Frustrated

catang1

Hi,
I am pretty new here but was hoping it was okay to vent and ask for opinions.
 My FI has this group of friends that are pretty tight. They have all been friends since elementary or MS.  We are getting married at Beaches Negril in Jamaica in July.  we are so happy that most of them will be making the trip to share our day with us. We are using a Destination weddings.com consultant to book all of our guests through.  Well, one  friend from this group has another friend(who no one else knows) who happens to be a travel agent. She has booked her trip  through her friend and then posted this on facebook with the website for her friend (the travel agent)for others to also book with. Some other friends have gone ahead and booked with her too. If people book separate from our person, they are not included at the resort as members of our wedding. they will still be guests but not listed at the resort as members of our wedding group. Should I be as frustrated by this as I am?

bean0408

Hi there    I totally get where you are coming from. If you are not booked as a group with Sandals you miss out on some bennies! With a large enought group there are things like a rehersal dinner and  a pedi for you and massage for the groom added free to the wedding. I  am getting married in Ocho Rios in Oct and I have been having the same issue of getting everyone on the same page of going throught the same person. If there is a way to fix this through the resort I haven't come across it yet, maybe someone else has?? Good luck and welcome!!

lmydogally

I'm pretty sure if you call the resort and tell them to add the guest to your block, they will do so.  

SandalGirl

I don't know the answer to this one - we had a few people book outside of our agent, but on their own on travel sites.  I would hav fi ask the friend to gently explain the situation and ask her to remove the info.  does that lady offer a better price? Why are people using her?

FutureMrs.McC

Do you want an honest opinion?  Well here's mine.  You're stressed about nothing.  Be thankful you have so many people who are wiling to spend their hard earned money to come to your wedding.  Call the resort and let them know these people are in your group.  If you miss out on a free pedi - wtf cares. 

There are sooo many other things to worry about, let this one go.  Enjoy your planning and best of luck.

catang1

Thanks for your comments and honest opinions.  I am not actually concerned about getting a free anything. My frustration stems from the concern that people who are not booked through our coordinator are not covered under the protection of not being bumped from the resort in the event that they may be overbooked. I understand that this is unlikely, however it is possible.  

mishy112

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-theme-boards_destination-weddings_frustrated-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Theme%20BoardsForum:54Discussion:4adfd8bc-c0df-47cb-90d7-bb88cabd23a2Post:da183f4a-f823-4cc2-8539-99b94ddbfbaa">Re: Frustrated</a>:
[QUOTE]Do you want an honest opinion?  Well here's mine.  You're stressed about nothing.  Be thankful you have so many people who are wiling to spend their hard earned money to come to your wedding.  Call the resort and let them know these people are in your group.  There are sooo many other things to worry about, let this one go.  Enjoy your planning and best of luck.
Posted by FutureMrs.McC[/QUOTE]

I agree with this.

As far as your concern about them getting bumped, could you relay this information to those that are booking and then let them do what they want with the info?  How often does the resort get overbooked, and what would happen to those guests not protected in the case it did happen? My guess is that the chances of them getting booted from the resort are slim, and if they do get booted, let them deal with that and try not to let it become your problem - I know, easier said than done! Good luck!

carrieoz_76

I think you can suggest that people book through your person, but that's it.  If they decide to book with someone else, that's their call.  

I mean, bummer for you that you don't get the benefit of them booking with your group, but each guest gets to decide where to stay and how to book it, and you should leave that to them.

AuntieJo

I'm having the opposite problem--I want to bump my travel agent... ha ha.  I do understand your frustration as it IS creating more work for you--you are going to have to call/email Sandals and co-ordinate getting those guests listed as part of your group--but well... it's only a little bit of planning.

I didn't read this on pp, (may have missed it) so I thought I'd just put this out there:  If I were going on a big trip and had to shell out cash i'd want the commission to go to a friend OR the travel agent I already use.  These people may use her for all of their trips and maybe went to her out of habit--or like I said, just wanted her to get the commission.  I'm sure it's not meant as a slight toward you.

Just take a breath... there will be many more things that won't be perfect, just do your best to not let it get to you!!   If they get bumped--their issue--not yours.  You did all you could.

Jo

lmydogally

Who on earth is telling brides that their guest may be bumped out of a resort?  Is this the line these agents are giving you guys?  I've heard this on here before. 

It's very rare that hotels over book and have to walk guest.  It NEVER happens in this economy anymore and if it does happen its only possible if the date is prime like labor day or if the hotel is next to a convention center.  Your guest getting walked from a hotel should not be a worry and if your agent is tossing you that line, they are clearly lame.

catang1

Thanks for the replies. It helps to keep things in perspective!