The Court of Love

1. Probably the single most effective way to slash the cost of a wedding is to trim the guest list, says wedding planner Charlene Hein of Everlasting Memories by Char, in Lakewood, Colorado. That’s because the biggest expenses—food and alcohol—are figured on a per-person basis and will obviously increase as the number of people you’re inviting rises. 2. Know the value of your business to a hotel and use that information to negotiate a good deal, advises Anthony Milkey, director of resort events at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa, in Dana Point, California. For example, you might be able to get your catering fee reduced if you let the manager know that you expect to have guests renting, say, thirty hotel rooms for two nights and eating most of their meals on property. 3. When negotiating, make sure you’re speaking to someone with the power to make the changes or substitutions you’re hoping for (at a hotel or banquet hall, this would most like...

Steps 1 Remain calm. This is the biggest step. You never want an argument to turn into something abusive. Remember that raising your voice is different than yelling. If you get to the point where you are yelling, think to yourself that this could escalate to a dangerous point. 2 State your point. Try to get your point across simply. Try not to use any attitude, otherwise this could anger the other side. A big thing to remember is to try and not use guilt trips to try and "win" a fight. Get your point across in a clear, concise manner and try to explain to the other side how what they are doing makes you feel. 3 Listen to their opinion. This step and the previous are interchangeable. An argument should be like a conversation, if the other starts first, don't interrupt. If you have questions or anything, don't interject, wait until they are finished. If you find yourself getting angry, remind yourself that you will be abl...