Choosing Your Wedding Vendors by Barefoot bride Sherry W.

May 2

There is a light at the end of a tunnel: but be warned, for a long time, it’ll feel like wedding planning will never end. As soon as you decide on a resort, one of the biggest decisions you'll face is whether to use the resort’s preferred or in-house vendors or hire your own outside vendors. While both options have their pros and cons, it ultimately depends on your priorities — budget, style, and convenience. Let’s dive into both options to help you make the best decision for your dream destination wedding!

Resort’s Preferred Vendors: The Easy Option

Using the resort’s preferred or in-house vendors can be the easiest way to plan your wedding. Since these vendors are familiar with the resort’s layout, policies, and logistics, coordinating with the resort’s wedding coordinator is typically a breeze. As soon as the resort started wedding planning with me (3 months prior to the wedding day), these preferred vendors emailed me immediately with catalogs and descriptions of their services. Plus, payments go directly through the resort, which means fewer payments to track and one less thing to worry about.

But, like anything else, there are a few downsides. First, you may find that the prices are higher than expected. Resorts often take a cut from the vendors, so the quotes might include that markup, which can make the services feel a bit more expensive than they would be if you hired outside vendors. Second, you might not love the style, quality, or options the resort vendors offer. If that’s the case, it might be worth considering outside vendors to get exactly what you're looking for.

Outside Vendors: The Custom Touch

Hiring outside vendors gives you more flexibility and freedom to choose exactly what you want for your wedding. You can hire your dream photographer, florist, hairstylist, and DJ based on their style, reviews, and recommendations, which can result in a more personalized experience.

That said, using outside vendors does come with some extra planning. For one, make sure your resort allows outside vendors for your desired service. For example, Secrets Tulum didn’t permit outside vendors for audiovisual services like lights or DJs, so I had to use the resort’s preferred vendor for that. Double-check the fine print before making any decisions.

Additionally, you might be charged an “outside vendor fee.” Some resorts charge by the vendor, while others charge per service, and the fees can range from $300 to $1500 depending on resort. For instance, if you hire the same vendor for both photography and videography, you may still need to pay two outside vendor fees; it never hurts to try to negotiate and be sure to get any exceptions in writing. You can often get these fees waived if your outside vendors book a minimum stay at the resort. Make sure you confirm these details with your resort wedding coordinator to avoid surprises!

Lastly, let’s not ignore the incredible time, effort, and headache it takes to actually find the outside vendors that you want. I found all my vendors by 1) searching Facebook Groups for recommendations and reviews, and 2) searching through Instagram tags. As you can see from the example Facebook below with 98 comments, past brides and vendors themselves clamor on these posts to recommend/offer services, so you’ll have a wide range of options to filter through.

For my own wedding at Secrets Tulum, I ended up going with outside vendors for every allowable service.

I booked a luxury photographer whose style I adored. I had combed through the Instagram profiles and portfolios of 40+ different photographers, and no one else compared.
I went with an outside hairstylist and makeup artist who specialized in natural glam and had experience working with Asian features. Up until a month before the wedding, I had planned to just go with the resort spa because I didn’t feel strongly about my makeup. However, after reading one poor review from a past Secrets Tulum bride, I asked the resort for examples of their past work and was utterly horrified at what I saw… in the final two weeks before my wedding, I booked an outside HMUA with great results.
Lastly, I chose an outside florist because her quotes were way cheaper than the resort’s options (more than 50% difference), even after factoring in one outside vendor fee. My florist also provided different decor items such as candles, neon sign, and photo wall.

The Logistics

Once you've selected your vendors (whether from the resort’s list or outside), there are a few last-minute details to handle. First, make sure your wedding coordinator has each of your vendor’s contact information so they can easily coordinate on the big day. You don’t want to deal with any confusion the day before or on the day of your wedding.

Also, make sure your outside vendors are cleared by resort security to enter the premises. Depending on the resort, this could require submitting vendor names in advance, aligning on a specific arrival time window, or having a specific check-in process on the day of your wedding. You don’t want any unexpected delays, so plan ahead!

This is a snippet from my coordinator’s planning doc:

The Verdict

While using resort vendors might be easier and more convenient, especially if you're looking for a less stressful experience, it ultimately comes down to your priorities. Are you willing to pay a little extra for convenience and knowing everything is handled for you? Or do you want the flexibility to handpick each vendor to match your vision and style, even if it means navigating additional logistics?

For me, I was all about getting the best fit for my wedding, so I chose outside vendors for everything I could. But every couple’s needs are different! Whatever route you choose, just make sure to do your research, ask the right questions, and stay organized.

Happy wedding planning!