Has Anyone Not Used A Third Party Company For Coordinating Guests

[Montana]

Not sure how to phrase this but I want to know if I could coordinate and contract with the hotel myself for the group reservation discount? It is not only about cutting the middle man out but because I am paying for a good number of the rooms myself (grand parents, grand aunts, unemployed best friends, etc) I feel like I can handle this part... it will give me something to do at this early stage in prep.

 

Anyone handle the reservation part on their own?? or am I just begging for trouble?

[calgarybride2015]

I don't think you are begging for trouble but if you used the 'middle man' you could probably get perks that you may not get and/or know about To ask if you are working alone!

 

Good luck.

 

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Edited December 27, 2014 by calgarybride2015

[Surfingsara]

@@Montana, I've seriously been considering doing this myself. I only have about 12-15 people coming.

I had planed to have everyone share their information on a form on my wedding website. But now I think about it, I'm sure people will forget to supply me with the important information and it will cause stress. I'm sure I will have to hound people about booking flights and rooms. Since you are paying for so many you wont have to do this, but if your paying for their flights, you will need their personal information to book the flight. 

 

I finally found a Travel Agent/Consultant that isn't trying to push me into something I don't want and I think I can work with. I'm a AAA (the road side assistant) member and they do this for free with membership so I'm going later today to talk with someone about what they can offer me. Every travel agent keeps making a point of, if you book online then you have no one to call when something goes wrong, with us, you have a live person and a phone number. 

 

Something frequently I hear on this site and every other place that destination brides talk, is that they have trouble getting in touch with their on site wedding coordinator. My resort doesn't really respond to questions until about 2 months out. I've herd about timely communication being a big issue from people at many different resorts. They all say once they are there its wonderful and the people are great. This is another reason I'm considering a travel agent. They can get answers from the resort's faster.

 

I was originally thinking of just contacting the resort and asking for a group rate, but then again I can't be sure how many people will actually come. I'm a year and a half away, and most people are saying they are coming, but I'm sure once it comes down to having to pay things may change.

 

It couldn't hurt to ask your resort.

 

Also, watch pricing for your resort. I've been watching pricing for my resort for about 6 months and  saw that booking through the resort's website is cheaper than the online travel websites (Orbits, Travelosity and so on) and the resort also offer specials. Mine offered something like if you book so much in advance you get 15% to 35% off. 

 

Good Luck!

[nadiakat17]

I am doing it myself but we already have a timeshare. I think you could shop around and see what prices are out there. I like not having a middle man because for me it would probably be one more poor communicator to worry about

[Surfingsara]

I actually met with my travel agent yesterday. She had a lot of really good information to offer me, and explained that the reason that the resorts take so long to respond is communications have to be translated. This makes since.

 

Before meeting with the travel agent in person, I wasn't 100% sure I would go with a travel agent or not. I've only having 12-15 people coming. After our meeting and spending hours trying to deal with my bridesmaid about travel I'm defiantly going with a travel agent!

 

I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday morning trying to explain to my bridesmaid that I do not have any travel information yet, I can't give her pricing yet, and I don't know a specific date that I would have this information, but I would share it as soon as I know. The wedding is a year and a half away (June 2016), so we all have plenty of time at this point to plan/ save. The reasons why I don't have any of this information is because my resort isn't booking 2016 weddings until February/ March 2015 and flights are not announced until 360 days in advance. This stressed me out yesterday, and the thought of not having to say "I don't know/ I don't have this information" another 500 times is worth it to me!! I thought my bridesmaid understood this after our long conversation yesterday, but I just got multiple text and Facebook messages from her this morning about this same thing! (Sorry had to vent!)

[calgarybride2015]

I actually met with my travel agent yesterday. She had a lot of really good information to offer me, and explained that the reason that the resorts take so long to respond is communications have to be translated. This makes since.

 

Before meeting with the travel agent in person, I wasn't 100% sure I would go with a travel agent or not. I've only having 12-15 people coming. After our meeting and spending hours trying to deal with my bridesmaid about travel I'm defiantly going with a travel agent!

