It can be quite a blow to get a quote from your dream wedding venue, 
only to find that it is far higher than your wedding budget can stretch to. If, like many couples, you are looking to economise on wedding costs, here are seven tips on reducing the price of wedding venue hire
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Get married in the low season
The cost of hiring a wedding venue will always be greatest during the peak wedding months, so if you want to get married at this time expect to pay top dollar for just about everything. Consider a cosy winter wedding as an alternative to the ever popular spring months and you could save a great deal on your venue.
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Arrange your wedding at the last minute
Few brides can handle the stress of arranging a last minute wedding, but if you are one of them, you could pick up a great discount on your wedding venue. Even in peak months some venues just happen to have a free day, or perhaps they have had a cancellation. Whatever the reason, venues will often discount their rates by up to fifty per cent in the weeks leading up to a free date.
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Avoid the traditional Saturday wedding
Saturday is the most popular wedding day for good reason. The majority of your guests won’t have to take a day off work and they will have Sunday to recover or travel home. However, booking your wedding midweek can get you a great deal on your wedding venue, and even Fridays and Sundays usually come with a discount.
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Hold your ceremony and reception at the same location
Using just one venue for your ceremony and reception will generally save you money, both in actual venue hire and also in extras such as decorations and transport. Some venues will even waive the ceremony fee if you are spending a certain amount on the reception, although you will still have to pay the celebrant.
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Find a venue with accommodation
Many wedding venues will offer a complimentary stay in the honeymoon suite to couples spending a certain amount on their wedding reception. You may also be able to negotiate a discount on venue hire if you can guarantee a certain number of guests will be booking accommodation at the venue as well.
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Don’t be afraid to negotiate
However you reduce your costs, you will still be spending a great deal of money with your chosen venue, so don’t feel bad about asking for discounts or complimentary extras. Be confident in asking for discounts and always ask for more than you want. For example if you want tem per cent always start at twenty. Be sure that you really want to book a venue before you start to negotiate and offer to pay a deposit the same day of they can meet your expectations.
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Look outside typical wedding venues
As soon as a location becomes labelled as a ‘wedding venue’, it is able to set its prices sky high. You don’t need a wedding venue for a wedding however. Think about your favourite restaurant. Would they be able to give you exclusive use for an evening? If there is a particular place you and your husband to be have a personal attachment to, see if it would be a suitable venue for your wedding. It may save you money and it will make the day even more special for you.