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About my book

Many couples find it simply too hard, want to avoid awkward situations or fear being told 'no'. "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" shows couples how to approach negotiation successfully, right from thorough preparation for negotiation through to how to ask and get lucrative discounts. Every section is broken down into an easy, step-by-step approach so getting those discounts is simple.

The book also comes with three bonuses to help couple succeed in their negotiations and save on their weddings. These bonuses are exclusive to Cheap Wedding Success.

The average selling price of the book is £10.99.

How the programme works

Every time you recommend my ebook and someone purchases, you will receive 50% of every sale that is referred. Anyone you refer is tracked for 180 days allowing plenty of opportunity for them to your referee to go away and think about the purchase.

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You can also use the following excerpts from the book on your website, blog or newsletter. Use your affiliate link in the resource box at the bottom of the article or anywhere you like within the main body of text.

There are five articles available for your use:

1. The Right Language For Successful Wedding Negotiation
2. Using The Word "Wedding" In Negotiation
3. Essential Wedding Secrets For Brides: What The Wedding Industry Is Really Like
4. How Far Can You Go With Wedding Negotiation?
5. Winning Ways To Negotiate On Wedding Packages

Simply copy and paste the text in your webpage.

What you say and how you say it is critical for getting a great deal. Language is very important as it can be the difference between getting a ‘no’ response and a ‘yes’ response. There are certainly some ways of wording the request that you should avoidand there are plenty of tricks that you can use that will help you get your desired response. Here’s an outline of some of these tricks:

Avoid using negative language
Many people approach negotiation with the attitude that they’re not going to get a discount or get what they want. It comes down to idea that we’re used to getting what we’re given and the paying the price on the price tag.

Many people ask questions to their suppliers that evoke a one word answer. More importantly, they use a negative question that already assumes that you know what you want isn’t possible. The response you get from the supplier is a big, fat ‘no’. Look at these examples, how many times have you used them and failed?

You can’t do a deal on that can you?

I don’t suppose you could work within my budget of £x,xxx?

Instead of these negative questions, you need to use positive statements that show you’re confident and a serious buyer.

Positive language encourages a ‘yes’ response
If you avoid the negatives and put a positive spin on the question, you’ll more than likely get a ‘yes’ response. Obviously, the more ‘yes’ responses you get, the better the outcome will be. As soon as you hit a ‘no’, it’s difficult to go further, but we’ll cover tricks to get past this hurdle later. At the moment, these tips are about beginning the negotiation, so let’s focus on the first few ‘yes’ responses.

Once you’ve built up a rapport you can start to talk about the relationship between you and the supplier. You can do this by using a plural in your questions which suggest you’re a team, you work together, you want both parties to be involved and gain from the deal. This kind of language virtually always gets a ‘yes’ response.

Can we do a deal on that?

Are you flexible?

What’s your best deal?

Another way to use positive language is to use statements, rather than questions. Statements tend to be more factual, suggest confidence and that you’re a serious buyer. Notice how each of the statements take you one step closer to finalising the deal and show that you’re genuinely interested. They’re positive statements and if the supplier wants a sale, then you’re likely to get the deal you want.

If the price is right, I’ll buy today.

You can do better than that.

We can do a deal on that.

Avoid questions that get a one word answer
When you want to expand the offering for the same price, you need be careful how you request it. It’s important to avoid questions that allow the supplier to give you a one word answer, especially if that one word might be ‘no’.

Another trick with the supplier is to assume that items are included when you’re asking the supplier, rather than asking the supplier outright if the item is included. (This is the only time I’ll ask you to assume anything. In general, never assume anything – especially when you’re fact finding.)Take a look at these examples:

Don’t use this: Can I have ribbon with that?

Instead phrase it this way: How much ribbon is included with that?

You’re assuming that ribbon is included with the purchase, whichmakes it harder for the supplier to say ‘no’. If they want to make a sale, they’re likely to throw it in.

So, you can see that the language you use has a huge affect on the outcome of your negotiations. Don’t forget though, that your rapport with the supplier and your confidence will also go along way to making sure you get what you want.

You can learn about the secrets of how to get great discounts off your wedding in Nicola Ray's "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" –
http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/negotiation.html

With weddings being a one-off event in people’s lives, we all want the day to be special. If something goes wrong, there’s no repeating it, so this really is a one-time event.

Every bride wants it to be perfect from start to finish and you’ll put a lot of effort into making that way. Everything needs to be ‘just so’, after all, you’ve probably imagined this day for a long time.

