Resorts policies on outside vendors / photogs *** VALUABLE INFO***

[itsme7396]

Hola Matt...

 

Great advice... it took Jeff and i forever to find a location for our wedding, the outside vendor issue being one of the reasons... i originally wanted to have my wedding at one of the big AI's, but when i contacted the WC's of the resorts i liked, one said they didn't allow outside vendors... one said i had to pay for a night's stay for each vendor... and one WC said there was a fee of $400 for an outside photographer, and when i mentioned i would also have an outside videographer, she said it would be another $400 for the videographer... and i would still need to buy day passes for them and their assistants... Thats when i gave up, and decided on the Al Cielo hotel... no issue with bringing outside photographer/videographer there...

 

If these WC's want extra fees for outside vendors, make sure you have them put it in writing... its definitely a question you should ask before you start handing over deposits... you're paying all this money for YOUR day, you should have the wedding YOU want, not the wedding that some of these resorts want to shove you into...

 

 

Julie

[JaimeLynne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiStreak Jaime, I'm in the same boat--- A bunch of friends of mine from college are pro photos who plan on coming down and shooting the wedding for us. I'm getting married at Iberostar (Lindo). I had our TA tell the WC at Lindo up front that the bride is a photographer who will have photographer guests taking pics. The WC said they charge $300 for outside photographers, but I'll fight them tooth and nail on that one and get it in writing before we commit to a room block.

That is CRAZY! Even if they (i.e. my Uncle) have a room booked at the hotel for the wedding?!?! Wth...! How can they get away with that? "No, you can't take pictures even though every other guest staying at our hotel can..." This is insane to me.

[anaderoux]

That's great info.. I thinks you guys who are having this problem should speak up.. call the hotel and ask them to call the manager.. that's not fair..

 

when my FI called the manager about other issues we had at our hotel he was very responsive and the WC now treat us different and answers quickly..

[leigh miller]

it is too bad! ive always told couples who hire me and get married at resorts in mexico to put me on the guest list. ive never had a problem. maybe all the brides can unite and put a stop to this policy! you have a right to hire whomever you want to photograph your wedding!!!

[Tait Weddings]

I would take any request for money to the corporate headquarters of the hotel. I think that is some cases, the fees are not the policy of the hotel, but the policy of someone onsite who will pocket the money rather than it being a legitimate fee paid to the resort. One of my clients was required to pay cash, I think that is a red flag for this practice, if it is a real fee it should be added to the invoice with all of the other wedding services and able to be paid with credit card.

 

I do know it to be the case with Sandals Turks & Caicos resort and possibly all Sandals resorts that they do not allow outside photographers but it can be arranged for a bride to pay a fee of about $350 which covers their loss. This is not a cash only situation mentioned above, but a recovery from them not being able to make money on this service. Sandals has bought a turnkey photo printing service from Kodak to process their images and may be using point and shoot cameras for the images. Outside wedding videography is still permitted at this point probably because they haven't yet figured out how to make it efficient and profitable.

[santokkie]

along those lines, we flew in our photographers into cancun from the states as our "relatives" that offered to take photos of our wedding. however, the issue never came up and i don't actually think our coordinator (that we loved) could have cared less. perhaps this is just an all-inclusive wedding thing then?

[JessiTaylor]

I found a post on tripadvisor from a guy Matt_UKTX from july 2011 listing hotels that were friendly to outside vendors. any comments to see if this is still the case? its an important factor in my decision making. He said after an extensive site visit, these were the friendly ones:

 

External vendor friendly resorts:

- Hotel Marina El Cid

- Ceiba del Mar

- Hacienda Tres Rios                         - from my own email contact i know you have to use their lighting/DJ but can use own photographer and flowers. and own band "if you can find one"

- Valentin Imperial Maya

- Dreams Cancun

- Dreams Tulum

- Dreams Puerta Aventuras

- NOW Jade

- NOW Sapphire

- Secrets Maroma Beach

- Secrets Silversands

- Zoetry

- Cancun Palace

- Sun Palace

- Beach Palace

- Moon Palace

- Le Blanc

- Cozumel Palace

- Isla Mujeres Palace

- Aventura Spa / Cove Palace

- Playacar Palace

- Xpu-Ha Palace

- Grand Palladium

- Banyan Tree Mayakoba

- Fairmont Mayakoba

- RIU Palace Riviera Maya

- Sandos

- JW Marriott in Cancun

 

and they said inflexible hotels

- Azul Beach

- Azul Sensatori

- Azul Fives

- El Dorado Maroma

- El Dorado Royale / Casitas

- El Dorado Seaside Suites

- Excellence Playa Mujeres

- Excellence Riviera Cancun

- Dreams Riviera Cancun

 

If this is an uptodate list it would help me MASSIVELY

[SUNFUNMOM]

THIS IS VERY SAD NEWS FOR ME!!!!

 

I was just notified I am a finalist in wedding photography contest......but he informed me that Azul FIVES might charge a $800 fee for me to have him as my photographer!!!

I am sooo excited to be a finalist because I do not have the money to hire a photographer and photography means soo much to me since I am a Photographer.....so if I have to loose the contest because of this I will cry!!!

I can't change resorts because we have four children and can't beat the price of a 2 bedroom suite elsewhere...HELP??

 

It would be cheaper to pay for him to stay in the hotel for the night...can I do that...and have him as a guest in my wedding?

 

Any advice would be great...

[JessiTaylor]

Originally Posted by SUNFUNMOM 

 

THIS IS VERY SAD NEWS FOR ME!!!!

 

I was just notified I am a finalist in wedding photography contest......but he informed me that Azul FIVES might charge a $800 fee for me to have him as my photographer!!!

I am sooo excited to be a finalist because I do not have the money to hire a photographer and photography means soo much to me since I am a Photographer.....so if I have to loose the contest because of this I will cry!!!

I can't change resorts because we have four children and can't beat the price of a 2 bedroom suite elsewhere...HELP??

 

It would be cheaper to pay for him to stay in the hotel for the night...can I do that...and have him as a guest in my wedding?

 

Any advice would be great...

 

 

a lot of hotels will allow a photographer if you pay for them to stay for the night, but if hes a local photographer - best to check in advance so you know either way.  because the hotels know all the main photographers by sight, so you can't "sneak them in" so to speak. you dont want to be suprised on the day by a 800 dollar fee so i would ask if theyd waive the outside vendor fee providing he had a room for the night

[atennille]

Wow this is really sad, it should be all about the bride.