Wedding Packages and How They are Structured:
  
1.  Complimentary Package – Ceremony Only  
Most resort offer a complimentary no-frills wedding package that you can take advantage of. These free wedding packages are quite limited, but couples who are having a very small destination wedding may find that they can make this work.  

Complimentary Wedding Packages usually includes:  

• Wedding Coordinator  
• Symbolic Ceremony  
• Simple decor set-up, typically white folding chairs, white fabric for alter, and maybe a runner.
• One or Two-tier Wedding Cake (for the couple only OR up to 10 guests)  

• Sparkling Wine Toast after ceremony (for couple only OR up to 10 guests)  
• Simple bridal bouquet and Boutonniere  
• Late Check-out based on availability (upon request)  
  
  

While that sounds reasonable, it’s important to note all of the elements that are not included, and to understand that complimentary packages do not usually include more than 10 guests. If you take this option, keep in mind that music, signing table, décor, flowers, colored fabrics for chair or alter, chair sashes, and so on, will be “additional add-ons” paid for a la carte – and if you plan on upgrading a lot, those a la carte costs can add up quickly!  

For these reasons, the most affordable destination wedding packages that couples select are usually a mid-range to luxury package that includes a few more people and a wedding reception.  ​

2. Mid-Range Packages 
These tend to range from $3000-$4000 and are usually the best bang for your buck when it comes to intimate destination weddings where couples expect to entertain 20-30 guests.  

Mid-Range Wedding Packages Usually Include:  
(in addition to the services provided in the comp package)  

• Sound-system for ceremony  
• Hairstyling and makeup for one  
• Cocktail hour with appetizers after ceremony (15-25 guests)  

• Cake and Sparkling Wine Toast for included guests  
• Romantic Turn-down service day of wedding  
• Plain seating for ceremony  
• Signing table  
• Reception Dinner (private or semi-private depending on resort) 
  
  

As you can see, the mid-range packages provide enough for a basic wedding for family and a few close friends – there will often be a little more cost once you add some detail to personalize your big day and bring your vision to life, but that is up to the couple to manage based on their budget and desires. ​

3. Top-tier Packages
The next, and honestly, my personal favorite, are the most inclusive packages that can be the best value if you don’t want to indulge with additional add-ons on the other packages, which can end up costing about the same or more later.

These packages tend to start around $4000 - $8000, and traditionally include 20-30 guests. It is relevant to also mention that there are a couple resort brands where you can earn many of these wedding components for free (not including décor items), based on how many rooms you book under your group room block. This is not standard at most resort brands, so won't go into detail, but worth notating to discuss with your travel advisor for more details.
 
Top-tier Inclusive Wedding Packages Usually Include:  
(in addition to the services provided in the above packages) 

• Rehearsal Dinner for wedding party (max # guests included vary by resort)
• Basic ceremony décor; chairs with covers, table, aisle runner  

• Minister for ceremony 
• Choice of live music for ceremony (such as guitarist or saxophonist)
• Edited video of ceremony  
• Photo package; limited amount of ceremony photos and wedding album  
• Private dinner reception (or semi-private depending on resort)

• Floral centerpiece for reception table  
• Romantic private dinner on beach for couple during stay  
• Perks for couple such as: breakfast in bed with mimosas, couples massage, discount on spa treatments, free anniversary nights for return visit, etc..  
  ​

While this is just a general overview, inclusions and prices vary from resort to resort. The above are essentially what you’re going to find as you begin looking at the different options available.

Vacation Package Not Included
Lastly, don’t forget that you will still need to pay for your own air, accommodation and transportation, as well as, trip insurance. The travel cost is going to be determined by country, resort, time of travel, season, trip length, room category selected and so on. Many couples tend to spend an additional $4000-$6000 for a week stay in an Ocean Front room category just to give you a general idea.  However, most group room blocks allow you to earn complimentary nights you can apply toward your room cost. 

I hope you found some valuable insight to help you understand how much a destination wedding costs. If you feel overwhelmed or would like assistance to narrow down the perfect destination or resort, we are here for you!  
​ 
We spend most of our vacation time touring resorts, meeting with the wedding coordinators and training for destination weddings, so we can make it very simple for you. We save you time by filtering out all the bad advice and countless options for you. Let us take the guesswork out and match-make you to the destination and resorts that fit your style, vision and budget the best. 
 
​Together we will find your most perfect wedding resort and we take care of the logistics after that. All you have to do is the fun wedding planning and creating an unforgettable event your friend and family will remember for a lifetime!  Schedule your free consultation to see how we can assist and learn more about our services!

Experiences Await...
#experiencesawait #destinationshd

​Unless you’re planning on eloping, one of the key points to think about when considering if a destination wedding is right for you, is of course, budget. Before you can start day-dreaming about if you want to get married on the beach or on a sky terrace, you’ll need to have some kind of understanding of the cost that will be involved for the people that you absolutely cannot get married without (excluding your one true love obviously!).

While the cost of having a destination wedding may end up being cheaper for you to host rather than a traditional “at-home” wedding, the cost to attend your wedding is usually more for your guests – particularly if many of them live in the same location that you would have held a “traditional” wedding.

