NO EXTERNAL VENDORS

lei lani · July 2013

What do you do when your destination wedding resort is not taking any EXTERNAL vendors i.e. flowers, caters, DJs, etc. This means that I cannot hire anyone to come to the resort and provide their services.

monkeysip · July 2013

I'm sorry, but why on earth did you put a deposit down on a venue without all this information first? That would've been a big red flag to me.

But I know, what's done is done.

How bad could all these things really be? At the end of the day, it's just flowers. Their prices do sound pretty expensive, so I'd stick with whatever the cheapest ones were. Could you make your own bouquets out of the flowers you really like? I did this for my BMs and I, and they were both cheap and beautiful.

DJ seems like it wouldn't be a big deal. He doesn't have to MC. DJ's main job is to know what music to play at what times. You can get someone else to MC (which isn't a huge job, just announce you and the groom, announce the first dance, announce the cake cutting, etc.)

The room blocking/shuttle thing is weird, I will admit. Seems like a resort would provide these things.

Is the deposit too much just to say screw it and find a new venue? You just need to weight your pros and cons here. I hope it works out!

Ven&Radio · July 2013

I can't imagine putting a deposit down without fully understanding what I was paying for.

OliveOilsMom · July 2013

Ditto on PP, why did you put a deposit down when you did not read all of the information they gave you prior?

But, could you take the deposit and use it for just having your honeymoon there. And then you can plan a local wedding where you live.

Peaseblossom55 · July 2013

I wouldn't have put down a deposit without all of the information. Can you get the deposit back, or is it small enough to forget about it and move on to a new venue?

HobokensFury · July 2013

Take the lost deposit as a learning experience and move on.

lei lani · July 2013

So I expressed the same idea to the fiance about just ditching the deposit, which was just $200 anyway and checking out another place that was probably more accommodating. But the fiance really liked the resort and didnt feel comfortable with picking out another resort we've never been to.

lei lani · July 2013

This is what they gave me in this packet:

####package includes:

Organizing of the ceremony by the wedding coordinator
Minister to perform the symbolic ceremony in English
Marriage certificate
Bouquet with tropical flowers for the Bride
Boutonniere with tropical flowers for the Groom
Wedding gazebo with standard decoration: white backdrops, 1 center piece with white flowers, red carpet for the aisle, chairs with white covers & sashes (Other decorations and locations available on request with an additional cost)
Toast & Wedding cake for 20 people after the ceremony (house champagne and bottles of water)
Special dinner for the couple and 18 guests in an a la carte with a set menu Restaurant (dinner set up in a semi-private area, restaurant is subject to availability )
Honeymoon amenities and special decoration in the room the Wedding day
Preparation and ironing of the wedding dress and groom’s tuxedo
Couple massage in the Hotel Spa
Nuptial breakfast taken to couple’s room the day after the wedding ceremony
Use of bathrobes for the marring couple during entire stay
Late check out for the Bride & Groom (upon request and availability)
CD player and microphone available during the ceremony (Couple allowed to bring their own songs)
Princess’ Gift

Price $1,500.00 USD

This ceremony is symbolic, and performed by a minister. It is a religious “non denominational” ceremony. Couple can arrive 2 days before the wedding date to discuss the last details with the wedding coordinator.
* Package from 2 to 20 people staying at the Resort, some restrictions will apply. (maximum 40 guests)
* Toast supplement for additional guest is $8.00 usd
* Cake Model with letter “C” supplement for additional person is $4usd

lei lani · July 2013

Whats the average deposit in mexico vs US?

tiny speck · July 2013

lei lani said:

