Would you post on your website the cost?

[krsmith]

Hello Ladies!

 

So apparently my DH to be was under the impression that the cost for guests to come to our wedding was about half of what it will actually be! We will be getting married at Moon Palace in Cancun, Feb 14 2012. 

 

Basically he freaked and was saying that no one on his side would come because they either couldn't afford it OR they were too cheap to pay that kind of money. 

 

This is what I was sent by our TA on cost for accommodations:

 

 

Rates below apply to Moon Palace quoted "per person per night" and include all taxes/fees, valid for stays January 4 - April 14, 2012:
Deluxe Resort View:  $214.00 per person based on double / $392.00 per night single / $206.00 per person triple / $197.00 per person quad
Superior Deluxe Garden View*:  $238.00 per person based on double / $440.00 per night single / $229.00 per night triple / $218.00 per person quad

Superior Deluxe Ocean View:   $250.00 per person based on double / $464.00 per night single / $242.00 per night triple / $230.00 per person quad

Superior Deluxe Ocean Front:  $256.00 per person based on double / $476.00 per night single (maximum occupancy 2 Adults)
Concierge Level:  $272.00 per person based on double / $506.00 per night single (maximum occupancy 2 Adults)
Children 4-17 years pay $52.00 per night.  Child rate applies only when child shares room with 2 or more adults

 

Now I do realize that this is pricey...BUT it is an All-Inclusive, and I figured we are giving people about a year to save. I'm so stressed out about this now that my FI is freaking out! I don't know what to do now...do we switch to another resort? Part of the reason we chose MP is because of the reasonable costs for US, and that we can do a Catholic ceremony there. UGHHHH what do I do? 

[Avens]

Is the cost of a flight on top of this? If that another 500 or 600 dollars I could see people complaining - otherwise its about on par with a nice resort.

 

Our package is $1600 plus tax including the flight for Barcelo Maya Palace in the Mayan Riviera from Winnipeg, Canada. I think if you give them a year to save, it's doable. The fact that it is a really nice place makes it worth the extra I think!

 

 

 

Have you tried getting quotes for other places to show him that isn't a crazy amount? Good Luck!

[Avens]

Also I didn't answer your question! I had the price on the website and STD's and invitations, so people knew at the start and could start saving early.

[schmizer]

I think it's important to give your guests an idea of cost.  I think that your pricing is in line with most tropical resorts and you are right, it is all inclusive.  Our guests will be spending a little less on the rooms, but without an AI option.  It equals out to about the same...

[krsmith]

Yes that was a list NOT including airfare...which will probably be around $400ish. How would you word everything on your website so as to encourage people and not put a damper on things by throwing such a big number at them? 

[LilyRose]

Yes, I have put the infos online but not on the invites. I have put my travel section near the end of the website so people read all the good things about our wedding before knowing the price of it! :-)

 

So, here is my advices: put a lot of pictures and videos of your resort on your website to attract and convince your guests. Then, list everything that is included in the all-inclusive: food, snacks, beverage, free water sports, welcome cocktail, transferts, ect... List every single detail offered in the package. Guests will see all they get.

I would also get a different quote to see if it would be cheaper to include airfare in the rate.  And why not offer different options to your guests in term of stay: for 3 nights the price is...for 5 nights...for 7 nights... I wanted to do this but we can't really in Canada because of the flight schedule.

 

Last thing, when offering the different options for the 3, 5 or 7 nights stay, you can just use the basic category of room and write : to upgrade to ocean front, add __$ per night...for each category of room. That way, the price is very attractive for the basic room and the upgrade difference seems little.

 

Keep in mind that even with a super low price at a better priced resort, some guests will not attend. It's really the difficult part of a DW. Some people won't like the date or the destination, the price or the resort and so on. I know, we all want everybody to be there but you have to like the place also. When you are peaceful with that, the rest of the planning is getting easier!

 

Krsmith, I live not too far from you, in Vancouver! :-)

 

LilyRose

in sunny Mozambique right now!

