Don't Believe Their Hype..

[shelikespink]

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy Thanks for your post! You've really hit the nail on the head. Glad it all worked out for you.

 

The whole wedding industry is a sham. As soon as you say wedding, whether you're at home or in Mexico, you're getting screwed. I've debated SO many times whether to just cancel this whole destination thing and just do a wedding at home. The cost wouldn't be much different at the end of the day and I would have more control and the legal system to protect me from fraud/contract changes! I guess the difference is at home the vendors want referrals and want to make you happy, for a destination they don't need business, there are always suckers willing to pay whatever they ask. For all of us brides we just have to make the best of it! Anytime I travel I go with the expectation that I'm being screwed over, but as long as I'm happy with the outcome then it's ok.

[Wrathwitch]

I'm not quite sure the title reflects the article you wrote. Not sure what hype you are referring to.

 

Firstly, happy that you are making your wedding dreams come true. Much congratulations and happiness!

 

Secondly, for the most part, vendors and businesses don't care about you personally, ALMOST all of them. They care about making money. Their only concern is that their business continues to make money. The smart ones will recognize that if you are ecstatic that you will spread the word and they will make more money. Don't ever think that it is about you from their side of the table. The smart ones also hire people who are good with working with people to give the illusion that they sincerely care. 

 

That being said, the appeal of destination weddings held at resorts is to not have to plan everything but to have nice template with some choices and have someone do the leg work and everything else for you. I was engaged once before and when it came to the idea of having to plan my own wedding I almost had an anxiety attack. I thought a bit about it and know what?

 

I realized that the "white wedding" dealing with photographers, receptions, registry etc was not what I wanted to do for "My day". 

 

I think a lot of women get hooked up on the "My day" thing and forget that it is "OUR day" (Husband and Wife both). For us, we want no fuss, no muss, with a beautiful setting and the least work and expenditure possible for this wedding. We are more about the enjoyment of the day than for the way the day looks. Not everyone thinks like that though and it's great to have such diversity. I am sure the people that make money off the weddings agree haha!

 

I think what I was getting at was that, there is nothing wrong with having the wedding taken care of by the resorts, I don't think there is that much hype attached to the occasion from the resorts.  

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@Wrathwitch well wrathwitch, thanks for taking the time to read my post. The title is a fun way to say don't believe the gimmicks, don't believe that in order to have a great wedding you need to commit total trust in a wedding planner as mine had told me. Now in closing to you I want to thank you for your input on a hotel weddings. My idea, though personal, of an ideal wedding is based on love and intimacy, something I did not feel comfortable sharing with a multitude of vacationers at a resort. I'm choosing to select my flowers from a local produce market, have my best friend help me set up a little decor, choosing not to have an aulter, makeup or hairstyling. All the things that hotels wanted to make me pay for even though I did not want them. For me it's about raw and here and now. Not a show. So to reiterate my original post, if you are satisfied with a hotel wedding, that post is not for you. It is instead,giving couples the encouragement to go after their wedding the way they want it, without all the extra bs, in sum - Dont believe their hype.

@@shelikespink

 

Girl I know! After I was given the contract with grand coral myself working the deal myself, decided to hire someone to help with the small details..... and my wedding planner continued to stall and stall and stall the signing of it bc she had zero experience with them. Before I started working with her grand coral chef and manager gave me their willingness to help. Then she came in and told me that basically in a nut shell the things they has told me in writing weren't true. So I after waiting and waiting bc I wanted to remain loyal to my WC I gave up. I contacted grand coral they told me that low n behold what my WC was telling me wasn't true. That scenario happened a few times. I said forget it. I'm not dealing with crooked ppl! And to be told, oh you just gotta trust me, you need a professional bouquet, don't go with your dj- go with mine, the wedding industry in Mexico is cut throat, if you don't accept these terms grand coral doesn't care bc there's a million other brides who want to be married there- I WAS DONE. Did I cave in and think hotel wedding no! And by all means there is nothing wrong with a hotel wedding AT ALL. But for me, I'm the girl that spends all day cooking on my birthday so that I can invite a select few over to enjoy my creations in privacy at my home, there's no way I would consider having my special day shared with the masses or even a few gawking crowds. I knew I could still have our wedding and have it our way. Simple. Relaxed. Private . No shimmer. Incredible food. Family only. Create our own canapés. So after starting from scratch we talked about having our wedding in our back yard. Your so right the expense would be the same and people would treat you a whole hell of a lot more honestly. I'm still not against the idea. It for me would be a beautiful thing. But I found an amazing venue who doesn't even charge a vendor fee, totally private, we created menu, canapés, they are letting us bring our own alcohol. They are cool as could be. I feel so much better. Am I getting screwed considering the prices for djs and catering are half the price here, yes! I'm getting screwed. But at least I know it and have worked a better deal than just trusting a WC word. Anyways backyard weddings are a beautiful thing so if things get crazy insane I'll revert back to my senses and celebrate here.

