Beware ~ Wedding Coordinators and hidden fees

[TammyWright]

This has come up with a few brides and I thought I would mention it. When you hire your wedding coordinator please be sure to ask for any hidden fees. Also, if you are planning on using a travel agent you must let your wedding coordinator know this so they are not paid your travel agents commission but NOT handling the travel portion of your wedding.

 

I have had to turn down a few brides that needed help with their travel arrangements because their WC was paid that commission that should have gone to their travel agent. So the WC's are making the fee that they charge you, the 10-15% they add on the vendors they book, as well as the 10-15% of the travel.

 

I just thought I should bring this up because most of the local wedding coordinators are not equipped or knowledgeable enough to book travel arrangements so they really should not be paid a commission for work they are not doing or being paid a fee from the resort that they are not disclosing to you.

[JaimeLynne]

Good point - thanks for pointing this out.

[lyrebard]

Thanks, Tammy.

 

While the travel part doesn't apply to us (we're not having the ceremony/reception at a hotel), the added vendor fee does. Is it really okay for the coordinator at our reception site to tell us that a band has "raised its fee" and is now $100 more per set than the band itself claimed? I'm especially worried that, if we go with other outside vendors who have to coordinate with her, she'll do the same thing and I'm afraid that these little bits will add up and put us over budget. I just don't think it's fair that she should get a cut for something she really had very little to do with, especially when we're already paying her a coordination fee!

 

I'm not quite sure how to bring this up, nor how to request that we pay the vendors separately. What should we do?

[jfwolfe72]

Thanks so much! I didn't know about any of this, so I just let Lomas Travel know that I've been working w/ a TA....

[MrsV-to-be]

I had no idea about this. I'm also working with Lomus Travel who is the WC but I am NOT using them for travel. I guess I better make that strictly clear.

[LadyP]

I just emailed my WC because I have been working with JenniferTA or is it TAJennifer? Anyway she has been wonderful and I dont want to short change her in anyway.

 

THANKS TAMMY FOR THE WARNING

[jean-marcus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyrebard Thanks, Tammy. Is it really okay for the coordinator at our reception site to tell us that a band has "raised its fee" and is now $100 more per set than the band itself claimed? I'm not quite sure how to bring this up, nor how to request that we pay the vendors separately. What should we do?

man that sounds SHADYYYY. isnt there a contract signed or anything listing the prices of what you are paying for everything. she should be held responsible if she hasnt locked down the price like stated. sounds to me like maybe its like when a car dealer says he will sell you the "clear coat" for an just an extra $400 or throwing in the "blinker fluid" for free if you purchase from him.

[twixygrl]

Thank you for the post Tammy. This almost happened to me! I didn't realize that my WC was taking a commission from the hotel. Then I hired my TA (Tammy ) only to find that the WC had already negotiated for her own commission without telling me! I was shocked! Further, the WC's rate was HIGHER then the rate Tammy could offer.

 

If I had hired my TA first, or asked the WC about this I think it would have easily been avoided.

 

Unfotunately, now I have put a deposit down for the WC, and since she lost her commission she isn't quite as responsive, helpful, or frankly even nice! It is too bad really...now I am stuck on the WC side with a bitter WC, but it was worth it to get a good TA! I guess it is a lesson learned...what can I do now!

 

Thank goodness for Tammy. Thanks again for the post.

[trisha0612]

Thanks Tammy! Very good information for all to know!

Good thing my TA is on top of everything! I'm so lucky!!

[amdecker]

Being as I am a newbie to this entire process (and this forum), I really didn't realize that I needed a wedding coordinator and a separate travel agent. Whenever I do finally decide on a location I will certainly be sure to check and see if the WC is getting travel commission. Is this an issue if you are buying a package deal from the hotel? (ie I was looking at the "Dreams of Love" Wedding package for $1980 from Dreams Resort in Cancun. This package includes the WC). Are you saying this WC takes a commission for travel but doesn't actually help in the travel arrangements?