When it comes to wedding planning, couples are often looking for ways to save money on their overall wedding budget. One popular way is by reaching out to wedding suppliers and asking for discounts. This is no doubt derived from the age-old assumption that wedding suppliers charge an inflated rate when pricing up their service. Believing this to be true and trying your luck may seem like a great way to save some money, but it can be detrimental to small businesses and wedding suppliers. Let’s look at the reasons why:

Wedding products and services are more expensive for a reason.

Wedding services are generally more expensive due to the amount of time and effort that goes into them. Couples also get a more detailed service for their wedding because of the importance that is placed on the day. Wedding business owners often have to work closely with couples over longer periods of time to ensure a seamless service from start to finish, and there are a lot of emotions involved in the final outcome. Taking on a wedding booking sometimes means that a business owner will have to turn down other bookings in order to focus on your wedding. For this, couples should expect to have to pay a premium.

Why asking for discounts can be problematic for wedding suppliers.

When wedding suppliers are expected to discount their services or goods, they will always be sacrificing something. This could be their time as well as the potential profit that they could receive from other customers who purchase the full rate of the product or service. This in turn makes it difficult for your suppliers to turn a profit and run a sustainable business. It also undermines their skills and the amount of work and training that they have put in over the years to get to where they are today. The sad thing is, not all suppliers have the confidence to say no, or they might really need the business at the time having not secured a booking in a long while.

Understand what wedding suppliers’ prices are based on.

It’s important to remember that suppliers’ prices are based on many different things and each supplier is different. The more expensive options will be charging more for a reason. It could be that they are more qualified, use more expensive materials, spend more time working on their product or service, or have various overheads that you aren’t privy to. They may have already priced themselves as reasonably as they can and so, expecting them to discount their service further will be damaging to their profits.

What can be done instead to save money on your wedding?

You might be able to score a bargain during off-peak wedding season. Suppliers might have more flexibility due to slower business activity levels then usual. Having clear communication with vendors, being honest about your budget restraints, and showing appreciation for what they do is the best way to get the best deals possible without hurting anyone's pockets! Whilst suppliers may not have room to offer financial discounts, they might be able to offer more added value to your package instead. For example, your photographer might not discount their service but could offer to throw in a complimentry engagement shoot. Or, if you are open and honest about your budget then perhaps your supplier can tweak their package to come up with something smaller, and bespoke that will suit your needs. Just remember, all suppliers are different and their prices should be respected. We’ve done you a little favour by bringing together a selection of the UK’s coolest independent wedding suppliers, many of which have exclusive offers for Un-Wedding couples. This takes the awkwardness out of asking so everyone is a winner! Find your dream suppliers in our Book Of Love directory.

Conclusion: Is it ever ok to ask for discounts?

It’s important for couples considering asking for discounts from wedding suppliers to understand the implications of doing so. Think about how your request will affect their earnings just so you can save money. Are you ok with that? How would it make you feel to be asked to do your job for less money?

Rather than directly requesting a discount from wedding suppliers, why not look into other ways you can save money while still ensuring your wedding vendors receive fair compensation for their services. There will always be cheaper items or services available.