Maybe El Dorado?? Questions/concerns

[MsHuth]

Our TA has suggested El Dorado Royale for our Sept 2012 wedding.  It looks great except what appears to be, after searching this site, an age old dilemma   The outside vendor deal and their list of photographers.  I don't see any recent reviews. Does anyone have any insight on this?  Any other suggestions on this topic?  It just seems a little shady to have to pay $500 extra to the resort for not using one of their 3-4 choices.  This may be a deal breaker for me. 

 

The only other question at the moment - Will those traveling alone still feel comfortable at this resort, or is it too intimate for those who aren't coming as a couple?  I want everyone to have a fun and relaxing time. 

 

Thanks everyone!

 

 

[AllieH]

They do still charge the outside vendor fee, unless your photog is a guest for 3+ nights and then we got them to waive it. I've heard the vendor fee for other types of vendors (DJs, etc) is $800. but our contract only had $500 listed specific to photographers. We aren't planning to bring in any other vendors though. 

 

Quite a few of my guests are not coming as a couple - several girls are rooming together, and then I have a few who are going to be singles. I figure with the group from the wedding, they will find someone to hang out with and it'll be ok. 

 

[TheWolferts]

MsHuth-

 

We are bringing a photographer with us from home that is a good friend of ours. Because she is staying at the hotel for at least 3 nights at the resort, they waived the vendor fee. We are using an outside vendor for our DJ and that fee is $800, but even the $800 + dj services, its still less than the vendors they use. My cousin got married at EDR and used Claudia Photography, an approve vendor, so no fee. I have read several reviews on this site about her work and my cousins pics turned our great.
 

Originally Posted by MsHuth 

Our TA has suggested El Dorado Royale for our Sept 2012 wedding.  It looks great except what appears to be, after searching this site, an age old dilemma   The outside vendor deal and their list of photographers.  I don't see any recent reviews. Does anyone have any insight on this?  Any other suggestions on this topic?  It just seems a little shady to have to pay $500 extra to the resort for not using one of their 3-4 choices.  This may be a deal breaker for me. 

 

The only other question at the moment - Will those traveling alone still feel comfortable at this resort, or is it too intimate for those who aren't coming as a couple?  I want everyone to have a fun and relaxing time. 

 

Thanks everyone!

 

 

 

[~Melissa~]

Their preferred vendors are some of the best especially Elizabeth Medina. I've heard great things about Claudia as well

 

I myself was blessed with the opportunity to shoot there last Novemeber. Since we stayed 3 nights the outside vendor fee was waived. Just make sure if you do bring an outside photographer to let the WC know you don't need the resort photog. The resort photog got pretty aggressive for some shots and came from out of no where mid ceremony.