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Location is right

Knowing if a place is right for your destination wedding

The following questions are key to establishing whether a place is right for you and your group:

How many rooms does the hotel have, and how many are available for the days you want? The answer to this question tells you whether your hotel is intimate (under 100 rooms), medium size (under 250 rooms), or large — and consequently, what percentage of it your guests will fill.

What types of guest rooms are available? Usually hotels have a combination of single rooms and suites with a separate living room and bedroom. If families are traveling together, they may need these bigger rooms or adjoining ones. Some resorts have private villas with multiple bedrooms, which can be ideal for a small destination wedding party.

What facilities does the hotel or resort have for a wedding? Are there scenic areas, an outdoor terrace, an indoor ballroom, or special suites for smaller parties? Do they cater banquet meals?

Does the hotel or resort have a standard wedding package? Can it be customized? Do you have an on-site coordinator?

What recreational facilities are onsite? Is there a swimming pool? Golf course? Spa? What about tours of area attractions? Does the hotel arrange them? You may favor a resort that offers guests a variety of recreational activities during their stay.

What are the best rates available for a party of your size? Ask the hotel whether it offers a group discount or special accommodations for the bride and groom.

Does the hotel hold a reservation? Hotels will set aside a group of rooms for your guests to book by an established date. However, the hotel only holds those rooms for so long, so you need to find out the date by which guests must book to secure a room, when is a deposit required, and how much. What is the cancellation policy? What if some guests pull out? What if the event has to be postponed or cancelled? You need to know what costs you may incur if your plans change.

What is unique about your property? This question gives the hotel or resort rep an opportunity to bring out points that you may not have been aware of

Cruising on a Love Boat? Deciding whether a wedding at sea is right for you? We can assist in working out the details of your cruise wedding or hosting shipboard and portside weddings, obeying marriage laws where you sail, celebrating your honeymoon on the water.

Picture yourself and your honey exchanging rings on a cruise ship deck as your closest friends and family stand nearby. The breeze blows in your hair, and you smell the saltwater. What could be more romantic?

Getting married at sea is one of the simplest ways to have an affordable destination wedding. This fact alone may convince you to get on board: The average cost of a shipboard wedding with a two hour reception for 100 guests on a premium cruise line is $7,000. The average cost of a land-based hometown wedding for the same number of guests is close to $27,000.

In addition to being cost-effective, a shipboard wedding allows couples to combine their ceremony and reception with a cruise honeymoon. (In fact, a bridal couple must sail if they want a cruise-hosted wedding.) Are you tempted to board a cruise ship for your wedding? If so, this chapter reveals what you need to know.

Sailing into Matrimony: The Benefits of a Cruise Wedding

Cruise weddings range in size from intimate ceremonies with bride, groom, officiant, and witnesses to parties of, well, titanic proportions. In addition to the affordability of cruise ship weddings, this type of destination wedding also offers marrying couples the following:

Extensive amenities. On the newest ships, amenities are equal to those of fine resorts: spas that pamper, swimming pools, and even concierge and butler service. In ports of call, you can participate in land and water sports, tackle an extreme adventure, tour historical and cultural points of interest, and shop for duty-free goods.

Before you contact an agent and book a cruise wedding, ask yourselves these questions. Doing so can make it easier for the agent to tailor recommendations based on your needs.

Who is sailing with us? Do we expect family and friends to join us on the cruise? If so, the travel agent may be able to secure a group discount. You may even get a free cabin for yourselves if you meet the cruise line’s definition of a group.

What is our budget? Knowing what you can spend helps identify the most affordable cruise lines for you. Keep in mind that the cost of the cruise is separate from that of the wedding.

Where do we want to sail? Caribbean itineraries are popular with Easterners and Midwesterners. Cruises to Alaska, Mexico’s Pacific coast, and within Hawaii are most convenient for West Coast residents. But that needn’t affect your decision. If you’ve always dreamed of sailing to Tahiti or through the Panama Canal, go for it!

