Should we not have given guests a choice re travel plans to our wedding?

[Islandgirl910]

Quick question. I know many of you BDW and B2B have used a TA to help plan your wedding plans. We did the same and we also gave our guests the option to either use our TA or they could search and look for a package on an online website. We would really like them to use our TA because things would be maintained and she could keep track of who booked etc., but at the same time trying to get people to conform and do the same thing can be stressful.

 

Should we not have given our guests the second option? Should we have just made everyone go through our TA? My fiance feels we can't force people to do anything and we surely can't stop people from searching the internet to find a better deal than even what our TA may be offering.

 

I'm just wondering if we really should have just told them "we got an agent, this is her info, a deposit is due at this date..." and left it at that.

 

Can anyone relate? How did you handle the situation?

[emnicole]

We just sent out our travel agent info, and told people to book with her.  We did have one couple use points and book separately, but they still let our agent know that they were coming and wanted to be part of a group.  

 

If you have already given them the option though, you can't really take it back.  Just make it clear that you do need to know all their info still, maybe set up a website or something that they can communicate with you.

 

Hope that helps

[vlynnw]

We just included our TA information for them to book.  However, we do have people getting their on flights and stuff but they let our TA know that as well.  As for getting to know everyone's travel itinerary if you are doing a pre-travel mailing make sure you say that you would like everyone to email their travel itinerary to you, that way you can still keep track of everyone as far as who is coming and going when. 

[Islandgirl910]

That's the thing, at first we were going to tell them to use her only but then we already heard guests saying they were going to seek deals online. Which we can't stop someone from jumping on a deal esp if the hotel & flight are cheaper versus a quote from the TA for example.

 

But you're right we can't take it back. Next best thing is that after our March cut off we will see who's really rsvping and coming.

Originally Posted by emnicole 

We just sent out our travel agent info, and told people to book with her.  We did have one couple use points and book separately, but they still let our agent know that they were coming and wanted to be part of a group.  

 

If you have already given them the option though, you can't really take it back.  Just make it clear that you do need to know all their info still, maybe set up a website or something that they can communicate with you.

 

Hope that helps

[JUSTUSTWO]

Did you talk to your TA & find out if she can match any lower prices that your guests may find online? Some TA's don't have a problem doing that as long as the guest can provide the website where they found the lower rates.

If your TA doesn't have a problem doing that, then I'd tell your guests that your TA is willing to match prices & encourage them to book with your TA.

Otherwise, as someone pointed out, there's not much you can do at this point since you already gave your guests the option to book on their own.

[JenFL]

I haven't really gotten that far yet but I'm thinking since my parents are in the travel business they will handle that part themselves (hoping). My issue is guests wanting to stay somewhere else - has anyone else had to handle that? There are several reasons - price, wanting to bring under 18 children (my resort is no kids allowed), etc. Although I wouldn't mind the problem is that I don't think there is another resort within the vicinity, and arranging for transportation and the cost of the day pass can start to add up.

[johnnmakenzie11]

We didn't mention a choice but some of our guests have booked on thier own. It hasnt been much of a problem yet because they have let us know, but it worries me too!

[Islandgirl910]

Luckily she does do a price match, so that helps, if guests see cheaper prices after they book through her. As of last night two of our bridesmaids let me know that they were sending our TA an email requesting quotes. That made me feel very happy. Although they're in our bridal party, every inquiry to our TA is great!

Originally Posted by JUSTUSTWO 

Did you talk to your TA & find out if she can match any lower prices that your guests may find online? Some TA's don't have a problem doing that as long as the guest can provide the website where they found the lower rates.

If your TA doesn't have a problem doing that, then I'd tell your guests that your TA is willing to match prices & encourage them to book with your TA.

Otherwise, as someone pointed out, there's not much you can do at this point since you already gave your guests the option to book on their own.

[SummerDawn]

I wonder which TA's price match - I am very interested in that! It would be hard to stop people from signing up for a better deal!!

[SeeFlowers]

I gave people the option and it was a BIG mistake. If I could do it over, I would make people go through my TA. Its a mess, I'm not sure who has confirmed their vacations and who hasn't....