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.

Advice and Etiquette Tips for Destination Weddings

With the way that society is constantly changing and weddings becoming more original, it is difficult to know what is considered proper etiquette today. To help, we have taken a number of the latest questions from some of our brides and shared our tips and advice.

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Maui

With so many beautiful places to choose from, how do we decide on the best place to have our wedding?

First of all, find a place that has meaning for the two of you. If you are planning a wedding in a tropical location, make sure that it is easy for your guest to get to, and in a location where your guests are going to enjoy themselves. You might love the latest rustic Eco lodge with no electricity but your guests may not share the same feelings.

What should the couple pay for?

Generally the guests are responsible for their own airfare and lodging. In some cases the couple would cover the expense of housing their attendants. However, many couples cannot afford to pay for multiple nights’ accommodations, and ask their attendants to cover all of their costs. Typically, the groom’s family, or the couple pays for the rehearsal dinner, and the reception is covered by the bride’s family or the couple.

Should  the bride and groom send out destination-wedding invites?

I fully recommend that you send out save-the-date notices at least eight months in advance or early enough so your guests can begin making plans, ask for time off work, and start saving their money. Be sure to include information about hotel options, group rates and so on. Send out the formal invitations approximately two months ahead of time. 

Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Is it wrong to e-mail save the dates?

If everyone on your guest list had e-mail and checks it regularly, then it is fine to e-mail your save the dates. Otherwise, you should send a tangible one in the mail. 

What time of day do most destination wedding occur? Why?

Most couples get married around 4pm when the temperature is not as hot and there is still time for photos before the sun sets.

How can the couple indicate that their event is adult-only?

Some couples choose an adult-only resort as one way to solve the problem. If children's names are not on the invitation, it means that they are not invited to the ceremony. However, you cannot prevent parents from bringing their children to a family resort. You might want to talk to them ahead of time to discuss ways you can help with child care whether it is helping to find a baby sitter or arrange an activity to keep the children busy during the wedding.

Is it okay for the couple to share a hotel room before the ceremony?

Many couples share a room the night before the ceremony unless their religious or cultural traditions forbid it. If you want to have separate rooms for fun, tradition or superstition, you might want to bunk with a family member or a single member of the wedding party.

What gift should the wedding couple give their guests?

If the couple can pay for a group activity, or welcome dinner, that is a huge gift in itself. Favours are not a necessity at the wedding, but guests really appreciate a welcome basket which can be put together without spending a lot of money. 

Photo courtesy of Kate Aspen Shops

Is it all right to ask your destination wedding guests not to buy you a wedding gift, but to give you money instead?

No! No! No! It is never proper etiquette at any time to ask your guests to give you money. Many couples feel that their guests are paying enough to travel to their wedding and encourage them to forgo the gift.

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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.

Selling Wedding Travel Through Facebook and Blogs

[Editor's note: Just recently got quoted by Hotelmarketing.com (Online Travel, Hospitality Industry and Internet Marketing News) with 35,000 subscribers worldwide. See the article below.]

More and more brides are using Twitter and Facebook to gain tips on planning their weddings and honeymoons. And both sites also provide a common platform and open marketplace for discussion between agents and peers in the industry.

With everyone as well as their mothers being on Facebook and Twitter, it is easy for travel agents to get lost in the shuffle. When using these sites to promote business, it is important to establish a recognizable identity and stand out from the rest. Fortunately, Facebook and Twitter make it easy to brand yourself and get noticed.

“People need to get to know and trust you before they feel comfortable doing business with you,” says Muriel MacRae of Del Sol Travel. “Marketing on Facebook and Twitter can help you increase your brand recognition, generate sales and increase interest in your company or products.”

But the sites allow you to do more than just that. Sure, you can advertise who you are and what you do. But what makes you the go-to person for destination weddings and honeymoons? Why are you the agent to be trusted?

Get the full story at Travel Agent Central
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Muriel MacRae, is the owner of Del Sol Travel and has formed a new company called Del Sol Destination Weddings with Cathy MacRae. She has been helping couples plan and organize their dreams weddings throughout the world in exotic locations, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. An expert in terms of dealing with some of the challenges of group travel, she is well versed in finding resorts that perfectly match the needs and wants of her clients. Furthermore, her expertise in wedding planning makes her more than just your regular travel agent.

