Wedding Fund Management in Guatemala: What You Need to Know

Hey there, nerd! Wondering about Wedding Fund Management in Guatemala?

We often get asked, "Can you just handle all our vendor payments so we don't have to worry about it?" It's a great question! Today, I want to chat about why we typically don't manage all your wedding funds and what happens when we do.

How We Usually Work With Our Couples

When planning your dream destination wedding in Guatemala, we typically:

1. Help you find amazing vendors who match your vision

2. Keep the lines of communication flowing smoothly

3. Make sure everyone shows up and delivers as promised

4. Handle all the day-of coordination so you can just enjoy your wedding

In this setup, you're paying your vendors directly while we work our magic behind the scenes.

The Guatemala Tax Situation (I Promise to Keep This Interesting!)

Here's where things get a bit complicated for Wedding Fund Management in Guatemala. Guatemala's tax system works differently than what you might be used to in the US or Canada.

When money for vendors flows through our company accounts, the Guatemalan tax authorities see it ALL as our income – even though most of it is just passing through to your vendors.

What does this mean? If we handle $50,000 in vendor payments for your wedding, we could be on the hook for about $10,000 in taxes on money that isn't even ours! That's because we'd have to pay:

• ISR (Income Tax): 7% on the total amount

• IVA (Value Added Tax): 12% as an LLC

  
  

What This Actually Looks Like (In Real Numbers)

Let's break it down: For every $100 that needs to reach a vendor:

• We need to collect $119.84 just to cover taxes ($100 × 1.07 × 1.12)

• $7 goes to income tax

• $12.84 goes to value-added tax

And that's just the beginning! This doesn't cover our costs for processing transactions, managing currency exchanges (hello, quetzales!), tracking payments, coordinating with vendors, or the extra accounting work. It also doesn't account for us taking on the liability for all those vendor contracts – when we send you one invoice, we're essentially vouching for every single vendor service.

When Having Us Handle Everything Still Makes Sense

Despite the extra cost, many couples find value in having us manage all the money stuff:

• You can make one payment instead of juggling multiple vendors

• No need to figure out currency conversions or international transfers

• You don't have to track who's paid and who isn't

• No language barrier issues when paying local vendors

• Your wedding planning feels more "all-inclusive"

Our Promise to You

If you'd like us to handle your vendor payments, we'll always be crystal clear about what you're paying for:

1. Our planning and coordination fee

2. The actual vendor costs

3. A handling fee that makes it possible for us to offer this service

What Are Your Options?

As you plan your Guatemalan wedding adventure, you can go one of two routes:

1. The Standard Approach: We coordinate everything, but you pay vendors directly (this is what most of our couples choose)

2. The White Globe-Service Option: We handle all payments with a transparent handling fee

Either way, we've got your back! We're here to create your perfect wedding day, whether you're handling the payments or we are.

Want to Chat About It?

If you're wondering which option is best for your situation, let's talk! We're all about finding the solution that gives you the most peace of mind while planning your destination wedding.