This is what they gave me in this packet:
####package includes:
Organizing of the ceremony by the wedding coordinator
Minister to perform the symbolic ceremony in English
Marriage certificate
Bouquet with tropical flowers for the Bride
Boutonniere with tropical flowers for the Groom
Wedding gazebo with standard decoration: white backdrops, 1 center piece with white flowers, red carpet for the aisle, chairs with white covers & sashes (Other decorations and locations available on request with an additional cost)
Toast & Wedding cake for 20 people after the ceremony (house champagne and bottles of water)
Special dinner for the couple and 18 guests in an a la carte with a set menu Restaurant (dinner set up in a semi-private area, restaurant is subject to availability )
Honeymoon amenities and special decoration in the room the Wedding day
Preparation and ironing of the wedding dress and groom’s tuxedo
Couple massage in the Hotel Spa
Nuptial breakfast taken to couple’s room the day after the wedding ceremony
Use of bathrobes for the marring couple during entire stay
Late check out for the Bride & Groom (upon request and availability)
CD player and microphone available during the ceremony (Couple allowed to bring their own songs)
Princess’ Gift

Price $1,500.00 USD

This ceremony is symbolic, and performed by a minister. It is a religious “non denominational” ceremony. Couple can arrive 2 days before the wedding date to discuss the last details with the wedding coordinator.
* Package from 2 to 20 people staying at the Resort, some restrictions will apply. (maximum 40 guests)
* Toast supplement for additional guest is $8.00 usd
* Cake Model with letter “C” supplement for additional person is $4usd

Is this "symbolic ceremony" not even legally binding? (and if not what is the "marriage certificate" mentioned there?) You're not planning on "signing the papers" beforehand are you? Because I can tell you people will be upset, especially if it's kept a secret.

In any case, I still think it was really unwise to put money down without any details, and if it was only $200 I'd be inclined to find somewhere else.

OliveOilsMom · July 2013

There really isn't an average deposit anywhere. The venues I looked at were anywhere from $500 to $1500. It depends where you go.

The package to me, sounds good. I think that when someone is having a destination wedding at a resort. You will always be more under the thumb of the resort you are marrying in. I look at it as having a beautiful location/venue over all the little details. It's the bigger picture that you are paying for at resorts.

Peledreamsofrain · July 2013

Two questions:

1.) Symbolic Ceremony - what in the world is this referring to?

2.) Ala-cart dinner - are your guests expected to pay, or are you expected to pay per meal outside of the 1,500? If so: heeeeeeeell no to both.

RebeccaB88 · July 2013

I don't think the 'symbolic ceremony' is legally binding. A coworker got 'married' at a resort in Mexico, but said that the requirements to do so legally were so huge that they weren't feasible. They JOP'd it a few days before to make it legal before they left. I have no idea when they celebrate their anniversary. All their guests knew they had to do that, though. (Just parents, grandparents, and siblings went to Mexico.)

JoanE2012 · July 2013

RebeccaB88 said:

I don't think the 'symbolic ceremony' is legally binding. A coworker got 'married' at a resort in Mexico, but said that the requirements to do so legally were so huge that they weren't feasible. They JOP'd it a few days before to make it legal before they left. I have no idea when they celebrate their anniversary. All their guests knew they had to do that, though. (Just parents, grandparents, and siblings went to Mexico.)

I don't understand the point of having a destination wedding that is not even legal. Why not just get married in the US and invite everyone on the honeymoon.

OP - Please come back and clarify what a symbolic ceremony is.

tiny speck · July 2013

Yes I'm also curious about the a-la-carte dinner stuff too... OP please come back!

WinstonsGirl · July 2013

I'm assuming the symbolic ceremony isn't legally binding. To get legally married in Mexico, you need 4 days residency, blood tests done there and all of your paperwork translated and notarized from English to Spanish, so most do a JOP at home and a symbolic ceremony in Mexico. Everyone I've heard of who does that celebrated the Mexico date as their wedding. This is also the reason we didn't go to Mexico for our DW. I couldn't handle being married on one day but celebrating it on a different day.

Anyway, getting legally married in Mexico can be done (other countries too), but most choose to not be bothered with the legal aspects of it

WinstonsGirl · July 2013

Oh, and I believe the à la carte thing means you get to order from the same menu as offered to hotel guests at the AI restaurant, rather than having a separate menu or buffet for the wedding. Essentially, guests are getting the same meal they have already paid for in their AI fees, but served at the wedding.

OP, please clarify if any of this is different from what you are experiencing. I'm just going on what we learned when we were looking at doing a DW

NO EXTERNAL VENDORS

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