With so many amazing resorts to choose form, it gets overwhelming trying to figure out the best resort for your destination wedding! We tend to look at resort features, aesthetics, and pricing first and foremost, but there are a lot of other details that you should consider that could be destination wedding deal-breakers. Read on for some examples on what to look for as you compare resorts for your beach wedding. Wedding Package Options You should go over the resort wedding package options with a fine-toothed comb – preferably with your destination wedding travel specialist – and be sure to check the fine print. While some packages can look appealing at a glance, there are often red flags in the fine print – and some that you may not even find out about until you ask the specific questions related to it! Some things that you could run into include, but are not limited to:
Will You Be Rocking a Neon Wristband With Your Wedding Attire? You’ll likely want to find out if the resort that you’re considering requires hotel guests to wear wristbands – and what they look like. If wristbands are mandatory, you’ll want to find out what the resort policy is for wearing wristbands during the wedding. Many resorts don’t allow wristbands to be taken off at all, so your wedding pictures could end up showing brightly colored wristbands or you might need to pay extra for a photographer who can hide them or edit them out later. Additionally, some resorts might allow the couple or bridal party to take off wristbands for the ceremony and pictures, but may charge a fee for allowing this privilege. Glassware – and I don’t Mean Cinderella’s Glass Slippers Yet another aspect that many people don’t give a thought to during resort selection process, but end up being disappointed in upon arrival. If you’re dreaming of colorful cocktails in tall pretty glasses (perfect for those insta-worthy posts!) and then get handed a small, flimsy, plastic cup like you’re on Spring Break in college – you might end up unimpressed. Especially if you have waited awhile for your fancy tropical drink! Don’t Throw in the Towel! (no, really, that might be your only one...) Towels are another often overlooked and yet important detail. Some resorts cost cut by requiring guests to use a beach towel brought from their room or picked up upon arrival to the pool area in exchange for your “Pool Towel Card”. You are then required to use that same towel and return it before they close for the day to get your card back. If you end up losing that card or towel during your stay, you are on the hook for a hefty fine - all for a cheap towel you can’t even keep. Whereas other properties simply have unlimited towels available for use with no card to track. Foodies, Take Note: Most of us love the idea of the different variety and options of dining available at resorts, however, you’ll find that some have strict rules governing their restaurant use. Yep, you read that, rules for eating at all-inclusive resort restaurants! During your search for the perfect resort for your destination wedding, you’ll find some that don’t have all of the restaurants “included” in your stay, and some require reservations to be made in the early morning so you aren’t stuck at a buffet for dinner too (which usually means that someone has to head downstairs before breakfast to try to beat the line at the concierge desk). Mind you, all of that is STILL better than the resorts that hand you “tickets” for dining during your stay or limit you to only dining once at certain establishments – so too bad if you loovveed that ceviche at the gorgeous seafood restaurant overlooking the water – it won’t be an option a second time! Lastly, be wary of resorts that limit how many a’la carte restaurants you can enjoy based on your length of stay. Buffets are not the most gourmet of options, so if you get stuck with buffet food for 4 days out of your 7-night stay, morning, noon and night, you may get board or even worse, ready to head home for some decent food. These restrictions can be hard to find on the resort websites, so it’s important to deep dive for these things while you are doing your research. Differently Abled Accessibility and Entertainment Are you inviting anyone who has trouble with walking on uneven surfaces or long distances? In the same vein, you’ll need to consider if any guests require a walking frame or wheelchair. If this is the case, then you will need to pay close attention to what accessibility the hotel offers for differently abled guests. There isn’t much point choosing a resort for the amazing over-the-water sky terrace if Grandma Sally will have to watch the ceremony via Zoom at the bottom of the stairs after all. Please note: There are many quality resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean where you may run into this issue. They do not have the same ADA laws that we do in the United States and thus, are not required to include ramps, elevators or alternate entrances for guests. Likewise, if you have anyone attending with other special needs or major dietary concerns, you’ll need to take that into consideration as you select your resort – while a mega-resort could sound appealing due to the amount of different activities on offer, you don’t necessarily want any of your guests to be confined to their room because they are unable to walk the length of the hotel. (There are quality resorts that offer golf cart assistance around the property for this reason, but you’ll need to check for that amenity and be sure to inquire about the availability, wait time, etc!) Mind Your Business – Powder Room Practicalities! Whether we like to talk about it or not, the fact of the matter is, that everybody pees! Granted, when you sit down to excitedly plan your dream destination wedding day, toilets are probably not something that come to mind. I recommend paying close