#1. You can plan your destination wedding yourself but why would you want to? On one of the most important days of your life why would you not choose to use the services of an experienced destination wedding planner who plans destination weddings every day? Planning a wedding in a different country is exciting and confusing at the same time. Many brides who have planned their own wedding often refer to it as being a second job as a result of the many hours they have had to put in to the planning. A wedding planner can make recommendations which will make your day go smoother. You might think, there is a wedding consultant at the resort you are getting married at. So why would you need a wedding planner? Remember the wedding consultant is hired by the resort and he or she has the resort’s best interests at stake, not yours.
#2. Plan to get a group rate for your guests. Sure, for one or two people you can get an insanely low rate on the internet but for a group it is not going to happen. The major benefits of booking a group rate is that everyone will have a room at the same rate. Remember, that as the hotel’s rooms get booked, the rates go up. Once the hotel sells out, your guests who waited to book at the last minute are out of luck. The same can happen for flights. We had to change the date of one of our wedding to Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic due to the bride’s hesitation, as we were not able to get enough seats on the planes of our Canadian suppliers who flew only once a week during non-peak season.
#3. Even if you are going to an All Inclusive resort which offers a free wedding, your wedding is still going to cost you some money. Sure you will probably not have as many guests as you would if you were getting married back home, but there are still numerous costs involved. Often the free weddings are designed for the wedding couple and two witnesses with a reception of cake and champagne. If you plan to have extra guests, there is usually an extra charge person especially if you are having a sit down dinner. Remember that you are paying extra costs such as set up for your guests, a reception location for your guests, often a nicer dinner than is served normally at the restaurants, and the little extra touches that will make your wedding special. We had one bride who wanted to save money at her destination wedding who asked if we could charge each of her guests $75.00 extra to cover her costs! This is an absolute no-no! Would you invite your friends to your house for dinner and once they got there ask them to pay money for the food and drink you served them? Definitely not!
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| Photo courtesy of Fairmont Kea Lani |
#5. Your destination wedding at an All Inclusive Resort is not going to be private. There are going to be other people around, many of them watching your ceremony and/or reception activities. If you want the privacy, think about getting away from the cookie-cutter wedding and plan you own one-of-a-kind wedding with the help of your wedding planner.
#6. This advice is mainly for the brides. When planning your wedding and on your wedding day, relax, enjoy yourself and laugh. Things may not go exactly as you planned or the unexpected may happen but take a deep breath, be flexible, and remember these are usually things which you have no control over. Remember the reason why you are getting married in the first place. Usually it is because of your love for each other. Make your wedding a truly memorable experience for everyone and one you will cherish for your lifetime.
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Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at muriel@delsoldestinationweddings.com or phone 403-477-0643.