7 FAQ’s About Outside Vendor Fees In The Riviera Maya, Mexico

Can I avoid paying the Outside Vendor Fee?

If you’re like most couples, you want to sniff out any opportunity to save your precious wedding budget.

However, the only time you might hold any negotiating power whatsoever is before you sign a contract with your resort. This is why it is SO important that you do your homework about hidden wedding costs when you can still choose not to get married there!

When exploring the best Riviera Maya wedding resort options, ask about their outside vendor policy. Remember that this is Mexico, and everything is negotiable!

Some requests before you sign could include:

• have the fee reduced
• more people be included per company (often there is a limit of two people before the fee increases)
• insist that your photographer and videographer be recognized as one vendor
• get it eliminated altogether!

Insider Tip: One option to explore is booking your wedding vendor in as a guest at your resort. In some cases, the vendor fee would be waived if they have their own room. Paying for the extra accommodation can end up being less expensive for you than paying the vendor fee.

But please, if you do manage to negotiate a deal, get it in writing on your contract, because your resort wedding coordinator can change at the drop of a hat. People and policies change without notice in Mexico.

I did not know about outside vendor fees before I booked – what now?

So you’ve already signed your contract, but had no idea about this hidden fee?

You’re not alone.

All-inclusive resorts are in the business of making money and are not going to draw your attention to their outside vendor policy when trying to secure your wedding.

If you are reading this, surprised by this extortion, you can always try pleading ignorance to your wedding coordinator because it is still worth attempting to negotiate with the points mentioned above.

But expect that your emails on the subject might never get responded to, or that waiving the fee would be ‘Eeem-possible’.

It bears repeating that you need to read the fine print before you sign contracts, or agree to anything else – services, extras, upgrades – with your wedding resort.

Lesson learned.

Where does my Outside Vendor Fee go?

Fingers crossed that the outside vendor fee somehow increases the value of your wedding experience?

Ugh. I’m afraid not.

I wish I had a straightforward answer about where your money goes. My best research tells me that the fees might cover the salary of the resort employees whose services you opt out of.

It also needs to offset the commission from the ‘approved or preferred vendors’ who pay a handsome 40% commission out of their own fees.

Or it just goes straight into the opportunistic deep pockets of the resort.

However, I can tell you where outside vendor fees definitely do NOT go:

They do NOT go in any part to your chosen outside wedding vendor.

Will wedding vendors give me a discount to cover the fee?

Do you feel the company you want to hire should take pity on you and your budget?

Obviously, every wedding vendor is different, and has their own cost of doing business. So expecting a discount to save you money can be a tricky negotiation.

Although it never hurts to ask for a discount, please be fair and cautious.

After all, how would you feel if your boss cut your paycheck, explaining they didn’t want to pay your full salary because some other expenses popped up?

Asking a professional wedding vendor to cover the resort’s extortion is not fair either. Self-employed companies set their rates based on their cost of doing business, and therefore a discount should never be expected.

Lindsay & Rob’s Playa del Carmen wedding

What can I do if I am unhappy with paying a Vendor Fee?

Do you have options if your resort will not budge?

Yes, you always have options!

1.Take your wedding off the resort

You can still use the resort for accommodation, but you can also cancel the wedding with them, and make sure they understand why. In my opinion, not enough couples explore this option.

There are SO many romantic, funky and unique beach clubs or private villas in the Riviera Maya that can provide an amazing beach wedding, from the ceremony through the reception. Contrary to popular belief, you are NOT restricted to getting married at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

Explore the best off-site destination wedding venues and when you weigh your options against paying additional vendor fees and add-ons at the resort, you will see how comparable the cost is at the end of the day.

Your best bet, if you choose to get married off-site, is to put yourselves in the experienced hands of a professional wedding planner. Luckily, we work with the best in the business! Contact us now, and we will gladly put you in touch.

2. Harness the power of the internet!

Glowing reviews and testimonials are every resort’s bread and butter, and bad reviews are super harmful.

If you are unhappy with a resort’s outside vendor policy, or how shady they are about keeping it hidden, then shout it from the rooftops to anyone and everyone who will listen!

Head on over to social media, Uncle Google, and Tripadvisor – y’know the places YOU go for research and advice.

Consider it your duty to warn future engaged couples, and cause a stir! The worldwide web is a very influential place, and you have the ability to invoke change. So speak up!