Cheap wedding packages do exist however not all packages are the same. Even the "all inclusive" packages advertised are not always what they appear.
The most important thing you could do before venturing down this route is to make sure you're well prepared before going to speak to your potential venues.
This means sitting down and deciding exactly what you want and dont want (or can live without) before you go near the venues. Once you know what you want you can speak to the venues.
It can be quite difficult to
compare like with like when looking at UK wedding packages as they will
often include different things.
Typically the sort of things that are included in package deals are as follows:
Don't
be afraid to tell them that you don't want an aspect that they offer.
For eample we didn't need a florist and we had oue wedding cake sorted
so we told the venue and they reduced the package cost by £750 without
any negotiating required.
Before you decide on a wedding package you should consider the pros and cons of this type of wedding day.
Each venue will usually offer several different types of package to cater for different tastes and budgets and don't assume you can't have a cheap wedding package at a five star hotel.
I've seen an all inclusive package for 40 guests at a five star hotel. To include Rolls Royce, leather bound photo album, button holes and bouquet, red carpet, tea, coffee and short bread for guests on arrival, Bucks fizz for guests on arrival, table linen and table plan, wedding cake, flowers, champagne and wine, master of ceremonies, evening entertainment (band and disco), evening food for guests, accommodation for bride and groom, use of the spa and hire of the venue; and all for £5,500.
Granted this may be a bit extravagent, but it shows what can be achieved.
You may
even be able to get a last minute deal with some venues due to rooms not
being booked or a cancellation. This method is a little more risky but
if you aren't tied to a date you could save a packet. Normally the
venues start to panic about empty rooms 2-3 months before. As I've said
it's not for everyone but it just might suit your situation.
Another thing to consider (and most of the venues do it) is pre-booking rooms for your guests. We found that when initially reserving rooms for immediate family and friends we were offered a very small discount (approximately 5-7%) so we only reserved 10 rooms and advised our guests to contact the venue directly or book on line in plenty of time (6 months) prior to the wedding to see what discount they could get.
We were surprised to hear many of the guests were able to get rooms at a fraction of the price we'd been quoted when reserving rooms at the point of booking the venue a full year ahead.
This is just another example of how the hidden costs can work against you and how the venue will always try to squeeze a little more money out of you.
As you can see from the pros and cons above there are a number of questions you really must ask when booking your cheap wedding package, namely:
For a detailed list of questions to ask your venue click here, these questions apply to all venues from Las Vegas to wedding cruises and even beach weddings, not just venues offering cheap wedding packages.
Finally put all queries and updates to the venue in writing, if there is a dispute later you will be glad you did.
Although, not all cheap wedding packages are equal, if you follow my simple steps there's no reason why you can't have a fantastic all inclusive package that won't break the bank.
Return from Cheap Wedding Packages to Cheap Wedding Receptions.
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