Ten Tips To Ensure That Your Guests Have a Blast at Your Destination Wedding

Photo Credits: Muriel MacRae

Every couple who is planning a destination wedding worries about getting their guests to attend their destination wedding. Will they like the location? Does it cost too much? Am I imposing on them to expect them to travel so far? Will they have a good time?

Here are ten ways to get you guests to not only attend your destination wedding but to

have a fantastic time while they

are there :

1. Once you have decided on the location and the date of the wedding, send out a “Save the Date” e-mail or card. For best results, try and do this a minimum of 12 months prior to your wedding so guests can prepare and plan accordingly to attend. The more time your guests have to plan ahead and save, the more likely they are to be able to join you for the celebration.

2. In choosing a location, make sure that it is one that your guests will enjoy. Consider the cost, the travel time to get there, and the activities available for the guest once they do get there. You may enjoy the rustic Eco Lodge in the middle of nowhere but your guests might not. Try to plan a location where the travelling time is within three to eight hours and with a limited number of flight connections whenever possible. Many of your friends and family will not want to spend two out of seven days sitting on a plane or in airports waiting for flights. You might have always dreamed of staying at a certain five-star luxurious resort, but if the price is astronomical, a lot of your guests will not be pleased. Be sure to also check that a variety of activities will be offered at the resort or can at least be found in the nearby area. For example, if most of your female friends love shopping, and the closest shopping area is 75 miles away, some girls could go into withdrawal. Your golfing friends won't be happy either, if they have to go without a game for seven days.

3. Work with a travel agent who is familiar with destination weddings and planning travel associated with destination weddings. Such a person can arrange group rates for your entire party as well as give you valuable advice in making your special day fantastic. You may think that the resort you saw on the internet is a real find, only to find out when you get there that the service is terrible or the food is really bad! You can do it all yourself, but is it worth it? You have heard the horror stories where reservations were dropped by the hotel or passengers have missed flights because there wasn't enough time left for proper connections. You don’t want that to happen to you or any of your family members, especially at your destination wedding! Make sure there is someone who will be looking after you and each of your guests in case something goes wrong.

4. Think about saving money for your guests by choosing an All-Inclusive package which includes airfare and hotel accommodation as well as food and drinks. It is usually way cheaper than purchasing these items separately.

5. Try to choose a resort in the area that is more economical as some of your guests will not have the resources to stay at the pricey resort you have chosen for your wedding. They will appreciate the fact that you have given them an option. Although many of you want to keep costs down for your guests, you do have to remember that there is often a huge difference in resort ratings between here and in the Caribbean and Mexico. While a three-star resort in the United States or Canada might work perfectly well for that budget-conscious couple, few people would be satisfied with less than 4.5 stars in the Caribbean or Mexico.

6. Keep your guests updated about your wedding. Send out frequent updates. You may even want to create a free wedding website complete with wedding details, personal stories, registry information, and a photo gallery. Use a free site such as the link for Honeymoon Wishes on either Del Sol Destination Weddings or Creative Weddings and Occasions websites, http://www.ewedding.com/, or The Knot Wedding website at http:/www.theknot.com. As well, a lot of couples are using a Facebook Fan Page and finding that also works well.

7. Arrange to have the resort hand out an itinerary to your guests at check-in time or be hand delivered to each room by a member of your wedding party. It is also recommended that you hand out a special welcome bag as a special "thank you for coming” which can include such items as flip-flops, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent, bottles of water, candy, small mementos, fun items, or a local craft.

8. Plan activities which your guests will enjoy. You are asking your friends and family to spend a fair amount of money as well as giving up their vacation time to be with you so you want them to enjoy themselves. Create an itinerary that is suitable for all age groups. Plan some fun activities and add a surprise or two during the week. Make sure that the events you plan do not always start early in the morning as many of your “night hawk” friends will wants to catch some extra shut eye. Also make sure to give everyone some free time so they can do some things on their own.

9. Plan a welcome party with local food and music as a great way to get everybody to meet each other and begin the week in a fun-filled way.

