To Do or Not to Do – a Destination Wedding?

With the so many couples planning destination weddings today, you might wonder if this is the right thing for your upcoming wedding. I had a conversation with a prospective bride the other day who wants to plan a wedding in Puerto Vallarta. However, she had a lot of concerns and many of them very legitimate ones. She had heard that the photographer might be terrible, and if your ordered items like flowers, you might pay for the flowers and never get the ones you ordered. She wanted to know how you can avoid having everyone else at the resort watching your wedding and she didn’t want any speedo bathing suites in her wedding pictures!
 

Azul Sensetori, Mexico
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

She had heard all of the horror stories and really wanted a destination wedding but was terrified that everything might go wrong. The poor girl (and her mother) had stayed awake for nights worrying about all of these things. One of the things that I reminded her was that in hiring a destination wedding planner such as myself, it is my job to ensure that her wedding goes well and that I would only work with resorts I have visited which are reputable and provide the best of service.

Wedding in Hawaii

Below are some things to consider when planning a destination wedding:

What is your Style as a Couple: If you are the types of couple who have a laid back style and do not want a fussy traditional wedding, then a destination wedding is your answer. In addition, if you have family and friends, coming from all over the country, they will have to spend money for travel regardless of where the wedding is held. Many couples who are thinking of eloping or having a second marriage, opt for a destination wedding.

Jo-Ann & Harry at their destination wedding in Cancun

One thing to think about is that a destination wedding can be cheaper but depending on the number of guests invited and what you want at your wedding, it still can be costly. Yes, it does cost extra per person for your guests to attend the reception at an all-inclusive resort! The resort charges for the extra staff, the setup, the nicer meal, the location, etc. for your destination wedding.

Wedding ceremony at Hilton Waikiloa Village Resort
Photo courtesy of Hilton Waikiloa Village Resort

Special week with family and friends: A destination wedding can provide a wonderful week of spending special time with family and friends in a delightful, relaxing setting. I always think it is so nice to be able to enjoy quality time with the people you love the most in such a happy setting as a wedding. This is a one of the most important times in your life and the memories you create this week will be remembered for years to come! Many couple want their wedding to last longer than just a few hours and the celebration can go beyond one day. One thing to remember is that many of the people who you want to come may not be able to make it.

Family at Diego and Johsuinna’s wedding in Costa Rica
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Getting a Reply From the Resort:  One of the big challenges of a destination wedding is to hear back from the event coordinator after the resort has received you deposit. Many of them are so busy dealing with upcoming weddings and daily inquiries that you can wait for two weeks or more to get an email or phone call back from them regarding your questions. One thing to really consider when choosing a venue is to find out how many weddings  the resort holds a day. If they are hold five or six weddings a day, chances are that they will not have a lot of time to provide you with special one-on-one attention. If you want a customized wedding with a lot of changes to the packages provided, you will find it more difficult at these resorts to arrange for the customization that you would like. I would definitely recommend if you are looking at a resort which has many wedding per day that you stick with a very basic wedding package and do not expect to make a lot of changes to it. Also you need to be the type of bride you can let go and let someone else do your planning for you.

Use a great resort like JW Marriott Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Where to Go:  Many people decide to go to Mexico for their destination wedding because it tends to be more economical (and the booze is nonstop!) However, think carefully what you want for your wedding! Having just got back from visiting many of the Hawaiian resort, we found that there are a lot of pluses for a Hawaiian wedding. First of all, the temperature does not usually go above the high 80s and the breeze is cooling which makes an outdoor wedding more comfortable for the wedding party and the guests. The resorts usually do one wedding, sometimes two per day, so you are going to receive much more attention when planning your wedding.

Wedding reception at Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Big Island,
Hawaii
Photo coutesy of Waikoloa Beach Marriott

In most cases, you do not have to pay for guests who stay at another location to come to your wedding, or for outside vendors such as photographers, etc., to come on site to work at your wedding. Also, the wedding ceremony is in English so that you do not have to pay to have all of the documents translated into Spanish. One more thing to think about is that a lot of venues in Hawaii will partition off the area where you are getting married so you have some privacy. As for the free booze, do you want all of your guest drunk for the week? Need I say more!

Church at Sheraton Keauhou Resort on the Big Island, Hawaii
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

On a Strict Budget: After travelling back from a wedding in the Rocky Mountains yesterday, I couldn’t help but think that those couples looking for a special location that is truly spectacular should consider Banff, Lake Louise or Canmore in Alberta. Even in the winter, the mountains are lovely. If you are looking to cut costs but still want a lovely wedding full of weeklong activities, this is a great alternative. If you live near the mountains, this is one way to have a lovely destination wedding where you do not have to pay for expensive flights to get to the location. If you have guests who cannot stay the week, it would allow them to attend the wedding for just a few days or even the weekend. It also allows you to see the venue before your wedding, meet the event coordinator, and to be able to have more control in the planning and organizing of the event. In addition, there is close proximity to be able to choose from a wide variety of décor items such as linens and chair covers, lighting, and flowers that you would not have in a third world location such as Mexico or one of the Caribbean countries.

Silvertip Resort, Canmore, AB
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

My number one priority will not be to get you the cheapest destination wedding deal out there. My number one priority will be to ensure you are getting a destination wedding that meets your dreams and to make sure you are spending your travel dollars as wisely as possible and making them go further. Call 1-866-653-4055 or email travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca for a complementary consult whether it be in person or by phone.

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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations for discerning travellers, honeymooners and families. As the owner of Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643.