Would you get married at a resort that did not allow you to chose your own vendors?

[dominiqueamber]

2 reasons: One being able to control quality and who's style fits us and our party better and two to be able to control the budget

[cupcake1382]

I wouldn't mind using the resort vendors except photographer. Luckily my resort allows you to bring your own vendors and only makes you pay the vendor fee if they are staying for the ceremony/reception. With that being said, I love my photographer and decided against my 1st resort choice because they didn't allow you to bring your own photographer.

 

Legally, she could sue the resort, especially if she had already paid the deposit. They can't change their policies after she paid her deposit and not offer her to continue with the contract she signed (if she signed one, which she should have).

 

As a wedding planner, I have been in this situation many times. The bride needs to contact the resort and talk to the person in charge, usually a manager over the coordinator. Almost always the resort is willing to allow people who have already paid a deposit the option of some type of discount or the use of their own vendors since they planned to in the first place. I hope this helps.

[AfricanVenus]

This was an issue that came up in my planning. Our hotel allows outside vendors, but you had to pay a 10% business displacement fee. I fought it and didn't have to pay one red cent for my outside vendors and I had 2 photogs and videogs each, lol. I wanted an outside catering company, but the hotel wouldn't budge on that one. I gave in when my husband pointed out that they're a 5 star hotel and probably know how to cook well. I agreed and everything was cool. My answer to the poll was "Maybe, please elaborate", because from a legal perspective, I understand why they have such a policy in place. However, to out and out not allow any vendors is problematic for me. A hotel's idea of great photography may not be mine, lol.

[SChica927]

I would say ABSOLUTELY not. Especially because we're having an Indian wedding, there are so many vendors we need to have that most resorts don't even know about let alone provide! I'm getting married at the MP and we are bringing about 80% of our vendors with us as "guests" and they are staying to capture our entire 3 day event (incl photo, video, hair/makeup/mehndi, priest, live musicians, event coordinators, etc).

 

The #1 reason we even chose MP is that they are allowing us to use an outside caterer because they themselves don't serve Indian food. Every other resort we talked to around Mexico and various Carribean islands said absolutely not to a caterer... so we moved on to the next resort and eventually found one that worked.

[Sharon99]

I have a feeling this bride is getting married where I am since I am in the same situation. When I first reserved my date & booked our rooms we were told we could use other vendors. I emailed them on June 22 to let them know I put a deposit down for La Luna Photography & gave them their info in case they needed it. The WC from the resort responded & said it was fine & they would not need anything else & informed me of the day pass rates. So now I am finding out on here that their policy has changed. I immediately emailed them this morning to find out what is going on. Unfortunately, they do not do contracts so now I don't know if I will be out the deposit money I just paid & have to use their photog. If I would have known this before hand, NO I would not have chosen this resort. The photos are the most important part to me since those are what you will look at forever. I was not a fan of the resorts photog that they offered which made me book elsewhere. It makes no sense to me why all of a sudden this changed & I am very upset. I dont feel it is fair to do this especially after them saying it is OK. So now the 3-4 day wait for them to get back to me....

 

[ginnigurl]

We did only because we were bringing our own photographer, and they allowed her with no fees because she was staying 3+ nights.  I looked through their preferred vendors and was not impressed.  I don't understand while they do it?

[Bojanglesgirl]

I also can't understand how they can make a change that goes into effect "immediately" but take weeks to respond back to you!

[murmel]

I don't like the restrictions personally. The resort we got married at allowed outside vendors, but there was a hefty fee associated with it. The problem I have is that alot of the resort vendors 1) are overpriced; 2) might not be of your personal style/choice; 3) it creates a limit to what you can and can't do for your wedding; 4) may not be very good (ie. local photographers, compared to a photographer you bring with you)

Unfortunately most of the larger resorts want you to use their vendors, so they rather limit who you can bring in or add costs to make it less interesting. (it all really comes down to money...sigh)

I would love to see more resorts offer freedom to choose your own vendors!

[becky1022]

I'm currently going through this with my resort & my photographer. & I will not be giving in with regards to my photographer! They are the most important part (besides the FI of course) of my day! We are fighting the resort currently & I think about to get through to them. Now I just have to decide if I still want to give them my money or go elsewhere...

[MikkiStreak]

NO WAY!  Especially since photography is majorly important to me and most of the venue photographers don't have the skills I want in a photographer.