What Has Been the Most Surprising or Annoying Wedding "Upcharge"?

[Sehausle]

I hear you $130 PER PERSON for our extra guests...I am sick just thinking about it but they really stick it to you.

[lorcas]

I got sad today when I realized we will have to limit our guest list a lot more than expected because the "per extra person" fee is ridiclous. My package is for 20 people

[MrsHK]

Originally Posted by Carlota1981 

 

Hi girls! This is an interesting threat because I was starting to think I was the only one that is afraid to say "wedding" at Riviera Maya! lol

 

 

My wedding is in 2months and although the most of the payments are crazy ( the extra fee for bringing more people) for me the worsts are the flowershops and photographers.

 

After days of asking costs I found the best costs with a flowershop that my planner suggested. I was completely desesperated with the super high costs and I wrote my WC telling her my problem It is 3 times less expensive than the cheapest cost i had found. But still crazy for me. Mexico is cheaper than Spain and even with this it seems Riviera Maya is some city of Japan (to say one expensive country).

 

The other issue is the photographers. I am shock the hundreds of dollars they ask!

I agree! I just finished my wedding here and had to fight very hard to get reasonable prices. I have lived here for a year and a half so I know that there is a HUGE range of how much things cost down here, wedding or not. I also know that everything is negotiable. When you feel you are being taken advantage of, say something and insist on a fair price. Who is your wedding planner and what florist did they recommend? I may be able to help you find a more reasonable florist if you give me some information about what you are looking for and who has given you quotes.

[MrsHK]

Originally Posted by BeachBride0422 

 

Does anyone know if you bring your own decorations do they charge you some kind of fee to have a person set everything up for you?

I think it depends on your resort. We rented out all the rooms at a small hotel in Tulum, and we had almost all of our own decor. We live down here so it was easy to collect stuff without worrying about baggage fees. The only things we rented were chairs, the gazebo, two speakers, a mic and a couple of tables for cocktail hour. Everything else was ours! In order to have someone set up our string lighting and paper lanterns we decided to rent some tall pilar candles from Artevelas and paid them an extra $100 to hang our stuff. Our WC, Leanne Marie, tried to say we should pay them $500 but I said that was far too much to hang 15 strings of lights and 25 paper lanterns.

 

I had to struggle with her so much in regards to pricing! I think it's because she got paid a percentage of the things she coordintaed at the end of the wedding, so trying to get me the best price possible was a conflict of interest for her. I stuck to my guns and insisted on fair pricing and did a TON of things myself to save money. For example, she quoted $1000 for a few strands of exposed lighting from Planner 1! I said "No way", and ordered my own, had it shipped to the US, asked my Mom to pick it up, drop it at friends' houses, and everyone brought down boxes for us. We saved lots of money that way!

 

We also wanted them to hang our 10 strands of papel picado that I spent lots of time sourcing out, found the best price and the perfect kind, ordered it to my Dad's place, and had him bring to Mexico. When we came to dinner, I saw it wasn't there. Leanne "forgot" to put it up, after a year of me telling her and her assistant in emails and in person that I was dead set on having papel picado. So disappointing, but what can you do? She also complained to my sister that she "normally doesn't have to do this much work" as they were setting up. Because I brought my own decorations? Whether they are rented or brought by a bride, they still have to be set up. Complaining to the bride's family members is so unprofessional! Aaaand end vent. Haha

[Sehausle]

@ Mrs HK - Our resort charges $120 for outside vendors, can you recommend a lower priced florist and/or musician (looking for violinist or guitarist). By the way were at Dreams Tulum October 2013

 

Thank you!

 

Shauna
 

[MrsHK]

Originally Posted by Sehausle 

 

@ Mrs HK - Our resort charges $120 for outside vendors, can you recommend a lower priced florist and/or musician (looking for violinist or guitarist). By the way were at Dreams Tulum October 2013

 

Thank you!

 

Shauna

 

Hi Shauna,

 

I used Floreria Jardin in Playa Del Carmen for our flowers. Could you tell me a bit more about what types of arrangements you are looking for and the types of flowers? Which florists have you been looking at so far and what have their prices been?

 

I'm sorry, I don't know of any violinists or guitarists. I had a mariachi trio and they were $250 plus tip for 45 mins. Our hotel didn't have any restrictions on outside vendors at all. I booked them through my wedding planner so I don't have their contact info.

[Sehausle]

Sure, I am looking for very soft pinks, peaches, and ivories - very romantic. I would like something similar to this . It's confusing because I get some flowers that come with my package  but when I asked for pricing ( I want 4-6 of these in a square glass vase if possible)  they said $170 a bouquet which I thought was high...?

 

 

 I found  an outside guitarist for $275 but then I have to pay another $120 in vendor fees. Mine comes with a "mexican trio" but I am thinking of using that for the reception.
 

[jenn4285]

Hello BDW! As you've probably learned by now, when you say the word "wedding" the cost for items and services tends to go up. This is generally just part of the process and we learn to suck it up, but every now and then you come across a charge while dealing with a vendor that warrants a minor vent. I just got back from my wedding at Secrets St. James in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and everything was amazing and just how I wanted it. But during the process I had to laugh when I asked the florist (Tai Flora) how much it would cost for 10 shepherd's hooks to hold pomanders along the aisle and they told me it was $25/hook. $250 for some hooks I'd be borrowing for 20 minutes when I was already spending over $2,000 on flowers?! No thank you. I ordered some from eBay and spray painted them silver for about $40 for all 10. What service or item(s) were you surprised to hear the cost of? Did you just pay it, get crafty and DIY something, or just let that wish list item go altogether? Let's hear it! Here's a pic of my shepherd's hooks on the cheap in action.

Hooks look amazing! What about the flower balls did you make those yourself aw well!

[jenn4285]

Hooks look amazing! What about the flower balls did you make those yourself aw well!

*as

[SammyAnna]

The hooks look great, just as lovely as the ones they rent. Good job! BTW, at first glance I thought this was a magazine pic... You looked amazing. Just like a model