Wedding Inquiry: Get Prices Without the Long Conversation

This isn’t what you signed up for. You send a polite message to a photographer, caterer, or venue, kindly ask for the price, and what you get back is everything but a number. "We’ll get back to you in two to three business days." "Why don’t you send us your vision first?" "Let’s schedule a no-obligation call." And there you sit, thinking: I just wanted to know if this fits my budget.

We’re a generation that books flights, apartments, and half our wardrobe with a click. Prices are listed before we decide. With weddings, it often still works by a different script—and that’s no coincidence.

Why Prices Often Stay a Mystery

It’s rarely due to bad intentions. Many vendors have been working with a model built for a different era: build a relationship first, then name the price. The conversation is part of the sales process. Plus, weddings are truly unique, and a fixed price is hard to pin down. Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean you should have to sit through a sales pitch just to get a ballpark figure.

The good news: You have more control than you think. If you structure your inquiry clearly from the start, you’ll get direct answers far more often.

Before You Write: Define Three Things

A good inquiry doesn’t start in the inbox—it starts with you. As a couple, quickly clarify these three points, and everything that follows will sound clearer.

1. Your rough budget for this specific service. Not your total wedding budget, but, for example: photography up to €2,500.
2. Your must-haves. Date, location, guest count, hours, language. The facts without which no meaningful quote is possible.
3. Your nice-to-haves. Things that would be great but are negotiable.

This distinction is your most powerful tool. It removes the other party’s excuse to ask twenty follow-up questions first.

Phrases That Get You an Actual Number

The trick is to ask for the format of the answer you want. Instead of "How much does this cost?", try:

• "Could you send us your price list or package rates directly by email? We’re currently comparing several providers in writing."
• "Is there a price range for [service]? An example with and without extras would really help us."
• "Our budget for [service] is around [X] euros. Is that generally realistic with you?"

That last sentence is underrated. When you state your budget, you save both sides time, and you often get an honest yes or no instead of an invitation for coffee.

When They Dodge: Respond Politely but Firmly

Sometimes you’ll still get evasive answers. That’s fine—here’s how to counter.

If they say "It depends on your venue", respond with a sample calculation: "Could we get a rough estimate for a typical venue in [region]? We’re happy to adjust later."

If they say "We only provide custom quotes", ask for a starting point: "Understood. What does your most common standard package cost?"

And if they say "Give us a call", you can stick to your preference: "We’re currently consolidating our inquiries in writing. Would it work for you to send us the key details by email?" This isn’t rude. It’s simply how your generation communicates.

The Follow-Up Email That Doesn’t Hurt Anyone

No response after four to five days? A short, polite nudge often works wonders and is completely reasonable:

"Hi [Name], just a quick reminder about my inquiry from [date]. Since we’re comparing several quotes right now, a rough price range would be great. Thanks!"

The mention of comparing offers subtly signals that you won’t be strung along indefinitely.

Your Copy-Paste Template

Here’s an inquiry you can easily adapt:

Hi [Name],

we’re getting married on [date] in [location] and celebrating with around [number] guests. We’re currently looking for the right person for [service].

To help us compare, could you send us your package prices or a price range directly in writing? Our budget is around [X] euros.

Important to us: [must-haves]. Nice to have: [nice-to-haves].

Thanks and best regards, [Names]

Short, respectful, and unambiguous. Exactly the mix that most reputable vendors respond well to.

And If Nothing Works?

Then that’s an answer too. If a vendor won’t share a number after two polite follow-ups, they might just not be the right fit for how you plan. There are plenty of vendors who communicate prices transparently, and platforms like wedset.app let you filter specifically for those. Use your task list to keep track of which inquiries you’ve sent and who has responded.

Transparency isn’t a special request. Every clear inquiry you send signals to the industry that a new generation plans differently. And honestly: The more vendors are asked this way, the more normal it becomes for prices to be listed upfront. Start with yourself.