attention to the bedroom layouts, as the newest “open room concept” has been taken to an uncomfortable level at some resorts – so if you personally prefer privacy, you can bet many of your guests would also want that seclusion. Especially if you’ll have families with kids or friends sharing rooms together! It’s not a fun surprise when you arrive for your tropical vacation and realize you’re going to be real close and personal with your roommate (or new spouse!) You don't want to worry about how to awkwardly hide from each other for bathroom privacy. Special Services to Escalate your Event We see a lot of couples who would like to incorporate a special family tradition – or create a new one – on their big day and the last thing that you want is to select a resort, sign a contract for a group room block, and then get into the planning stages only to find out that your request can’t be accommodated or will cost a significant amount extra to implement. On that same note, if you have visions of a beachy welcome bonfire party with your guests, fireworks at your reception, or are envisioning a cocktail hour with strings of fairy lights reflecting off of the grains of sand while enjoying drinks by the firepit, you’ll need to find out in advance if any of that is even available before settling for that resort. There could be government laws on the public beaches that may not allow those type of options, or require a permit. Pretty as a Picture... Created in Photoshop Sad as it is, touching up photos for the internet isn’t just limited to magazines and Instagram. Resort brands have been doing this for a long time and it breaks my heart to see disappointed couples when they arrive on property and realize that they were sold an illusion. This is a bit of a minefield because even resorts from the same brand, may not be consistent from country to country, so this is where a travel advisor who specializes in destination weddings in your chosen location can really be worth their weight in gold. Even without an agent however, you can still try to do your due diligence by sourcing pictures from other travelers and really looking past the cocktails and pool to look for the details. Take note of the following areas within a resort:
I could keep going on and on – with having over a decade in the destination wedding industry and seeing, as well as, experiencing countless resorts first hand, it has opened my eyes to situations and questions I had never thought about before until I observed the major differences between properties. Nonetheless, I’ll just leave you with the above points to consider for now and will be here when you need any assistance! I hope you found some valuable insight on what to look for as you search to find the best resort for your beach wedding. 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 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!
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Pre-planning is crucial for any wedding, but even more so for a destination wedding for many reasons, but most importantly to give your guests as much time as possible to make their arrangements. Most guests will need to organize absences from work or school, sitters for pets or children, and of course, have enough time to save for the flights and hotel. With that in mind, one of the most common questions we are asked when planning a destination wedding with our clients, is regarding the save-the-date timeline – which is quite different than the checklist for a traditional local wedding. While figuring out the wording or if you want save-the-date magnets, cards, or boarding passes is fun, first and foremost you need to determine when you should send out the save the dates for your destination wedding. The simple answer? The best time to send your save-the-dates is as soon as you possibly can. Once you’ve selected your ideal wedding date, booked the location, and confirmed your room block (click the links for more info about those items!), you’ll want to get those save-the-dates out to your guest list, so they can start to consider their options! When booking an all-inclusive resort for your destination wedding, if you have a large group and hold a block of rooms in a group room block, most contracts will require payment in full around 60-70 days prior - so keep in mind that your guests will have 2 less months to save money to attend your wedding. This is another reason why it’s important for you to give them enough time beforehand to make arrangements. Additionally, remember that you will need a headcount to plan accordingly and to get an idea on how much your destination wedding will cost, as the price is based on the number of guests that you’ll have in attendance (many resort wedding packages will include up to 20 guests, but over that is a per head cost for the ceremony and reception). Therefore, the earlier you can get people to commit, the better for you as well to move forward with planning and budgeting for your destination wedding. With so many creative, fun, and unique options for save-the-dates are a big deal now as you and partner get to introduce your plans and wishes to your loved ones about your upcoming wedding! Yet another benefit of your decision to have a destination wedding however, is that you don't need to stress about the formality and traditional timeline that are expected when hosting a local wedding. Win! A resort destination wedding is usually more relaxed, so there are less “rules” to follow when it comes to your invitations. We suggest sending these out at least 9-12 months prior to your wedding day. The most important take-away is to provide your guests ample time to prepare and save, so giving them a heads up about the details is highly recommend and they will be grateful for the consideration. Plus, more advance notice can also equate to having more guests attend the wedding! Lastly, don't forget that during certain months and peak seasons, popular resorts can book up to a year or more in advance – not even factoring in the COVID-19 pandemic which forced so many couples to reschedule to 2021/2022 - so if you have a specific date and/or prefer an evening time for your ceremony or reception, it's always better to confirm at least a year in advance so you get the resort, date and time you truly want to ensure your destination wedding dreams become a reality. I hope you found some valuable insight to help you get started with planning your destination wedding. 