Quinceanera's #4 Secret For Saving Money

Diana phoned me after reading my last post and she had some questions. She asked how she should move ahead with making a final decision in choosing the venue.

Diana said, she and her daughter had chosen a reception hall they both liked, but the amount they were going to be charged was more than what they had planned on spending.

Diana said some her daughter's friends from school had used the reception hall and spent less than what she was quoted.

I recommended she needed to revisit with the manager and go over a list of final questions covering all of the areas of service she was quoted. I shared with her - to discuss with the manager the areas that could be cut or eliminated in order for her to get a lower price.

I shared with Diana - in todays economy, unless she was planning to have her daughter's Quinceanera celebration at Christmas time or June she should be able to get a lower room charge and other service charges should be negotiable.

I recommended that she should follow the guide lines listed here, plus ask any other questions she felt would help her in getting a lower price. I explained the manager wanted her business as much as she wanted her daughter's Quinceanera to be held at their reception hall.

• Get an itemized list of exactly what is included in the fee?
• Ask, does the fee include a kitchen clean up fee? - can this be waived?
• Can you bring your own alcohol? If so. Is there a corkage fee? A charge for every bottle opened. If so can the fee be cut or eliminated?
  
• Is there a fee for cutting the cake? If so. Can this fee be waived?
• Is there a fee for the dance floor? Or any other items such as: table cloths, tables and chairs, fancy china plates, etc. -this might be an area for cost cutting.
• Many hotels and reception halls include a coat room charge. This is an area of service that you can decline to have. Make sure this service isn't included.
  
• Are they charging you extra for insurance? If so, you can probably obtain your own insurance for the event for a lower cost.
  

If you still feel the price they want to charge you is still too high. Revisit your second choice and review the same questions with them. Tomorrow I will explain: 'how to get your best deal'.

All the best,
Priscilla
P.S. If you would like a complete guide on how to have your dream celebration on any budget-
Go to: www.Quinceaneraconnect.com for a complimentary download of the first two chapters of my book. If you order the book you will receive a bonus/gift of a 70page Quinceanera eplanner.