Destination weddings at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cabo, and beyond) can be so magical. However, we’ve recently noticed a concerning trend that’s causing couples unnecessary stress, and we don’t want you to fall into this trap.
There’s a growing concern around the resorts in Mexico. Some local wedding planners are stepping into the role of a travel agent, a role for which they are not equipped. Instead of connecting couples with a professional travel team, these planners are simply setting up a basic resort booking link and passing it off to the couple, saying, “Here’s how your guests can book.”
Sounds easy, right? Except it’s not. It’s a major red flag that your wedding planner is prioritizing their own interests over yours. And here’s why this is one of the biggest disservices they are doing to you and your guests.
A Link Is Not a Guest Experience
When you book your room block through a wedding planner who’s not a certified travel agent, you’re left with just a link. There’s no guest website, no FAQs, no travel guidance, no reminders, and certainly no support when your Aunt Susan has 50 questions because she hasn’t traveled outside her city since 1972.
You and your guests are left to figure everything out on your own. And spoiler alert: they won’t. Instead, the couple (you!) will become the point person for every resort, travel, and room block-related question, which is not what you want to deal with before and during your wedding.
No One Is Actually Managing Your Room Block
A room block isn’t just about “reserving rooms.” It comes with a legal contract, real deadlines, hard attrition rules, upgrade opportunities, and, more importantly, severe financial penalties if things aren’t handled correctly. When a wedding planner hands you a link, they’re not monitoring your room block at all. It’s all up to you from there. They’re not ensuring deadlines are met. They’re not giving you an update on bookings. They’re not even watching for potential problems. That means you’re the one holding the bag, so to speak, when things go sideways.
Your Guests Lose Real Help
A true travel agency team (like ours here at Yellow Umbrella Events and other legitimate destination wedding travel agencies) answers every guest’s questions – big and small. We share essential details about passports, travel requirements, transfers, payments, travel insurance, and even “what should I pack?”. We are the “Google” of your room block! Without that? Your guests will bombard you with questions you don’t have the time (or the patience) to answer while planning your wedding, working full-time, and trying to live your life and care for yourself and each other.
The Only Winner in All of This Is Your Wedding Planner
So why are local planners doing this? One word: money! Resorts pay them just for setting up a link. That’s it. That’s all they have to do. They’re not even providing real guest services, but they’re pocketing money that should be going toward actual support for you and your guests. And they are not legally required or bound in any way to disclose the fact that they are making a commission off of you. Meanwhile, you’re left with all the stress of managing the room block on your own, all the work of disseminating the information to each of your guests, and none of the value.
Side Notes About Wedding Planner and Travel Agency Commissions:
If you’re not aware of how most wedding planners work in Mexico, almost everybody is getting a little something (we mean $$). Every vendor (florist, photographer, DJ, etc.) that you book for your wedding is likely to give your wedding planner a percentage of what they charge you. This is one of the questions we would be very upfront about when interviewing wedding planners in Mexico for your destination wedding, if this concerns you.
Yellow Umbrella Events does not, and has never, accepted commissions from any vendor recommendation we give to our couples.
We do receive a commission from the resort for room bookings (typically from the resort’s marketing budgets), since this is how most travel agencies are paid. For this, we provide full-service support for you and every single one of your guests. We’re managing contracts, building your custom wedding website, addressing travel questions, monitoring invoicing and deadlines, and ensuring your room block is managed from start to finish. This comprehensive support is the value you receive when working with a reputable travel agency, providing you with the confidence that your wedding and travel logistics are in good hands.
Credentials Matter: How to Spot a Legitimate Travel Agency
Here’s a key difference: a legitimate travel agency typically has credentials, such as an IATA number (that’s I-A-T-A: International Air Transport Association). Many are also connected to what is known as a “host agency” (or they are like us, and they are travel agency owners), which provides industry backing, supplier relationships, and training.
These credentials truly matter because they demonstrate that the agency is recognized in the travel industry and has access to proper booking systems, protections, and professional networks.
Most local wedding planners who are dabbling in travel? They don’t have IATA numbers. They’re not aligned with host agencies. They haven’t been trained to navigate complex room block contracts or handle guest travel logistics. They’re simply setting up a resort link because it earns them a commission, and without offering the depth of service that comes with actual travel expertise.
Let’s Be Clear: Not All Wedding Planners Are Doing This
Some legitimate destination wedding travel agents also offer planning services, and some planners own legitimate travel agencies. Those professionals are a different story. They’re usually properly equipped to manage both sides with real, organized systems and proper guest support.
What we’re talking about here are the wedding planners who are primarily wedding planners but set up a booking link just because the resort gives them a commission. They’re not managing contracts. They’re not supporting your guests. They’re not protecting you from hidden consequences. They’re just pocketing a commission while you and your guests are left without help.
The Yellow Umbrella Events Take
We’re all for amazing wedding planners! Some of these individuals are truly artists, visionaries, and magicians when it comes to creating a beautiful and memorable wedding day. But they’re not professional travel agents. And when your everyday wedding planner tries to step into that travel role without the systems or experience, it’s the couple and their guests who pay the price.
Your guests deserve better than a booking link. You deserve better than chasing down room confirmations and answering endless “How do I…?” texts. A true destination wedding travel agency will manage your room block, build your guest website link, communicate with every traveler, and make sure you’re free to focus on what really matters: your wedding.
How to Protect Yourself While Booking Your Destination Wedding
- Ask your wedding planner if they’re working with a professional travel team that specializes in destination wedding groups.
- Never settle for just “We’ll give you a link.”
- Look for genuine travel credentials, such as an IATA number or a connection to a host agency.
- Ask them if they have an E&O insurance policy and Seller of Travel licenses for their travel agency (serious legal requirements for travel agencies).
- Make sure your guests will have a dedicated travel agency to guide them.
The Bottom Line
Your wedding planner should be focused on your wedding day. Your travel agent should be focused on your room block and guest travel management. When one person tries to do both – and only delivers a tenth of the service – everyone loses.
At Yellow Umbrella Events, we specialize in managing destination wedding room blocks and taking care of your guests from start to finish. No links-and-leave ’em. No cutting corners. Just a great team that ensures your wedding room block runs seamlessly.
Connect with us today, and let’s make sure your wedding (and your guests) get the attention they deserve.