I want to go over a few of the ins and outs of who pays for what when you choose a destination wedding so that you’re prepared and comfortable to start planning your perfect big day! 

The Wedding Itself
It’s more and more common for the wedding couple to pay for their own wedding, however this is personal to each couple and their family, but one wedding tradition holds true – typically the wedding couple and/or their parents pay for the wedding events, welcome dinner or cocktail party, ceremony and reception (more on why reception/dinners aren’t always included for weddings at an all-inclusive resort in a future article – stay tuned!).

Travel, Transportation & Accommodation (you know... Plane, Shuttle & Hotel)

• Resort Stay:
  ​Guests and the wedding party normally pay for their own travel and accommodations. Occasionally, the couple might pick up the tab for certain family members’ or friends, and some might go as far as paying the cost of the rooms for the wedding party, but just know that is NOT typical or expected. Some resorts offer perks like a free room nights based on the number of rooms booked under your group room block which you can use to “gift” a guest if you choose to. However, just keep in mind that those free nights aren’t guaranteed until prior to travel – as any changes to rooms booked or cancellations can affect this, so there are terms to consider within your room contract.
  
  
• Airport Transportation:
  If you’re not using a destination wedding travel agent to plan your wedding, you will need to decide if you’re going to research and provide the transportation options for your guests to get to and from the resort, or if you want to leave the guests to fend for themselves on that front. Either way however, it is normal that guests will pay for their own transportation.
  
  
• Airfare:
  Again, guests tend to pay for their own airfare unless couples are feeling generous and kind enough to pay. Try to manage your guests’ expectations of what to expect when discussing airfare or fielding travel questions. If you provide an example of how much air “typically” costs, always stray on the higher end – this way they won’t be shocked or stressed about any possible increase in costs for travel. They will have a good idea on what to expect before signing up, and if it’s cheaper – then that’s just the cherry on top!

(Please note: if you are not using a destination wedding travel agent, you will need to track guests air and transportation to provide the resort in advance so they can prepare for the guests’ arrival. If you arrange transfers for your group too, they will also need those flight details for pick-ups.)
 
Tours or Excursions Off-Resort
This is where you will find some difference of opinions relating to off-site tours or excursions. You may opt to arrange a group adventure, and you can go either way and not feel bad about who pays here. In my experience, it’s about an even divide of couples that may pay for a group tour.

There are ways around the budget should you feel like you need to do something. You can pay for a portion of the cost for all guests that want to join – that way it’s not as expensive for you or the guests. Another alternative, instead of paying for the entire group of all your guests, you can do a special excursion just for your wedding party and/or parents as a thank-you in which you can take care of their cost. Additionally, you can still do the entire group but maybe only pay for your wedding party or special guests.

If you don’t want to leave anyone out, there is nothing improper to leave it up to the guest to join. Throw out a tour you plan to do and invite everyone to join you if they wish with no obligation should they not want to pay for the extra experience. You will want to plan this one a little earlier so you can get a headcount of who wants to join you – then coordinate with the tour company to ensure you all can book together or possibility offer group discount based on headcount. I suggest organizing this way, because if you let everyone book into your tour on their own, there is a risk that the tour time you booked may no longer be available if it sells out or has an occupancy limit you may not have been aware of. These group events are best to arrange at the same time to ensure everyone will be together. 

A simple rule of thumb to remember when trying to determine who should pay for what when it comes to your destination wedding is the following: If it’s wedding related, you should cover the cost, and if it’s travel related, it’s the guests’ responsibility.
​
​I hope you found some valuable insight to get you started. If you feel overwhelmed or would like assistance to narrow down the perfect destination or resort, we are here for you! This is what we do every day!

We spend most of our vacation time touring resorts, meeting with the wedding coordinators and training for destination weddings, so we can make it very simple for you. We save you time by filtering out all the bad advice and countless options for you. Let us take the guesswork out and match-make you to the destination and resorts that fit your style, vision and budget the best.

​Together we will find your most perfect wedding resort and we take care of the logistics after that. All you have to do is the fun wedding planning and creating an unforgettable event your friend and family will remember for a lifetime! Schedule your free consultation to see how we can assist and learn more about our services!

At some stage during your destination wedding planning process, you’re likely to be exposed to the idea that some of your guests might want to stay in a different hotel than where you are hosting the other guests and your dream wedding. Closely tied to this, are going to be guests who question why they should book through your destination wedding website or destination wedding travel agent if they find a cheaper travel deal somewhere else.  

This article is going to help you understand how to navigate those questions and give you insider knowledge about the disadvantages that could give you extra unwanted headaches if your guests decide to go rogue!
 
While your guests are free to do what works best for themselves and their families, there are factors that should be considered when advising your guests and answering questions about attending your destination wedding...

​Most often, destination wedding guests will stay on-site for a few days so that they can take part in all of the wedding activities and the big day itself. Some may decide to either stay a few more days or head to a different nearby hotel to have their own mini vacation, so this works out perfectly for everyone! Woot, who doesn’t love perfect outcomes and easy guests?!
 
All-inclusive resorts don’t operate the same as traditional local hotels, so if you have guests who want to stay at a different resort the entire time, you (and they) need to understand that they will NOT be allowed to attend your wedding without buying a wedding day pass* to get on to the property – and passes range from $70-150 per person with strict limitations about how long they can stay on-site, as the resorts have restricted hours for when off-site guests can arrive and must depart the premises on the wedding day ONLY. 
 
*Important note to consider is that day passes are NOT guaranteed. Due to safety and fire codes, if the resort is at capacity, they will not be allowed to provide day passes to anyone, regardless of how much someone is willing to pay or if they are supposed to be a part of your wedding.
 
You will also have to break the news that they won’t be able to hang out with you at your resort any other days, besides the wedding day with that pass. Therefore, you would have to make off-site arrangements to spend time with them – which is going to mean outlaying more money for transport to meet somewhere, and having to pay out of pocket for whatever it is that you go do. Additionally, you’ll have to leave the rest of your guests enjoying the property that you oh-so-carefully selected for your dream destination wedding, just so you can catch up with those who chose to stay elsewhere. It’s not ideal.
 
Furthermore, the best destination wedding resorts have a limit on the number of guests that can stay off-site and still attend the wedding. The policies found within the fine print of your wedding package contract will state that you have to have a certain percentage of your guests staying on the property in order to qualify for your wedding package.
 
For your own sanity and to ensure your guests can definitely celebrate with you - it's highly recommended to have everyone stay on property for at least 3-4 nights, which is the usual minimum stay for group room blocks. This way, they can enjoy time with you and attend all the events before they switch hotels to stay elsewhere on their own, or depart after your wedding with the memories and fun that you all created together!

If your guests shop around for the best deals on resort vacations, there is a good chance that a few of them will come across a cheap travel deal. There is always something out there that may pop up or a new limited promotion through a certain date – it is inevitable in this digital world. However, it is highly unlikely that the deal that one guest found, will be available for all, so often times your group room rates will be the best deal, not to mention the amenities you can earn on top of that.
 
Online sites tend to offer a few rooms at a cheap promotional rate and then raise the rates once those are sold OR it could be the last of their contracted inventory they are dumping at a cheap rate to ensure it’s off their books. There is also a concern that it might be a “too good to be true” travel deal. The flight might have a 16-hour layover or arrive the next day, which can be an easy detail to miss when booking on your own.
 
The cheaper resort rate could also be due to room inventory being sold are the rooms above the kitchen, parking lots, or nightclubs. Cheap vacation booking sites often contract the most undesirable room locations in order to be able to offer these so-called deals. You may also find that the fine print states that your guest has an additional fee upon arrival, and most importantly, are subject to being moved to another resort if they overbook. Last but not least, those deals are nearly always non-refundable and must be paid in full at time of booking.

Many learned the hard way from the recent pandemic that monies paid to a third-party travel website aren’t the concern of the hotel or airline being booked, so those suppliers can’t assist you and redirect you to the company you purchased from. Unfortunately, you are left to fight with the online travel site directly – so if they shut their doors and walk away, like many travelers sadly endured as some operators closed soon after travel became restricted. A company’s finances and sustainability are the last thing someone thinks about before booking a trip, but will now need to start considering for future travel planning.  

Keep in mind, you will also need to personally track each guest who books outside your room block, and ensure they provide you with their travel details, so that you can pass along the information to your wedding coordinator for headcount and room location.
 
You will also need to make sure that your guests on their own, have transportation arranged too - as they won't be included with the others under your group room block. They will be on their own should any issues arise and will not be included to receive any of the travel instructions, advice, event info etc.. that your destination wedding travel advisor may pass along to those who are booked under your group.  
 
If for some reason there is a significant difference in price that continues, let your travel advisor know ASAP! They can go back to renegotiate pricing as there may have been a change to the resort or restructuring that occurred after your contracted rates were supplied. It shouldn't be an issue to get those changed for everyone already booked and for the other rooms holding in your block. 

Don’t forget you will also most likely earn additional amenities such as free nights, room upgrades and/or wedding benefits based on the number of rooms booked under your group block. Any reservations booked outside the group will not be included in the count to earn those extras, so it could be important to direct your guests to book through your room block.

Urging your guests to trust you, the process, and your travel advisor is the best way to ensure that everything goes according to plan with minimal opportunity for problems before your wedding, so that you can then get on with the entire point – marrying your best friend in a paradise and having fun! You will give your guests and yourself peace-of-mind knowing someone will be on your side until returning home.

I hope you found some valuable insight to help you confidently answer your guests questions! If you feel overwhelmed or would like assistance to field guest questions, narrow down the perfect destination or resort, we are here for you! This is what we do every day!

We spend most of our vacation time touring resorts, meeting with the wedding coordinators and training for destination weddings, so we can make it very simple for you. We save you time by filtering out all the bad advice and countless options for you. Let us take the guesswork out and match-make you to the destination and resorts that fit your style, vision and budget the best.

​Together we will find your most perfect wedding resort and we take care of the logistics after that. All you have to do is the fun wedding planning and creating an unforgettable event your friend and family will remember for a lifetime! Schedule your free consultation to see how we can assist and learn more about our services!