had 120 guests you could have half from one price level and half from the cheapest one, that would look like a better vraiety but there would be some money to save there?

Also what menu do you have? In their samples, coffee is very much part of the menu, not a seperate item, which suggests they price it into their menu. £2.55 for coffee is too much, I would ask for tea and coffee for free without the mints!

I would also go for wine by the bottle which will be cheaper, and the kid's juise is too dear. If you are having a paid bar, parents will buy them drinks all evening, and they won't drink anywhere near that amount of juice with their meal, it will probably be cordial, which is water (that you are having free anyway) topped up cost price to them can be no more than £1. I would want free juice for the kids if it's cordial, on that basis.

mark55man

whichever choice you make you won't regret it later as you will have a lovely day that will be special forever. its not like having a choice of two parties to go to and chosing the wrong one

poppyscorner

jackieglasgow wrote: »

I had a look at the buffet menu for Dissington Hall, and it states you could mix and match the buffet, so if you had 120 guests you could have half from one price level and half from the cheapest one, that would look like a better vraiety but there would be some money to save there?

Also what menu do you have? In their samples, coffee is very much part of the menu, not a seperate item, which suggests they price it into their menu. £2.55 for coffee is too much, I would ask for tea and coffee for free without the mints!

I would also go for wine by the bottle which will be cheaper, and the kid's juise is too dear. If you are having a paid bar, parents will buy them drinks all evening, and they won't drink anywhere near that amount of juice with their meal, it will probably be cordial, which is water (that you are having free anyway) topped up cost price to them can be no more than £1. I would want free juice for the kids if it's cordial, on that basis.

I've gone for 80 choice A evening buffet packs and 40 choice B ones to give that variation.

for the wedding breakfast we've gone for soup to start then a choice of 2 main courses both from price band A (chicken or beef and they are doing a veggie option aswell) and dessert is from band c

I haven't asked the juice question yet but I certainly will be

In the pack I have there isn't a price for wine by the bottle but I think thats a really good idea too so thanks to all who suggested that too

The reason we went for the seperates for the main wedding breakfast was because we didnt feel the menu's for the hot buffet thing covered what we wanted the terms state that if you have the three courses you have to have the coffee aswell lol

paulwf

poppyscorner wrote: »

Choice 2 is easier its a hotel and our guests wont have to be kicked out after the evening lots of them will just roll up into bed us included:D

With choice 2 we have a bridal suite included choice 1 obviously has none of that

I went to a wedding in a castle where the whole venue is designed to be used just for weddings and rooms are provided. This was really good because OH could do her make up in the room before the ceremony and go back later to change for the evening. We also crashed out in the room for an hour in the afternoon during the boring family photo shoot

It gave the wedding a nice feel as we all had breakfast together in the morning, far better than shouting goodbyes over a dance floor. It might have an advantage for you as well - if you can guarantee a certain number of room bookings it should give you more leverage over the wedding price.

paulwf

poppyscorner wrote: »

Yeah their return email to me said that we could work out something that suits my budget and also hits their minimum spend

The wedding industry really is amazing, you're paying £200 for the privilege of letting them charge you £18 for a bottle of wine and £35 for a meal without coffee and then they start carping on about minimum spend! I'd be telling them where they can stick their talk of minimum charge...guess you can tell I'm a bloke

Horace

It is better to negotiate in person and then follow up with an email as that way they don't forget. Ask for wine to be served by the bottle and not by the glass as others have said as it will be cheaper, do you really need lager? I would be inclined to leave that out and let guests buy their own. Watch out for corkage charges too as some venues can be pricey more so if you take your own wine.

You state that you are having a choice or chicken or beef and a veggie option for the main meal - ask what the price would be if you just had chicken and a veggie option or just beef and a veggie option - that should bring the price down a bit too.

Coffee should really be included..also check on the juice for the kids and make sure it isnt squash.

Venue B looks a better venue to be honest with you - which one is it that has this expensive hire etc? Would it be worth looking at a couple more venues too?

RainbowDrops

paulwf wrote: »

I would work out the total price and offer them £1K less on a take it or leave it basis.

Just a word of caution, if this really is your dream venue, and you could squeeze your budget, making an ultimatum might make things awkward if you end up going with them.
Worth trying to get a bargain without sounding like you'll be a tricky customer.

Sounds like they are being amenable though

mum2one

Hi
Congratulations in advance.

Both places look amazing, thou the deer picture just melted my heart on the 2nd hotel... good marketing point.

Again agree with what the others have said

These just few thoughts
Lager - get rid of - they can have a glass of bucks fizz, if they want another there be a bar available.

Again ask per bottle price, allow 1 bottle 2 people. 2 for 8. If they don't do that look at their wine menu, a penny to a pound, be standard house wine, as others have said you could get 3 for £10.00, obviously they charge corkage but bear that in mind.

As a bride, there going to know you love the place, hense they know their going to get the trade,

Communication, arrange to make an appointment with all the items you do/don't want and questions, esp over the juice, its very unlikely it be pure orange juice, most proberly be squash, you could call their bluff and ask for fruit shoots!

In theory knock 1 1/2k off, with a view to barter to 1k discount, you won't be the 1st you won't be the last.

I know you say choice 2 hadn't got the tummy feeling, but try a fresh approach, just imagine that you have turned the clock and rego to venue 2, look at it through fresh eyes, maybe you got misty eyed over the 1st place.

I know you want the best day of your life, and every bride should be entitled to it.

Its Nov, its a not peak summer wedding so you really do hold the balls in your court (excuse the expression).

The 2nd one has bridal suite, which would make a major difference, and you could pre-book rooms, parents of the bride etc.

Good luck either way xx

hayleythedaisy

Shamelessy copied from a different thread...
I worked out exactly what everything would cost, totalled it then deducted 17% rounded that to the nearest £100 and told them that was my budget, they came back at a figure that was about a 14% discount excluding wine, I rounded that up to the nearest 100 and said we'll supply the wine if you do everthing else for that price.
(Chose 17% cos they give 10% late availability within 6 months and 5% for a friday plus 2% for a bit more haggling room!)
I also pointed out that they would sell their rooms, and make far more on the bar than they would any other friday night, and that at this much notice they were unlikely to resell the date.
Personally I would go with choice two - love the deers. You've got to do what's right for you and £5k is alot to spend on food etc!!! Hope you work it all out.
HTH