From The Straits Times    |
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Fabric guestbooks, and framed typography print, from Monoyono. Square photo prints, from Prinstagr.am. Photo: Her World Brides March 2015.

Be nice
It pays. Of course, we’re not asking you to fake anything (be firm but nice if your vendors are insistent on things you don’t want to do, or take “no” graciously), but it’d really help if you’re courteous and polite at least. Your vendors would be more inclined to do stuff for you, and that might include scoring freebies, or throwing extras in your package.

Honesty is your best policy
Seriously. If you’ve got a budget, especially a tight one, be upfront about it. It’ll really help your planner as well as other vendors work their way around it, while getting the best results for you.

It never hurts to ask
And be direct about it. There’s nothing worse than trying to source for freebies by saying things like, “Oh, it’d be great if you can add this and that,” or “My friend used your service before, and she said you gave this much…”. Not only is it annoying, but your vendor may be less likely to give it to you if you’re not upfront about it. It’s also better to ask vendors face-to-face as opposed to over e-mail or text. But of course, you have to begin by not being a nasty customer.

Extras
Your vendor may have leftovers or extras from previous weddings they’ve recently done, cancelled events, and so on, that you may use for free, or at a reduced rate. All you have to do, is just ask.

Changes in your package
If there are certain things you feel you don’t require in some of your packages, for instance, a complimentary dessert table, ask if you can have them replaced with something that’s of equal value, and something you can use. Like I said, it never hurts to ask or try.

Multiple orders
If you or your family go to a regular dressmaker, seamstress, decorator or baker or special occasions, it may be better to approach them for your wedding again. Plus, if you’ve got a list of things for your vendor to do, he/she may be more open to throwing a few freebies for your order.

Take part in giveaways
Look out for competitions on wedding magazines or websites, where prizes can range from accessories to complimentary upgrades on bridal suits, wedding dresses, and more. Just keep your eyes peeled on their social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram), where such announcements are usually made. Do also look out for e-mail newsletters, where giveaways happen, too. If you’re worried about mail spam in your regular inbox, create a separate e-mail account for all wedding-centric information.

Attend wedding shows 
Whether it’s shows held by magazines, newspapers, or vendor-specific ones such as hotels, bridal salons, flowers, and so on, it’d be worth your while to pay these events a visit. You’ll find packages with discounts, or added freebies thrown in during the show.

Check if there’re any credit card partners
We first mentioned this point in our story on ways to slash your wedding budget, but we think it’s a great way to save up or score. Find out if your vendors (mostly the hotels and other venues) have preferred credit card vendors, as they usually offer added perks exclusive to card members. These can get quite attractive, too. Think one free table per a fixed number of confirmed ones, and so on.

Search for free printables
You can either Google them, or look for wedding blogs, websites, or stationery sites. They usually give out free printables you can use for invitations, wedding programmes, decorations for the reception table, and so on. And they look really pretty, too!