Travel Fee?

[ndsimm]

OK, again it was great to meet you all today at the show and this year was my busiest yet. I had a few brides question me today about travel and I need to get some opinions. I have no problem with in state or out of state travel (DAllas, San Antonio, Louisiana, etc....) but two of them wanted to do destination weddings, one in Barbados and the other in Jamaica!!! and wanted to know what I would charge for travel. I didn't answer but immediately thought to myself, hey, just fly me down and get me a room and I'm good!" but want to be fair to myself and to the couple. so how do you handle travel?

[steve817]

I don't do it myself but know several who do. It's really a different strokes for different folks
kind of deal. Some do what you are thinking about and cover their own meals, thinking "Hey I was going to eat anyway". Others bill all travel fees including meals. If it were me I would try to negotiate an extra night or two before the ceremony to scout the location.

[ndsimm]

I'm bumping this back up so I can get more replies for those that are traveling since I am starting to get more requests for travel ( like Cabo in July!!!!! )

[LoungeLizard]

I would charge for all ground/air transportation and hotel. That would include air, rental car, parking, hotel (reasonable hotel - preferably the same one they're staying at). I would not charge for meals.

Don't forget that if there are fees as part of the travel (passports, visas, airport taxes) they will need to cover that also.

[MyKey]

Sorry Nathan I did not see this thread until you did bump it back up.

On travel this is what we do minus our top travel package.

For example we booked a wedding in London and one in St. Thomas from the bridal show already and it was basicly they pay for all travel expensives (airefare, hotel, transportation, food, etc.) we shoot them while we are there (5-7 days) and they receive all the images we take in a leather bound proof book (12 images per page) along with all the images online for 60days for ordering, a DVD slideshow, and all images in email proof size on a CD. We do charge a certain fee on top of this which I wont disclose but remember your time is worth money. Sure they are paying your way but when you get home you are still working on the images, color correcting, DVD design, proof book ordering, etc. this time is not free and therefore you need to charge for it.

This has been the base for all of our travel weddings and it has worked well so far. We have a meeting on Monday with a great couple going to Italy and this type of package is what we will be offering them also.

Remember do not give yourself away, if you do your setting yourself up for trouble in the long run. Charge a price, make money off the deal, though your in a pretty location you are still working, and work is work no matter where it is.

[MyKey]

On the meal subject, some places can cost you $150 to $200 a day to eat, for example in London a simple sit down dinner can cost you well over $50 to $100 american dollars. If you do not put this into your contract you will honestly eat away any profit you are going to make. In Mexico it is different but remember you have to eat but you are eating in that location due to the client hiring you. Honestly by the time you get down there normally the clients are your friends for the most part, everyone has a great time and food is paid for like drinks, one round at a time.

[Shane]

Many times they will host group dinners for their guests that are traveling to these locations (I know my buddy's wedding did), so you should get included in those meals to save on your costs.