 

I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday morning trying to explain to my bridesmaid that I do not have any travel information yet, I can't give her pricing yet, and I don't know a specific date that I would have this information, but I would share it as soon as I know. The wedding is a year and a half away (June 2016), so we all have plenty of time at this point to plan/ save. The reasons why I don't have any of this information is because my resort isn't booking 2016 weddings until February/ March 2015 and flights are not announced until 360 days in advance. This stressed me out yesterday, and the thought of not having to say "I don't know/ I don't have this information" another 500 times is worth it to me!! I thought my bridesmaid understood this after our long conversation yesterday, but I just got multiple text and Facebook messages from her this morning about this same thing! (Sorry had to vent!)

 

 

What exactly did she say this AM? because your reason for having no answers is pretty self explanatory.  As well I hate to say it, but somewhat common sense too.  UGH!!! sorry you had to go thru that.

[Surfingsara]

What exactly did she say this AM? because your reason for having no answers is pretty self explanatory.  As well I hate to say it, but somewhat common sense too.  UGH!!! sorry you had to go thru that.

@@calgarybride2015, Kim, your right! Bless this girls heart, she is super intelligent (book wise) but common sense she doesn't have any! 

 

She was asking about when I would have the date confirmed by. (We had already gone over this too.) She kept asking if she would know it by February 29th? I had no idea where she dreamed up February 29th. Turns out the resort's website had a 20% off if you book by the 29th.  It took another hour for me to explain that going through the wedding department, and a travel agent, will be cheaper. I'm unsure if she is worried about cost or not? I thought so at first, and kindly said we understand it's expensive and most people aren't going to be coming because of cost, childcare, health reasons or they can't get the time off of work. We understand and respect this! Heck, my parents aren't even coming, and my fiance's best friend and best man can't make it either. We get this and that's why we are having a reception at home. 

 

After I calmed her down over this, she then went off, thankfully in a private message, about my sister in law asking (in a group message) if the resort was kid friendly.  My bridesmaid just couldn't understand why you would want to bring a kid to a wedding. My sister in law was just wondering and she was fine that it was adults only. She just needed to know to make this the family vacation for the year or not. This was another hour or more of explaining why it wasn't crazy for her to ask about this. 

 

Then she felt the need to tell me I should just elope and not tell anyone.... 

 

 I've stayed sane today because I've stopped answering her calls and stopped responding to her text. I know this is harsh, but you can only say something so many times!

 

I guess every bride always has that one person who drives them crazy..

 

Thanks for listening to me vent.

Edited January 7, 2015 by Surfingsara

[calgarybride2015]

@@calgarybride2015, Kim, your right! Bless this girls heart, she is super intelligent (book wise) but common sense she doesn't have any! 

 

She was asking about when I would have the date confirmed by. (We had already gone over this too.) She kept asking if she would know it by February 29th? I had no idea where she dreamed up February 29th. Turns out the resort's website had a 20% off if you book by the 29th.  It took another hour for me to explain that going through the wedding department, and a travel agent, will be cheaper. I'm unsure if she is worried about cost or not? I thought so at first, and kindly said we understand it's expensive and most people aren't going to be coming because of cost, childcare, health reasons or they can't get the time off of work. We understand and respect this! Heck, my parents aren't even coming, and my fiance's best friend and best man can't make it either. We get this and that's why we are having a reception at home. 

 

After I calmed her down over this, she then went off, thankfully in a private message, about my sister in law asking (in a group message) if the resort was kid friendly.  My bridesmaid just couldn't understand why you would want to bring a kid to a wedding. My sister in law was just wondering and she was fine that it was adults only. She just needed to know to make this the family vacation for the year or not. This was another hour or more of explaining why it wasn't crazy for her to ask about this. 

 

Then she felt the need to tell me I should just elope and not tell anyone.... 

 

 I've stayed sane today because I've stopped answering her calls and stopped responding to her text. I know this is harsh, but you can only say something so many times!

 

I guess every bride always has that one person who drives them crazy..

 

Thanks for listening to me vent.

 

 

hehehehe, good for you ignoring some of her calls and texts today!! take a breather.

That would be a struggle that is forsure, and why is she concerned if kids can come or not, if it doesn't directly affect her?

Why wouldn't you want to bring kids? mine are coming  

 

Hopefully she eases up a bit for you!