But why is it that when we look for things for our wedding, that the prices just seem ludicrous? Why is that a children’s party DJ is £200, but a wedding DJ is £600? A cake with three tiers is £70, but a three tier wedding cake is £300? It just doesn’t seem right does it?

But let’s look at this from a supplier’s point of view. They see an opportunity for a premium product and market their products and services as such. Weddings are special. You want to feel special as the bride and you’re willing to go out of your way to get your day ‘just so’. The supplier knows this and with any kind of business, catering to these specific needs creates a premium product.

- They know you want it to be special (therefore they’ll add a premium).
- They know it’s a one-time event in your life (therefore they’ll add a premium).
- They know that you’ve got your heart set on their product (therefore they’ll add a premium).

Creating a product that’s ‘special’ tends to use higher qualitymaterials or ingredients. For example, you’ll find better quality fabrics in the dresses, higher quality ingredients in the cakes or a better bottle of wine on the ‘wedding’ menu. It’s for these reasons the price is higher.

The good thing about premium products and services though is that you can negotiate what’s on offer so the product comes in at a price that’s acceptable to your budget. You can find out more about this later on.

Unfortunately, not all wedding services are premium and there are plenty of scoundrels out there offering a supposedly better ‘wedding’ product, where in fact, they’re riding off the back ofthe ‘wedding’ industry. Watch out for them!

Interestingly, if you tackle suppliers by not mentioning the word ‘wedding’ when you’re asking for quotes, you’ll often be given a different price altogether. You’re not asking for anything ‘special’ from them, therefore you don’t get that ‘premium’ price.

So my first tip would be to avoid saying that you’re having a wedding and see how much you can save.

Those that certainly don’t need to know that you’re having a wedding are the cake maker, your DJ or band, caterer and transport.

There are of course, exceptions to the rule. Sometimes, you’ll want to use the wording ‘wedding’ to your advantage. It can often get free upgrades or a superior service. Honeymoons, flights, hotel rooms, venues, flowers and many other suppliers may even provide you with more if you mention you’re actually getting married or that you’ve just got married. This is something that you do later on in the negotiation, rather than up front to make re you get the best deal.

So you’re now primed on the wedding industry and ready to start working your way around their marketing ploys and tricky traps. You’re a little more savvy and ready to take on the suppliers and get yourself a great deal.

You can find out more ways to negotiate the wedding industry in Nicola Ray's book "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" –
http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/negotiation.html

The wedding industry is a lucrative business, especially for those suppliers that offer a good service or product. They make their money by offering a premium service to brides like you. You want your wedding to be special and they’re simply tapping into your desires and providing a solution for you, making them adept at selling you more than you really need.

Of course, there are different levels of wedding services. Some are high-end and others are mass market. It doesn’t matter which you’re using, the principles are the same.

You need to understand how the wedding industry markets itself to you. Once you understand how it works, you’ll be able to see through their tactics and work your way around it. You’ll be incontrol of how you spend your money and best of all, you’ll savethousands.

Here are some simple techniques the wedding industry uses to make you spend more:

Being your friend
Wedding vendors are adept at making you feel at ease, comfortable and being your friend, especially if they want you to spend a lot of money. They find out as much about you as possible, what you’re looking for, what your wedding is going to look like and what your ideas are. Everything you then tell them is providing them with information about you and your dream wedding, so they can use selling techniques to get you spend more.

There’s no reason why they can’t be your friend. Everyone appreciates a friendly salesperson as it makes the buying process more enjoyable. But be aware of letting yourself get carried away and signing on the dotted line because the salesperson was so nice. They’re just building rapport with you, just as I’ve stated that you should with them.

Create exclusivity
In many areas of your wedding, you’ll find exclusive services. One-to-one shopping, free consultations and free premium drinks often accompany exclusive services. Let’s have a quick look at how bridal boutiques do this:

• You often need an appointment to try on the dresses or gownswhich creates an air of exclusivity, one-to-one attention with dedicated staff and a calm atmosphere to give the impression of no-pressure buying.
• They’ll also ask you to fill in a form about your wedding and perhaps give you a glass of champagne to settle your nerves as well as make you more open to suggestion.
• You’ll be ushered into a changing area where dresses matching the specifications you outlined on your form will be bought to you, but you won’t be able to search the racks yourself.

All of these elements create an air of exclusivity about the product you’re buying. And as you well know, a premium product or service has a premium price.

The atmosphere which is created in these situations encourages you buy on their terms. You’re relaxed, very comfortable and they know you’ll make a purchase today. The more you are at ease, the easier it will be for you to part with your cash.