When do we want to sail? Although cruises leave from ports year-round, summer is prime sailing season, and you have the widest choice of ships and itineraries at that time of year.

How long a cruise should we take? Budget is a factor in the length of any cruise. The more you can spend, the longer you can sail. Itineraries range from overnight cruises “to nowhere” to 100-plus days at sea on a round-the-world cruise. Most voyages are in the five- to eleven-day range.

Working with the pros

Cruise weddings are as close to a turnkey affair as a couple can get, yet a lot of planning still goes into the simplest affairs. Having a wedding coordinator onboard can make you grateful to have someone to help guide you through the process.

Look to your coordinator to handle all the wedding details from booking to bon voyage. The responsibilities that fall to the wedding coordinator include

Answering your questions

Informing you of the legal requirements, helping you to get required documents, and making sure that your ceremony will be valid in the port you choose.

Is there enough going on around your preferred location to prevent you and your guests from becoming bored over the course”

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Destination Wedding Budgets: Money Saving Tips

Destination Wedding Budgets: Money Saving Tips

1. The destination you choose will make or break your budget. The destination will also make or break your guests’ budget. The path you choose is up to you!

You might be dreaming of an exotic, off-the-beaten-path destination for your special day. However, that might also mean uber expensive flights and long, complicated travel days for your guests. If accommodating many guests is your goal, it may be wise to reconsider the uber-exotic location.

However, if you are trying to LIMIT the number of guests who attend, a far-flung place can be just the ticket. We promise we won’t tell! There are many locations that are unique and exotic, but for a variety of reasons are surprisingly easy and affordable to get to. A professional travel expert can be a great guide to finding these not so well known locations.

Please don’t forget to also pick a location you love! Regardless of your budget, this is your day and you want to have nothing but joy-filled memories of your wedding.

  Choose a destination that you both love and that appeals to your aesthetic, way of life, and look and feel of your wedding. You want your guests to go home feeling like the entire event was completely your style!

2. Take Advantage of Wedding Credits & Perks!

As we mentioned earlier, hotels and resorts that cater to weddings will offer credits based on the number of rooms booked for your event. TAKE ADVANTAGE! At some destinations, it may be possible for your wedding to be completely free based on the size of your group.

Wedding credits can be applied towards your costs, such as your accommodations, special events, or extra perks like VIP check in for your group, resort credit, a bottle of champagne or a romantic catamaran trip around the island. Just like airline miles and credit cards perks, some perks are much better offers than others. A travel agent who specializes in Romance Travel can help you choose a property that will give you the most bang for your buck.

3. Be Open to a Mid-Week Wedding vs. a Saturday

Many venues offer lower rates for weekday weddings. You and your guests are already likely taking some time off for the wedding, so planning a destination wedding during the week is typically much easier than trying to schedule a traditional wedding during the week.

4. Choose flowers, food and favors that are easy to find locally

Shipping or traveling with your flowers, food or wedding favors is expensive and can be a real hassle. You might even run into restrictions when it comes to fresh flowers or foods depending on where you are traveling.

Forget the hassle and choose items that are unique to your destination. Choose flowers, food and favors that are easy to find locally, saving stress and money. Part of the beauty of a destination wedding is choosing items that match the theme of your destination. Looking for wedding favors? Local souvenirs make the perfect gift for wedding guests. Find a local, high-end gift shop that sells tasteful souvenirs or consider giving local delicacies – wines, coffees, nuts, candies… almost every location has some culinary treat that they are known for.

One pro tip: Make sure to check tourism or customs regulations for what is allowed to be transported back to the U.S. You don’t want to set your guests up for an airport search!

Another idea: Bypass the gift bag and favors all together and plan a group excursion for your guests. We rented a private catamaran for this very purpose and our guests are still talking about it!

A quick online search or conversation with your travel agent can help brainstorm a wonderful, memorable wedding favor your guests will love.