10. Be a gracious and thoughtful host. Remember that the people you have invited to your wedding are your guests and it is your job to ensure that they enjoy themselves and have a good time. They have given of their vacation time and resources to be with you on your wedding day, and you want to make sure that they know how much you appreciate them for being there. Thank them for coming and tell them how much it means to you both. Don’t be resentful that you do not have of lot of private time as a couple. You have the rest of your life to spend together. Include a surprise during the week to add to the excitement.

Enjoy this special time in paradise sharing your vacation with your best friends and family. Remember to thank people for all of the things they have done for you. Make this event memorable and one that will be talked about for years when your guest tell others what a “blast” they had at your destination wedding.

If you want your guests to have a great time at your destination wedding and are not sure where to start, let Del Sol Travel  help you with your travel arrangements and planning by calling 403-477-0643 or e-mail travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca to set up your FREE initial consultation.

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Muriel MacRae, is the owner of Del Sol Travel and has formed a new company called Del Sol Destination Weddings with Cathy MacRae. She has been helping couples plan and organize their dreams weddings throughout the world in exotic locations, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica. An expert in terms of dealing with some of the challenges of group travel, she is well versed in finding resorts that perfectly match the needs and wants of her clients. Furthermore, her expertise in wedding planning makes her more than just your regular travel agent.

In a Crisis, a Travel Agent is Your Best Option

Wow, what a week we have had here at Del Sol Travel! I have been very busy rescheduling destination wedding guests. Thanks to a fog in St. Johns, Newfoundland, we had a dozen destination wedding guests have their flight cancelled to Montego Bay, Jamaica departing from St. Johns last weekend. Add to the problem by having the Juno Awards take place in St. Johns the same weekend, which resulted in most flights flying to the mainland being oversold. Then to complicate that situation further, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull Volcano caused disruption of flights in Europe and travel websites and call centers throughout the Western Hemisphere were jammed causing a two to three hour wait to get through on the phone lines to rebook passengers. As I result, I decided to write about dealing with travel chaos when planning destination weddings.

See some spectacular photos of the Iceland volcanco here at http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html.

When planning a destination wedding, realize that the unexpected can happen. The travel chaos caused by unexpected, natural events such as Iceland’s volcano, or Mexico’s H1N1 show why booking with a travel agent is the best way to book your travel to a destination wedding. Millions of people were stuck last week where they didn’t want to be , struggling to sort out their plans and trying to rearrange flights for their trip. Those with a travel agent were able to make one phone call and have their agent sort out everything for them. Those who booked on line had to struggle to rearrange their plans themselves and wished that someone else was taking the six to twelve hours on the internet and/ or the phone to do it for them.

There are a few ways that you can deal with the unexpected crisis or travel complication regarding your destination wedding.

First, be sure to allow enough time to make your connecting travel arrangements. If you are connecting with an early morning flight or cruise, you may want to arrive a day early just in case there is a problem with the weather or your plane has to be cancelled due to mechanical problems or late arrival. It might cost a bit more to stay in a hotel over night but you can save yourself from a lot of stress.

Second, plan your wedding later on in the week so that wedding guests who have delays will still have time to get to the wedding. Many countries have a residency requirement so as the bride and groom make sure that you leave yourself enough time to get to the resort.

Third, the unexpected does happen and be ready for it! Try to remain calm even though you are worried and upset. If you are having a destination wedding, you already know that you need to be flexible and that there are many things regarding the destination wedding which you have no control over. You can’t stop the plane’s mechanical problems, the bankruptcies, the natural disasters such as hurricanes, volcanoes, landslides, or even the weather. If your guests are going to be a day late for your destination wedding week, don’t let it upset your whole week. Don’t let the little things get in your way. Relish every single moment up to your wedding date and “don’t sweat the small stuff”.

Finally, use a destination wedding travel agent who can be your human contact on the other end of the phone when things do not go as planned. Give your agent a phone number where you can be reached 24 hours a day and keep that phone turned on day and night! If you book online, there is no one you can contact. We know what to do regarding travel arrangements and can contact the wedding planner at the resort to solve the problem. Remember, all you have to do is make that one call to your destination wedding agent and we will handle the rest.

If you are planning a destination wedding in the near future and need help with your planning, call Muriel at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or info@delsoldestinationweddings.com to book your complementary consultation today. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MurielMacRae.

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Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca