Are vendor prices negotiable??

I think this can be done in certain situations, but proceed with caution! Telling professional DJs or photographers that you want to pay less than their standard price can come off as undervaluing their services.

My advice to you would be to book early and try to lock in 2017 prices before they increase for 2018!

For a Saturday in prime season? Probably not. If you don't want to pay full price, there will likely be other people who will.

I agree about locking in 2017 prices, our caterer raised prices this year but we booked last year, so we're saving money because we get the 2016 price.

I've also heard stories about getting discounts for non-Saturday dates, but we're a Friday date and didn't get a single discount.

Probably not for your date.

I got discounts for my venue, food, alcohol, photography, and flowers. It's always a possibility if you negotiate in a friendly way.

The only thing I negotiated down so far was the room I am renting for the night before the wedding and the night of. It's attached to the venue. I wouldn't really try with musicians, photographers, etc. because creative people should be paid fairly for their time and talent. For goods, though, I always ask. All they can say is no, right?

Timing is everything - you are getting married during prime wedding time (on a Saturday), I wouldn't expect it. As others have mentioned, I have heard that non-Saturday's are cheaper but that would also probably depend on time of year (outside of wedding season). I have gotten a few discounts (relatively small) but those discounts were after booking and were because we are spending a pretty penny for these vendors - my cocktail hour caterer has added a additional passed appetizer to our package because FH loved it and my photographer is discounting a extra hour for me ($250 a hour instead of $500 a hour). I didn't negotiate these though, they offered the discounts based on what we were already paying.

ETA: typo

You can negotiate, but recognize that you'll most likely give something up for what you get. For example, we managed to get a lower price on photography by having only three hours (some getting ready, the ceremony, and formals), not the whole day; by having our wedding on a Tuesday; and by getting only a disk with edited images, not prints or albums. So think carefully about what you are willing to give up, and negotiate from there.

I didn't negotiate exactly, but we did get discounts. My band had one advertised on their website in early spring for anyone booking events later in the year, and a few of our vendors know my parents (My parents are friends w practically everyone in the small town I grew up in, and my dad has a side business doing caterings), so some of them gave us a sort of "friends and family" discount because of that. I didn't ask for it though.

I don't think you'll piss people off if you ask nicely, or just let them know my budget for xyz is $abc, what's the best you can do for that amount? And/or be flexible - ex. I told my florist the colors of flowers, but to pick anything in season because I don't care what type of flowers as long as the overall look and feel matches my inspo pics.

We always ask if there are any Military/Law Enforcement discount. Usually they say yes, it's only 10-15% but hey that's better than nothing.

Also: DJ is FBIL's friend offered his best pkg for half off (we intended on paying full price). Caterer does a lot with the Sherriffs dept offered to waive the traveling fee. Photographer is the same we use for everything and we got a "regulars" discount.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

ETA: adding info

You can customize packages a bit to get your costs down. My dj had a package with confetti cannons and a CO2 "dance in the clouds" that FH and I didn't want. Taking those items out and opting for one t.v. instead of two saves us a bit of money.

If you do decide to ask for a discount or try to negotiate, I would go in with letting them know what you are willing to give up. I would not ask for a discount and still expect the same level of service/ticket items.

I work in sales. Yes--you should negotiate! Play the game. The "undervaluing" experience to me is sort of bullshit. If I want to pay 1500 for my photography for example. The vendor I work with says I charge 2500 for 3 hours. So one of two things happen, the vendor will suggest something to charge less to work with you--or they will just flat out tell you no. It really helps when sticking to your budget. I know guys who charge a butt load to do wedding photography and videography because they don't actually want to do it. But when they charged more, people paid it.

So, on the negotiate question=If you can't offer me xyz at price point x, then one of two things works out. They'll say--unfortunately this is what I charge and I feel this is not appropriate for my experience OR what is it I can do to make this relationship work? If they can't offer you in the price point you need, someone else will. You're not threatening to take your business elsewhere. Well, you are, but you're also just being honest. It's not an unreasonable thing to do. It's all about being competitive.

I negotiated with my venue as online their catering menu was listed at $80 a plate. I said, I like your venue--but I am not willing to pay 80 per person. They sent me a catering menu with lesser options and at about $28 a person. SO YES. THEY ARE NEGOTIABLE.

The only way we got discounts was by paying immediately. So if our DJ's cost was $1200, we could pay $600 now and $600 later, or pay $1000 now and be done with it.

It's worth trying. I didn't even ask since we are getting married during prime time, on a Saturday/holiday weekend lol

Honestly the best way, I think, to go about this is to either book way in advance or last minute. By booking a year+ in advance you'll lock in the current year's pricing. We booked our photographer about 14 months in advance and she's already increased her rates twice. So, in that sense, we are "saving money". Vendors will offer services at a discounted rate if they have any dates unfilled for that year, but that's usually last minute. You could also try going to bridal expos. I know many will also offer a discount if you book them right then and there.

I'm booking semi far out bc it's a DW and no sure when I'll be back to location. I had a hard time finding a photographer not charging $5,000 (eep!) so I posted about it and a photographer from mainland about 3 hrs away said he can do 1200 and he said since I'm on a tight budget he'll eat the charge for us. Honestly that's what's going to make me choose him over another one I liked for the same price (if he charged travel). Some vendors- esp independent ones - know little things like that can guarantee business so my advice is to just be honest with your budget moreso than negotiate.

also my wedding is summer down south so it's not a super popular time of year

We negotiated with our venue to come down $10 per person. Dj gave us a discount because I remembered him from a wedding I went to 10 years ago. Photo discount because of the venue. Never hesitates to ask.

What is an e-ring?

Never mind, its probably engagement lol

Instead of negotiating, I think it is important to be upfront about your budget. Instead of saying, "I see your package starts at $2500 - is there any way to work with us on that?" start out by saying "Our budget is $2000 and here's what we are looking for. Is there any way to come up with a package for us?".

My florist sent me a questionnaire to fill out before we meet with her - budget, number of bouquets, centerpieces, etc. This way, when we meet on Monday she can have her presentation tailored to what we are looking for.

ETA: Essentially, the way you ask is the most important part. I agree with Celia that it can be seen as undervaluing their product/service, but if you are upfront about what you want from them there should be some wiggle room. The only "discounts" per se that we are getting are: 10% from photographer for booking over 1 year out, $10 off per plate at the venue since it is a Friday (standard practice for them), 1 extra free hour from our DJ since we know his son (NOT a friendor!)