5. Talk to your Travel Agent about how to communicate your group terms to wedding guests…

…and make sure your guests understand how to book under your contract!

Your travel agent is an invaluable resource when it comes to negotiating group contracts with destination wedding venues.

Remember, a group contract means freebies and amenities for you and your guests!

However, these amenities are based on the number of rooms promised in your group contract. If your guests do not book through your group contract, this can all go awry!

There is nothing worse than negotiating an AMAZING deal with a resort and realize it was all for naught when half of your guests don’t book under your contract.

To maximize your perks, you MUST communicate with your guests and help them understand that booking with your travel agent benefits the entire group. Your bookings must go through the travel agent to count towards the guaranteed minimum number of guests for negotiated perks.

One item to note: there are some resorts that even charge the couple for guests that don’t book inside the negotiated group contract. Ouch!

As your agent and advocate, we can help you communicate this clearly to your guests. Our goal is to treat each and every guest to the exact same luxury experience that we will provide to you  

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Do’s and Don’ts for your Destination Wedding

Destination weddings are such a new phenomenon, it’s easy for a bride to get confused, carried away, or overwhelmed by the things she feels she should or shouldn’t do. Without traditional wedding etiquette and/or planning books to fall back on, what’s a bride to do? Just as important, what are the things a bride shouldn’t do? Here are some dos and don’ts to guide you to destination wedding success!

Dos

Do send out save-the-date cards about six months before the wedding, especially if it’s planned around a holiday weekend. Give everyone time to make their travel arrangements.

Do view your week away as a vacation, but don’t overlook the fact that you’re getting married! It’s not just another getaway, after all. Take some time to connect with your fiancé and appreciate the magnitude of the event after you’ve unpacked your bags.

Do plan on spending time with all of your guests. That’s why you invited them to this weeklong wedding party, after all.Do take the time to talk with your onsite wedding coordinator and/or wedding vendors before you book them. Ask all the questions you can think of, and get (and check!) referrals.Do let your attendants know upfront what they’ll be expected to pay for. Traditional wedding etiquette holds the bride and groom responsible for attendants’ lodging expenses, but in reality, many bridesmaids and groomsmen end up paying their own way.

Don’ts

Don’t announce your wedding and/or talk excessively about it to those who aren’t invited. The one exception is if you’re having a teeny, tiny wedding with immediate family members only.

Don’t get in way over your head financially. Yes, you only get to do this once, but honestly, lots of couples plan beautiful, relatively inexpensive weddings. It just takes time and research.

Don’t plan on paying for all of your guests’ expenses unless your last name happens to be Moneybags.

Don’t drink too much the night before the wedding. Sure, all you have to do is put on your dress and walk down to the beach in the morning, but you don’t want to look green, tired, or puffy-eyed in your wedding pictures.

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Church Bells or Sea Shells

Church Bells or Sea Shells?

Before you can even think about making appointments at dress shops and trying on gowns, you have to know where you’re headed for the ceremony. Your destination is the number one factor in deciding which kind of dress you’ll wear.

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Questions for your Travel Agency

Is your preferred date available? No sense going any further until you’ve determined whether this place is available.

•What is the total occupancy of the site? If the site can’t accommodate your large family, you’ll have to move on.

•Does the facility also allow ceremonies to be performed on site? Most will.

•What kind of food does the site specialize in? You want to get an idea of whether the site can meet your specific desires here. If you’re looking for a vegetarian meal and the location you’re considering serves only spit-fired pig roasts, it might not be a good fit.

•Is there a dance floor? How large? Can your boogying friends and family all fit into the space?
[…]

What about the bar? How large is it, and how many bartenders will be on duty? You don’t want parched guests standing in line for thirty minutes waiting for their booze.

•Will you pay for coat checkers and valet parking attendants? In upscale places, the answer is usually yes.

•How much will you pay for the site per hour? What’s the fee for running overtime? Obviously, these fees vary from place to place.