 

Have you already planned your wedding ? Is moon palace satisfying your vision? Outside vendors? Im Anxious to know!!

 

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[shelikespink]

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy I'm still in the early stages! And already getting frustrated I have a wedding planner/travel agent that does like 25 weddings at Palace resorts per year, so I'm hoping she will help me avoid vendor fees and other stupid things that these resorts throw at you! I'm hoping I can just tell her what I want and she can figure it out with Moon Palace! We'll see how things go!

[acw271011]

I'm very surprised by all the negativity. I realize it's your wedding and "your wedding your way" but just remember you're travelling to another country, that has different ways of doing things. Some of that needs to be respected. Outside vendor fees may seem unfair but that's also the resort's perogative to charge them if they see fit. You may be bringing business to them but for them it is a "cutthroat business". There are dozens of other resorts all competing for the wedding business. All you have to do is read through the threads here to see how competitive it all is. Somewhere along the way they do need to draw the line and do what they feel is best for them. I disagree totally that nobody cares about you but only the money you're bringing in. I got married at a resort in Jamaica and we had awful circumstances that went against us. The resort where we got married worked with us every step of the way and when we did finally arrive there, treated us with the utmost respect and care.

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@acw271011 I'm glad things turned out for you in the end, congratulations!

 

I don't think it's negativity. It's just a reminder that our weddings are our vision and we shouldn't forget that! Whatever it means for the couple.

 

Wedding cost thousands of dollars, so we, won't be doing business with anyone who doesn't appreciate our hard earned dollars through their actions or their commentary

 

But like I mentioned, we did find a wonderful venue, minister, planner etc, we've signed, booked all travel and we can't wait!

 

Woohoo!

@@shelikespink how is it going for you? Any updates? Good news??

[NickiLynn1116]

T_{hanks for this fantastic post.  It does feel sometime that my WC doesn't care about my wedding because she has so many and I am simply just another bride to her.  It can be frustrating.  Good luck with your future wedding}

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

@@NickiLynn1116 thanks for commenting. I feel like the wedding planners forget that it's. 2014. I don't care that it's a different country, or resort with their own rules blah blah blah lol! It's our one and hopefully only wedding. I'm pretty sure we will drop them like a hot potato if they act aloof to the "job". Good luck!

 

Stay strong and if it's an off site coordinator and you haven't forked over hard earn cash, let her know that you expect more or your ending her services or lack there of. There are great vendors and venues so don't be scared to shop around until you get exactly what you want!

Xo

[mistinm]

Hey LisaAnthonyPoppy, 

 

As a wedding vendor in Playa del Carmen and a foreign resident (I'm from the U.S.) I agree with your sentiments. Yes, there are crooks in every country, but everything in Mexico is more cut-throat and competitive. I find even in daily life here, that you have to keep your guard up more - or you will get taken advantage of financially. And I'm sorry as a tourist for your wedding that you had to experience that. With all that being said, Mexico has many lovely, gracious people and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 

To all the brides reading this, it IS your day - don't let the resorts/vendors try to push you into something you're not comfortable with. Without you, we wouldn't have any business! If you stand firm, you can get what you want (within reason).