[merrylee]

I agree, the TA can only give you price of the resort since airfare is not out yet.  For us we put what the 2011 rates are and let them make their own decision because there is no way that you are going to know the actual rates for another 2 months.  It is a nice gesture so that they know how much it will cost them if they do choose to go to your wedding.  I would also stress to them what MP includes, and the activities they can take part in while there that are currently included.

 

Trust me I am in the same boat as you are at the moment, and I've even began the pre-travel RSVP to see how many people are willing to commit this early by doing a $100.00 pp deposit on the group rate.  But if I don't ask I won't know so I am trying to give as much information as I can so my guests can save and make smart decisions but also trying to have the best wedding i can with the people that matter the most to me.

 

I've only been engaged for a month and the first 2 weeks I bounced between DW and At Home because I was afraid no one would want to celebrate with us, then it was which resort.  I want the MP too and I will have the wedding of my dreams with people who love us there to celebrate.  Maybe not everyone we love, but they will be there in spirit.

[mochamakes3]

We're getting married at MP this April. We put the prices on our website and on the invite, since not everyone uses internet. The big thing to consider is that if you book through the resort, the price includes all taxes and fees.

Take a look at booking through a tour operator and you will see taxes upwards of $400. We kept reminding people that even though the room was $2800 for a week, that's for two people and there is no additional taxes. So basically, it's $1400 per person, plus your flights, which we managed to get for $500 per person incl. taxes. When you look at any other decent resort, the price is very similar.

Sure there was people that complained and said they couldn't afford it. Some even suggested we find a more affordable resort so they could attend. But in the grand scheme of things, I was not going to settle for a crappy wedding at a 3-star resort for a price difference of a couple hundred dollars. Decide if the most important people will be able to afford it, or if you might be able to help them out.

 

And remember, MP is an amazing resort, where everyone, no matter what their age or activity level, will have an amazing time! There is very few resorts that can provide everything that MP does.

[sunstarsmoon]

Well said!  I totally agree great suggestions
 

Originally Posted by LilyRose 

Yes, I have put the infos online but not on the invites. I have put my travel section near the end of the website so people read all the good things about our wedding before knowing the price of it! :-)

 

So, here is my advices: put a lot of pictures and videos of your resort on your website to attract and convince your guests. Then, list everything that is included in the all-inclusive: food, snacks, beverage, free water sports, welcome cocktail, transferts, ect... List every single detail offered in the package. Guests will see all they get.

I would also get a different quote to see if it would be cheaper to include airfare in the rate.  And why not offer different options to your guests in term of stay: for 3 nights the price is...for 5 nights...for 7 nights... I wanted to do this but we can't really in Canada because of the flight schedule.

 

Last thing, when offering the different options for the 3, 5 or 7 nights stay, you can just use the basic category of room and write : to upgrade to ocean front, add __$ per night...for each category of room. That way, the price is very attractive for the basic room and the upgrade difference seems little.

 

Keep in mind that even with a super low price at a better priced resort, some guests will not attend. It's really the difficult part of a DW. Some people won't like the date or the destination, the price or the resort and so on. I know, we all want everybody to be there but you have to like the place also. When you are peaceful with that, the rest of the planning is getting easier!

 

Krsmith, I live not too far from you, in Vancouver! :-)

 

LilyRose

in sunny Mozambique right now!

[krsmith]

Thanks Ladies!

 

Do you know if a TA can get discounted airfare? I know it won't be available for a couple months, but it would be nice to have one lump sum to offer my guests. I have searched airfare for THIS Feb, to get an idea of what it would cost, but who know for next year! 

 

The TA can also get discounted accommodation rates too right? This is my first time using a TA, and I have NO CLUE what I'm doing! I'm trying to decide what will be the best rate for everyone and honestly the rate our TA gave me don't really seem discounted. 

 

If guests book their own through say Travelocity/Priceline would they be counted on our total group (for the group booking perks)? Those type of websites seem to have really good deals most of the time!