Playing to your emotions
Most brides can’t wait to tell everyone that they’re getting married. They’re thoroughly delighted and can’t express it enough. Wedding suppliers will play to this as much as possible by helping to make all your dreams come true.

The easiest way to do this is to get you talking about your ideas and what you want. They’ll then offer solutions to meet your desires, without considering price. And why not, you’re a supplier’s dream! You’re in buying mode, you’ve got money to spend and you want to spend it. You’ll easily get whisked away with the wedding ideal and sign on the dotted line in no time.

Their experience vs. your inexperience
Wedding suppliers will often use their experience to wow and dazzle you into thinking they know best. They’ll have endless ideas from years of experience which they’ll throw at you at every opportunity. Their intention here is to make you doubt your own ideas and ability, and begin to trust their wealth of knowledge.

Coupled with their years of experience is your inexperience. They know what first time brides are like, (i.e. very emotional and very excited) and that you’ve probably never organised an event for over 50 people before, let alone had over £1,000 to spend on a big party. (Who has, except professional events people?!)

They know they have the edge. But you can work around this by doing your homework and planning carefully. You can also learn a lot from the wedding experts as they share their ideas with you, but you don’t have to go along with everything they say.

With each of these tactics, the supplier aims to be in control of the situation. If they’re in control, they can advise you, direct you, encourage you and get you to spend more than you anticipated.

It’s important that you know these tactics and can recognise them whenever you meet a supplier. Being aware of them ensures that you can discuss your requirements on your terms, rather than theirs. This keeps you in control of the situation and your cash.

Discover more ways to negotiate with suppliers and keep control of your wedding cash in Nicola Ray's book "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" –
http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.u/negotiation.html

Most people wonder just how far they can push the negotiations with monetary discounts. They’re unsure as to what is ‘winning at all costs’ and what’s being fair. My response would be that a supplier will let you know when it’s fair and when it’s not. After all, they’d be a fool to be giving their business away.

But what does that equate to? A 5% discount? A 20% discount? A 50% discount? Well, no two suppliers are equal and it really depends on the value of the product or service you’re buying, how much rapport you have with the supplier, your confidence and your experience.

Don’t be put off though; there are some simple things that you can do to get that price down. First of all, you need to be patient.

It’s best not to rush the negotiation so make sure you have plenty of time.

When they give you their first offer, never accept it. This isn’t the offer on the price tag; this is the first offer of a discount they give you. It’s usually a token gesture and may be around 5-10%. Let them know you’re interested and use some of the positive language I mentioned earlier.

The next offer they put on the table will likely go further, in fact, if you continue to show your interest, use positive language and perhaps a comparison to one of their competitors, you’ll probably find they’ll reduce the price a third time. Don’t forget, stay calm, be patient and don’t rush.

Negotiation isn’t just about price. You can negotiate on everything. Remember the meaning of the word ‘negotiate’, let’s remind ourselves:

negotiate

verb:
- try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion.
- obtain or bring about by negotiating.
- find a way over or through (an obstacle or difficult path).

So it’s not all about money. Think about the kinds of things you want included in the service or as part of the offering and ask to have them included. As Chris Evans, Radio One DJ and successful media mogul says “if you reach for the stars, you get the sky thrown in for free!”.

When you start to include things as part of the price, you need to be confident and straightforward. Simply ask for more than you want and you’re likely to end up pleased. Make sure you use positive statements that encourage a ‘yes’ response.

Don’t forget, it’s likely that you’ve just agreed an amount to pay, so remind them how much you’re spending with them and try to avoid the word ‘free’. For example:

• Since all 100 guests are staying in the hotel overnight, we’d like 5 rooms, including the bridal suite, put aside for the bridal party as part the package.
• As we’re paying £3,500 on the catering, we’d like the venue costs to be waived.
• And the balloons are included as part of that?
• You’ll supply an upgrade on the wine as the catering is coming to a total of £2,000.

The best thing to do would be to try and practice as many real life situations as possible before you start negotiating with wedding suppliers. You’ll be more confident, be better able to deal with the situation and you can practice different techniques to find one that suits you.

You'll find hundreds more easy strategies, tips and techniques for wedding negotiation in Nicola Ray's book "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" – http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/negotiation.html

Venues that provide wedding packages are almost like a one-stop shop. They can arrange everything from your flowers to the petit-fours on the table after dessert. Once you’ve booked yourday with them, it’s easy for them to get you to spend more by offering you upgrades, added value or additional services. In these areas, hotels, country houses and other types of wedding package venue really start to make their money.

