Planning a wedding and don’t know where to start? We asked a few experts to weigh in on the latest destination wedding trends so that you can plan the wedding of your dreams. They’ve got top tips for setting a budget, plus advice on how to pick the dream wedding spot, design the ceremony and even choose whether you stay or go for the honeymoon.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
First things first: budget. Yes, it may be difficult for a couple that’s on the high of a happy engagement to have to wrap their heads around the question of how much they want to – or are able to – spend on their big day.
Before you set your heart on saying your vows on a beach in the Caribbean, along the Mediterranean Sea or even in a European castle, start off by setting realistic goals. “Trying to get quotes in without having nailed down your wedding budget is a bit of a wrong-sided approach,” says Simone Sant-Ghuran, Caribbean wedding planning expert and author of the new book ‘It’s Knot Difficult: A Guide to wedding planning your way with a little help from a pro!’ “Yet,” she adds, “it’s often what many brides tend to do.”
The couple, notes Robert Townshend, the founder and president of Total Advantage Travel & Tours in Toronto, really has to look at their invitation list and consider what they think would be affordable for their guests. “They have to keep in mind that some of their guests may be paying for five or six people depending on if they have children,” he adds. If a couple picks a very pricey destination or resort, then they are likely to get a low positive RSVP rate. “In general, if a couple picks a hotel that is budgeted to their guestlist, they can expect that they will get a 35 percent positive response. That’s why I tell people who are sending out 100 invitations to hold 35-40 seats – and I’m almost always right.”
Shalene Dudley, the lead travel concierge at Latitude Concierge Travels in Oakville, ON., agrees with Sant-Ghuran. “Typically, clients set their budgets prior to speaking with a destination wedding specialist. We are here to guide them to the destination or resort/venue that works within their limits.” Perhaps even more importantly, destination specialists can even help set those limits, she adds. “We are also here to clarify whether that budget will work with the requirements they provide. The best way to set a clear and realistic budget is to schedule a consultation with a destination wedding specialist.”
“Many brides nowadays are embracing the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement, not only because of financial constraints but also because they want to share their creativity with their guests and be original,” notes Sant-Ghuran. “…[but] there are some that I would advise not DIY-ing at all.” Photography, hair and makeup, and the most important detail, the catering, are things better left to professional wedding planners, she adds.
ONE FINAL NOTE
Both Dudley and Townshend advise their clients that the thought of cost should go beyond just their own. If you have a lot of families on your invitation list, Townshend says, try to keep the flight under four hours and choose a hotel that has lots of kid-friendly options. “If your list includes a lot of people who have no concerns about the budget, then go for the gusto and have it wherever you dream of!” Dudley concurs. “This is your chance to choose yourselves and plan your dream wedding away. While considering the cost for your guests to travel, also select a resort/venue that you truly want. After all, the only ones remembering the day and the name of the resort will be you.”
Top 3 places for a destination wedding
ROBERT: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Mayan Riviera, Mexico
SHALENE: Los Cabos, Mexico; Castries, St. Lucia; and Montego Bay, Jamaica
EDITOR’S PICKS: Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica; Weddings by Palladium Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico; the new Coral Level at Iberostar Selection Bávaro, Punta Cana; Hotel Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Any up-and-coming destinations?
ROBERT: “Galway, Ireland – getting married in a castle and having the reception outside; Reykjavik, Iceland – beautiful in the summertime; Lanai – the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands (it still has ancient Hawaiian culture and traditions); Panama – great options for all-inclusive resorts now that the new airport has opened near Playa Blanca; Palm Island in the Grenadines on the coast of Union Island (small destination weddings work wonderfully here): Punta Delgada, Azores, Portugal – a little bit of Europe in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with nonstop flights from Canada and hotels opening for weddings.”
SHALENE: “Many of our clients are inquiring about Europe, especially Portugal, Italy and Greece. These are countries on their bucket lists. Our job is to determine what they are looking for and direct them to the right location in the country. We have planned weddings in Madeira, Portugal; Amalfi Coast, Italy; and the island of Crete, Greece.”
Trend watch
ROBERT: “This past summer we’ve seen requests for weddings in Italy, Spain and Greece. We haven’t seen a lot of that before. Agents have to be prepared for this shift and educate themselves and their clients on what is required to get married in European countries.”
Timing is everything
When do you start planning a destination wedding?
ROBERT: “Start at least one year in advance to get the venue at the hotel that they want. Keep in mind that most hotels offer two wedding times per day, one at 1 pm and one at 4 pm. The 4 pm is the most coveted time and gets booked up sometimes more than a year in advance. Before confirming a wedding with a hotel, I always make sure that the 4 pm wedding slot is available.”
SHALENE: “Around 15-18 months in advance but we have clients who start as far as 24 months out. This allows guests to have a longer time to save up and make payments. If you have a very specific date, venue or destination in mind, it is best to start this early to ensure your chances of securing all your must-haves and avoid disappointment.”
To scout or not to scout?
ROBERT: “I always recommend that couples do their homework. If that homework involves going to the resort for an inspection trip, then yes, visit the destination prior to the wedding. If the couple is prepared to pay the cost of going to the destination, then by all means they should.”
SHALENE: “It is not necessary to visit the destination prior to the wedding if you are working with a specialist. If you choose to do so, you should budget the full cost for the trip. Resort credits often only apply if you are visiting prior to securing the wedding date.”
Favourite honeymoon destination?
ROBERT: “Anywhere in Hawaii. I always suggest that the couple start their honeymoon with a few nights in Waikiki on Oahu and then go to a second island. I like to recommend Kona on the Big Island or Kaanapali Beach in Maui. If they are nature enthusiasts, then I would suggest Kauai as the second island they visit.”
SHALENE: “St. Lucia is my favourite honeymoon destination. It offers some of the most unique and idyllic accommodations. Activities and experiences are boundless for any budget or level of activity. They range from social to solitude and extreme adventure to ultimate luxury.”
EDITOR’S PICK: Book a room at Nerea, a boutique hotel retreat with a focus on wellness, on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, to help recharge after the big day.
Do you always recommend the couple to honeymoon in the same place as their destination wedding?
ROBERT: “I always suggest that a couple go somewhere else to honeymoon after their destination wedding! Their honeymoon should be someplace close by that is quiet, where they can be alone for a week. If a couple picks St. Martin for their wedding, then I would suggest they honeymoon on Anguilla. It’s not too far away but a completely different culture.”
SHALENE: “It definitely depends on a few factors. Can you take the additional time off and just extend your stay? If so, we can either book a split stay or move to another property. Do you need to take the time later on in the year? Then you have to consider the cost of a new trip. Either way, we should discuss your budget and constraints at the beginning of planning.”
One thing everyone forgets?
ROBERT: “Before considering a destination, check out when the best weather is for that destination. September in the Caribbean is hurricane season and it’s likely that the area will get hit with one. Look beyond the attractive prices to travel then.”
SHALENE: “Everyone forgets that this may [also] be your honeymoon, so consider upgrading your room!”
Both Robert Townshend’s Total Advantage Travel & Tours in Toronto (totaladvantagetravel.com) and Shalene Dudley’s Latitude Concierge Travels
(latitudeconciergetravels.com) in Oakville are TravelSavers a liates. Shalene is also a member of The 1000 Club, a flrst-of-its-kind global community created to recognize the individual travel advisor for their achievements in sales.
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