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 that 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! While it’s becoming increasingly popular for couples to leave the phone calls, emails, and shopping around to professional wedding planners, occasionally the excitement of a hands-on approach or a strict budget can lead couples choosing to plan their destination wedding without the additional cost of a wedding planner. If you’re one of these gung-ho grooms or brides-to-be, you should understand the most efficient ways to get the best bang-for-your-buck from your resort wedding coordinator. Assuming that you've chosen to leave the travel portion of the wedding in the hands of a trusted travel advisor, he, she, or they, should put you in touch with the on-site wedding coordinator, overseeing introductions and ensuring that you feel comfortable and ready to plan your dream wedding directly with the coordinator. There can be a few hurdles when you are so many miles apart – particularly to those who are getting married in another country! Read on for my best tips and expectations to keep in mind when planning your wedding with a resort-provided wedding coordinator! - "Island Time" Still Exists When You're Not On the Island! -
Copy yourself on all correspondences and keep a digital folder with all communications just in case you need to refer back to anything at a later date. And yes, this includes text messaging or direct messages on social media, like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest! Take a screenshot of the discussion and forward that to yourself to reference later, so that everything is contained in one place.
Sending a paragraph with 15 questions run together makes it harder for the recipient to decipher your email and they could miss important information or questions. Keep in mind that destination wedding departments deal with hundreds of couples, as most reputable resort venues will realistically have at least one wedding per day (and often times 2-3 weddings per day during peak season), which means that they have limited time between meetings and facilitating events. If you want timely responses, make sure your query is easy to read and understand – otherwise, they may move on the next email that they can quickly respond to and wait until they have more time to comb through your content.
In day to day affairs however, “island time” still exists and it can be somewhat conflicting with what we expect, as our culture on the mainland tends to be more fast-paced with instant responses or gratification. The different culture plays a key part for many unhappy couples who feel as though they’re being ignored during wedding planning proceedings, however it is standard for resort wedding coordinators to take some time to reply to emails or return phone calls. If you have a matter that is time-sensitive it’s best to reach out sooner rather than later. Additionally, resort wedding coordinators are simultaneously working on hundreds of weddings every year, so those weddings within the coming weeks and months will take priority over weddings scheduled 9 months out. Therefore, response times will typically be 2-5 days depending on their current wedding schedule.* *Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus) worldwide, current response times from resort wedding coordinators may exceed the average 2-5 days. One of the big differences with planning a resort destination wedding, over a traditional local wedding, is the planning stages and when you start, as most components are priced based on the exact wedding guest headcount, which you won’t know until your guests secure their travel arrangements, and have paid in full certifying their intentions. Within 60-90 days prior to your wedding date, the resort coordinator will reach out to start the planning process. Depending on your resort, you may expect to receive a long list of questions they will need you to answer so they can understand your unique wedding vision. This process varies by resort brand, and your travel advisor should be able to confirm the expectations and stages based on your plans. These questionnaires provided can feel overwhelming at first, but I find it easier - for those resorts that may have an unorganized structure of questions - to transfer those questions or requested items into a Word type document. Arrange them in an order that works best for you and add a completed box next to each item to help keep you on track of what wedding questions still need to be answered. Using the same concept about having good email structure as mentioned above, answering the questions in CAPITALIZED LETTERS and in another color, is a great way, not only for the wedding coordinator to view effortlessly, but for you to stay organized and efficient about what you need to complete. I personally recommend completing the questionnaire with everything you WANT for your wedding to get started. Your answers won’t be set in stone, but will allow you to see what your dream wedding vision might cost as the wedding coordinator puts it all together. From there, after you see the price, you can work backwards if needed and alter the details to fit within your ideal wedding budget and determine what you can or can’t live without.
What most couples don’t realize is that resort wedding coordinators are onsite from morning until midnight most days facilitating weddings during the day/evenings, attending meetings, preforming site inspections with prospective couples and travel agents, in addition to their daily work load and answering emails. The overwhelming majority confirmed that most of the questions they receive have the answers readily available to the couple within the documents they were provided with upon inquiry, or after a wedding is booked. Yes, I’m referring to the 28 page attachments that are probably festering somewhere in your email right now, but if you heeded the very first point in this article, that info should now be filed away in a neat wedding planning email folder in your inbox. 😉 While searching through documents isn’t every couples idea of a good time, you’ll find that it’s often much quicker to get it out of the way yourself rather than stress out wondering why the wedding coordinator hasn’t gotten to your question yet. TIP: I recommend using a laptop/pc for this task – it’s easier to view small print on a larger screen AND you can utilize the handy little “find on this page” feature so that you can jump right to the section that you’re looking for without any squinting! The documents and FAQ’s that you’re provided with, have been compiled to create as smooth as possible experience for you, so if you haven’t gone through the information prior to sending an email with allll the questions – check it out! Your coordinator will be grateful, and it never hurts to earn relationship brownie points by being resourceful and respectful of their time! While the FAQs and documents can be quite extensive, the more couples who utilize them, the quicker the coordinator can get back to working on items and questions that are not everyday occurrences – which in turn, will ensure a quicker response time for those specific questions that do require a direct response!
With my pre-planning personality, organizing my wedding in Puerto Vallarta in my pre-travel agent days, started off a little stressful because I wanted everything outlined and finalized way in advance. As I continued through the process however, I quickly learned that my anxious and controlling nature needed to take a back seat to the laid-back structure of planning a beach wedding. Understanding the stages and expectations allowed me to relax and go with the flow. Just remember - resort weddings don’t require a ton of advance planning like traditional weddings where you need to lock in caterer, florists, cake designer, photographer, etc… over a year in advance. (Yet another perk of planning a destination wedding!) Your onsite wedding coordinator will provide you the guidance needed when the time is right. Understanding that and trusting in the process before confirming your destination wedding will assist in creating a stress-free planning experience. When my freshly manicured feet hit in the sand in Mexico and I finally met my wedding coordinator, I relaxed instantly seeing that she had everything covered and even knew my family’s names already! Since wedding planning was new to me, I instinctively wanted to know all the things right away and get it done, but after meeting in person, I realized that I was dealing with professionals who plan wedding events almost EVERY DAY, and know exactly what they’re doing. They have it down to a science, so my best advice is to trust in the process, order in some Thai, and toast with your favorite drink that someone else has it all under control! 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 the perfect resort for your destination wedding and 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! Let’s talk group room blocks! Ok, ok, I know it’s not as fun as choosing between a private island resort or one that has an over-the-water chapel, but it has to be done – so you might as well learn the nuts and bolts from a seasoned travel professional specialized in destination wedding group planning. (ahem, that would be me!) I cringe when I see bad advice in forums from couples that don’t truly understand the ins and outs of the resort wedding process (and why would they? It’s not their job and life’s work to know these things, after all). However, I’ve seen a lot of people who have unfortunately had poor experiences commenting to other couples that they “would never do that again” and offering unrealistic advice to others. This well-intentioned misguidance is usually related to one or more of the following:
- Let's Cut to the Chase. - Those of you who are positive that you will only travel with an intimate group of loved ones and won’t be booking anymore than 5 rooms – feel free to skim along if you want to continue, but you won’t need a room block contract, so don’t need to spend too much time analyzing the information below. The Breakdown: You should know exactly what a contracted room block is. For a traditional contracted room block, the happy couple will lock-in a block of rooms at discounted rates that their guests can then book into. You’re essentially reserving rooms ahead of time; curating your own little VIP hotel within the hotel. Resorts vary their definition on how many rooms you need to be considered “a group”, and this can range from just 6 paid rooms to 15 rooms. These contracts are a great way to guarantee rooms at the resort and the price, so your guests won’t have to worry about the resort selling out or fluctuation in pricing. Oh, and room blocks usually come with perks if you meet the requirements - and who doesn’tlove a good freebie, upgrade and/or a bit of VIP love?! Still Not Sure If You Want a Room Block? What a lot of avid travelers don’t realize, is that corporate groups and other weddings or group events can also be happening at the same time as your wedding, so available space can quickly change if another event locks in a group contract and reserves those rooms for their group. Sadly, once the inventory is gone, there is nothing that any travel advisor or supplier can do about it. Are You STILL Unsure About Room Blocks? One of the most important reasons to have secured group space is to protect you and your group fromunforeseen events that may affect your travel plans. Most recently, COVID-19 wreaked havoc on millions of travelers forcing wedding couples and their guests to reschedule. Most of the horror stories you probably heard were likely related to:
Room Blocks and Resort Closures Raise your hand if you’ve ever had to deal with a resort closing right before your 113 person wedding group was about to depart for the big event! Okay... now... multiple times?? Trust me, it’s not fun, but there are ways to mitigate the impact on you and your guests – and a good travel advisor knows how towork with you to achieve the best outcome in the worst circumstances. I’ve had to move wedding groups for resort closures due to:
As a specialist in group travel, when you have a contracted room block with a reputable supplier, it can be a seamless process to the couple and their guests, as we work behind the scenes to move the entire group and the money over to a new property. Booking direct on your own or through an online website, or worse yet, using an agent that does either of those things – means that each guest is responsible to handle those changes, and often times must pay for a whole new stay, then just wait for a refund to be processed for the original booking. To add frustration to the fire, if you’ve booked directly with the property and run into situations like this, you’ll probably have to navigate local currency exchanges, language barriers, overseas customer service departments (and wait times get really old, really fast), and/or the fact that the resort had to shut down and doesn’t have the staff to help. On top of all that – every one of your guests will have the SAME problem and no one to turn to for help – which means, they’ll probably turn to you. You’ll have a lot of other changes you’ll need to reorganize with re-planning an entire wedding, soeliminating the worry about your guests travel plans, money and anxiety, will be a weight lifted in a rather upsetting time. Let a professional take care of everything and handle the logistics to take some of that pressure away. Nope, I Still Don’t See the Need For a Room Block. Two things I’ve learned over the last 11 years, is that you don’t tempt fate and that famous last words are famous for a reason. But alright, you don’t want a room block, so let me at least give you a tip. One of the very first things you should do - really, when you are selecting your resort – is to find out as soon as possible, what your options are (if there are any) if the resort sells out before your guests reserve a room. Most all-inclusive resorts will offer a day/night pass, that you can purchase for guests staying at a different resort so that they can attend the wedding ceremony or reception – however day passesoften have significant restrictions, including but not limited to:
I Think I Promised You Some Fun Stuff... Now the boring logic talk is over… it’s all about PERKS!!!! The happy nearlyweds that decide to move forward with a group room block are in for a treat – or 10! Resorts love organized people, they love happy people, and they love when guests leave their resort and tell everyone what a great time they had – so to show their appreciation to you for choosing their property for your big day, bringing your loved ones along, and keeping things streamlined and simply by negotiating a group room block contract, they GIVE YOU STUFF! It’s a contract, so there are always terms and conditions, fine print, and jargon that will mean nothing to you, so if you choose to go it alone and not use a travel agent, read through your contract, over and over and ask as many questions as you need to, in order to thoroughly understand what it says. Having said that, provided you meet your minimum requirements and have elected to collaborate with aquality property to make your dream wedding vision come true, you can expect to enjoy some of the following benefits or perks:
*Perks vary by resort and meeting the minimum number of rooms required. Using a travel agent specialized in resort destination weddings, and by securing a room block for your guests, you can rest assured that you’ve negotiated a smoother and more stress-free experience for everyone involved. If you have questions or concerns, be sure to bring those up during your consultation with the travel agents you meet with before you get started.
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! If you’re reading this, then you’ve settled on your perfect destination - or at least narrowed it down to a few locations that are ideal for your destination wedding. One step down, but now it’s time to decide on where you and your guests should rest your heads after fun-filled days in paradise together! First things first, you need to figure out what type of accommodation is best for your dream wedding. You’ll likely run into the following options:
Before you can figure out what is right for you, think about your vision for the ceremony and reception. For example, If you’re planning an off-site wedding and reception, you may not need the on-site wedding coordinator and the packages offered at an all-inclusive resort. You should also consider the experience you want to have and the size of your group to determine if a house or villa rental would be something of interest. Keep in mind, you’ll also need to add the cost of transportation for all of your guests between the event locations and accommodation(s), wherever your guests will be staying. Etiquette dictates that when having an off-site wedding, the transportation for guests should be arranged by the couple. While a house rental can sound like an affordable and fun option to spend time together, the biggest complaint I often hear, is that the couple forgets that it’s also their special day, making it impossible to spend intimate time together before and after the wedding since everyone is sharing the same space. There are also extra expenses and decisions that you’ll need to orchestrate, such as food and drink, preparing meals, entertainment, transportation to explore off-site areas, and of course, hiring a wedding coordinator to arrange the details and set-up. Depending on the location that you’ve chosen, you may opt for a regular hotel (room-only) or an all-inclusive resort. All-inclusive resorts are limited to certain destinations, so that might not even be an option for