Food and drink is a big money spinner
To most people, it would seem that a hotel makes its money from the sale of bedrooms. It would make sense as that is what we asconsumers perceive a hotel to do – it provides overnight accommodation. In fact, virtually all hotels (except the low end, budget hotels) make their most of their profit through the sale of food and beverage. The only reason the low end hotels don’t is because they don’t have restaurants or bars on site.

As part of running a hotel, the hotel needs to provide cateringservices, so no matter whether people are eating in its restaurant or drinking in its bar, they still have to have the staff there, making the running costs high.

With food and drink being the highest profit area for a hotel orwedding package venue, there is room for manoeuvre in the cost. If you can provide adequate reason as to why you can ensure a particular level of spend (and therefore profit for the hotel),you are more likely to get more for your money.

Having spoken to a number of wedding package venues, many say they’re not willing to budge on the price of drinks packages, corkage or their menus. In some cases, the managers of large

chains such as the Hilton or Marriott have no flexibility on thecost of drinks or corkage as the fees and packages are standardised through all their hotels and set globally. Otherwedding package venues simply have too much demand and have no need to drop their prices in order to secure bookings.

With smaller, independent hotels and wedding package venues manyare reluctant to negotiate on the food and drink, but if pushed,or if they need the booking, then they’re more likely to be flexible in the knowledge that they will gain overall.

Since food and drinks are the main revenue drivers in thisindustry, negotiating in this area maybe tricky, but it certainly isn’t unheard of to get good discounts. If you can ensure a certain number of guests, you should be able to secure a volume discount, not only off your wedding breakfast, but off any food you supply in the evening. Simon for example, negotiated £4 off the wedding breakfast, which came to £560 when you count all 140 guests. The price of his fixed menu was a steep £42, so it made a big difference to his spend, but an acceptable discount for the hotel. Both parties came out smiling.

Patience is a virtue
In these situations, you’ve really got to have patience. Take your time to build up your rapport with the wedding co-ordinator or the manager so that both of you feel comfortable when having these discussions and come out winning. Most importantly, don’t dive head on into your negotiations on your first meeting as you’ll fall flat on your face! It’s also critical to ensure you have plenty of time, so if things don’t go according to plan and you’re not getting anywhere with your negotiating, you’ve got a solution tucked up your sleeve.

Don’t negotiate all the elements you want in one go. You’re likely to be working with these guys for 9 months or so, so you’ve got plenty of time to work in the little extras. Better still, since they’re dealing with lots of couples over the year, it’s unlikely they’ll have every detail about your wedding in mind when you call them. This gives you the perfect opportunity to add a little something else into the mix for free or at a discount, without them reviewing all your previous negotiations. So take your time and be patient.

Negotiating on other elements of the package
Although wedding package venues are difficult to negotiate with in terms of food and drink, they are happy to be flexible in many other ways. Like caterers and marquees, once they have yourbooking, they’ll happily work with you to ensure that you’redelighted – you’ve just got to work them too!

There are plenty of areas that they’re willing to negotiate withyou, you’ve simply got to use your imagination and ask. Here aresome ideas to get you thinking:

• Free or discounted upgrade on the entire package
• Discounted room rates or free upgrades for guests
• Reduced or free room hire
• Free additional small rooms for changing, gifts and storage
• Free additional room for children’s entertainment
• Free DJ and sound system
• Free upgrades on food menus or drinks packages in general
• Free upgrade to champagne for guests on arrival and for toast
• Discounted evening food
• Reduced or no corkage costs
• Free sampling of wedding breakfast menus and wines
• Free wedding planner or co-ordinator
• Free Master of Ceremonies
• Free cake cutting and serving
• Free bridal suite
• Free table decoration layout
• Free decorations
• Free chair covers and sashes
• Free menus, place cards and seating plan
• Free flowers in the venue
• Free use of spa and leisure facilities for all guests on theweekend of the wedding
• Free use of spa and personal trainer in the month before thewedding
• Free red carpet
• Exclusive use of particular areas i.e. gardens, specific bars etc
• Discounted car parking rates
• Free bar extension (late bars)

Don’t forget about the leveraging power you have as well. You’re bringing a large number of guests into their hotel for an overnight stay, so the value of that is hugely beneficial to your negotiating process. You’re also spending a significant sum per guest on food and drink for one meal; so again, use this to show that you’re serious about negotiating and ensure you get a good deal.

Learn more negotiating tips with wedding packages, venues, caterers, jewellers, photographers, florists and dress boutiques in Nicola Ray's "Negotiate Your Way to a Cheap Wedding" –
http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk/negotiation.html

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