you. Your next decision will be to decide what type of property you prefer. When selecting an all-inclusive resort, you will have the option to go small, mega or something in between. Properties also vary in experience and vibe, which can range from a spring break party feel to a tranquil relaxing ambience. The quality, inclusions, service level, comforts and benefits differ as well, so it’s important to understand what you are getting into before committing. Photos can help you narrow what you like, but the true assessment, that you will need to dig more in depth to find, is the experience you and your guests can expect. As you compare resorts, think about your own style. Do you like more modern chic décor, large resort feel, upscale luxury, eco-friendly features, or perhaps you want cultural elements that tie in the feel of the destination you’ve chosen. Once you know the type of property you are looking for, you can filter out options rather quickly. Keep in mind – as mentioned in my post regarding planning a destination wedding on your own – that reviews, opinions and suggestions are based on a person's own style, budget, experiences and expectations, so what was amazing to someone else, may be unacceptable to you. Another thing to consider as you narrow down accommodation options, is the wedding date you’re planning around. Check what’s going on locally. If it’s a national holiday or festival time in the country you’ve selected, you might want to avoid certain areas that will become more congested and crowded. Some businesses could also be closed, so you’ll want to ensure your local vendors or tour company you were planning to use will be available. Speaking of tour companies, do you have a certain activity or excursion you were planning to do with your group? If so, you might focus on hotels that are closer to that particular area to keep transfer costs down and utilize travel time efficiently. If you’re looking for multiple off-resort experiences to go shopping or party nightlife most evenings, you should focus on those properties that are closer to points of interest to you. Furthermore, if you have mermaid blood coursing through your veins, and want a property where you can spend more time playing in the ocean instead of just lounging around the resort pools, you’ll need to research the area very well. Some destinations have rough water or rip tides and warn you to not get in the water for your safety. Other areas have pockets along the coast line that are rockier, more prone to seaweed, have large or smaller beaches, clear or murky water, etc…, so knowing what experience you prefer will help you narrow the area you should focus on to find a resort. One tip I have in this regard – do not trust the resort pictures of the beach. Unfortunately, many properties have very skilled marketing firms, photographers, and photo-editing that know how to make a beach look like something that it isn’t. As you look at the resort options, don’t forget to know what the “Plan B” venue location is in case weather is an issue the day of the wedding. In addition, review the wedding packages and group amenities in careful detail. You may find that one property has much better perks or inclusions that can end up saving you money or provide a superior wedding affair. Lastly, if you are thinking about moving resorts after the wedding for your honeymoon, you might want to focus on accommodations that are closer to your next location to make it easier and more efficient with time and the cost to transfer over. 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!
Here comes the fun part – deciding which paradise location to say "I Do"!
There is a ton to consider when deciding where to have your destination wedding, but with a bit of knowledge and education, you can begin narrowing the options for your dream wedding quicker than you might think. To get you in the zone, I have something fun to start you off! I created the quiz below to help couples begin the process of planning and envisioning their dream wedding location. These questions will get you started on the right track about some things you'll want to keep in mind as you start location shopping!
After daydreaming and having some fun taking the quiz, we still need to talk about specifics.
The first thing that you should decide is not actually that exciting, but something to get out of the way so you can move forward with your planning - legal verses symbolic ceremony. Each country has their own requirements in order for a legal ceremony to be performed, and many can be quite tedious. There may be a mandatory "residency period" which can range from 24 hours to 4 days. Some countries require blood tests, immunization certificates or doctor certificates. For instance, one island requires the official ceremony be held at their civil townhouse before you can have your "blessing ceremony" at the resort or beach location of your choice. Another country requires you to arrive 3 months prior to complete the paperwork in person before returning for your ceremony later. I'm going to be completely forthright here - nearly every single destination wedding couple that I have worked with (including myself), has chosen to do the legal paperwork back home prior to the international ceremony to keep it simple and have more time in destination with family and friends. However, this is an intimate decision that each couple must make together and there is no wrong way to do this. Just make sure to research the requirements of the destination(s) you have in mind to determine how you want to proceed. If having a legal ceremony is important, you might select a destination that's easier and doesn't have a lot of requirements. If you have chosen to work with a travel advisor, they should be able to go over all of this in great detail with you – it's their job! While the above is paramount to your narrowing down your location choices, there is so much more to consider before you start coming up with Aruba or Curacao wedding hashtags, so keep reading on! Additional Considerations to Determine Your Ideal Destination Wedding Location:
I hope you found some valuable insight to help you get started with finding your ideal destination wedding location. 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! |