•Does the site charge a cake-cutting or wine-corking fee? How much? Many places do charge for these services, so don’t be surprised to hear you’ll pay for someone to slice up your dessert.

•What other charges can you expect? Sales tax? Linen rental? Centerpieces?

•If the site doesn’t serve food, can the staff refer you to a caterer? We’ll get to this in a moment.

These questions will give you a good idea as to whether this place is right for your wedding. You’ll learn a lot about the accommodations, the service, and the price. If you like what you hear, ask the manager to send you some literature so that you can read everything in black and white.
[…]

 

How much or how little are you willing to plan? Some planners will only take on full events; others will do à la carte services (such as planning only the ceremony or reception).

•How do you charge? By the hour? Flat fee? Percentage?

•Can you provide me with referrals from past clients? If she’s eager to get you in touch with her past clients, and the clients give glowing reports, chances are you’ve found a keeper.

How many weddings do you book per year? One full wedding per weekend is plenty; any more than that, and some bride is going to get the short end of the stick.

•Do you have an assistant? If she says yes, ask who will attend your wedding — the planner or her partner?

Excerpt from: “The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home” by Shelly Hagen. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/336810030

 

Excerpt from: “The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home” by Shelly Hagen. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/336810030

Excerpt from: “The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home” by Shelly Hagen. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/336810030

Excerpt from: “The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home” by Shelly Hagen. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/336810030

 

Excerpt from: “The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home” by Shelly Hagen. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd.: https://www.scribd.com/book/336810030

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5 Reasons To Have A Destination Wedding

Your wedding day: it’s one of the most amazing and important days of your life and you’ve probably dreamt about what it would look like for years. Each couple is different and each wedding won’t look the same, but if you’re looking for a way to take your wedding to the next level, a destination wedding is one way to do this. Here, we’ll talk about some of the main reasons why you should plan a destination wedding.

Reason #1: You’ll start your marriage with a unique adventure.
A destination wedding option opens up so many possibilities for adventure. How about a bachelorette party in a cave? Maybe your groomsmen could golf at sunrise overlooking the ocean? How about a rehearsal dinner on a catamaran? The options and venues are endless with a destination wedding. Adventures not only await you and your fiancé, but your bridal party and guests, too.

Reason #2: You’ll make memories with your closest friends and family.
You can count on your closest friends and family being there to spend plenty of time with you during your wedding. Traditional weddings with larger guest lists usually only allow for shaking hands and quick congratulatory wishes from your guests, but with a destination wedding and a smaller group of people there, you’ll have the time to chat with guests in your dream location and create special memories with them there.

Reason #3: Destination weddings are often less expensive.
If you’re looking to make your wedding budget go further, a destination wedding is a great way to do that. Favorable exchange rates in international wedding destinations is one way to reap financial rewards, but you’ll also find that many resorts will offer well-rounded packages that include everything. You’re not left with adding on additional things you won’t end up using and you won’t be forced to rent large, expensive venues.

Reason #4:  You’ll have a no stress wedding.
The on-site wedding coordinator will do the planning for you, so you don’t have to do much at all. Our team at Vincent Vacations are the middle people when it comes to helping plan for your guests and we also offer full wedding planning services with a fee. For example, we can arrange group room contracts for no cost, so the bride and groom can reap the benefits of bringing a group! Whether it’s free parties or complimentary room nights, we can figure out the details. Brides and grooms can do as little or as much as they want when it comes to the destination wedding and that translates to a lot less stress in the end!

Reason #5: You can use the wedding location for your honeymoon, too.
A destination wedding offers you the opportunity to have a two-for-one deal: a wedding and honeymoon in one trip!  If you love the location of your wedding and want to honeymoon there, great! Or, if you want us to help coordinate a hotel change or a flight to a different honeymoon spot, we can do that, too.

Whether it’s the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Tahiti, or somewhere else, planning a destination wedding will the best idea that you’ve had! Contact us today for more information on getting your exotic destination wedding planned!

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Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Having a Destination Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and most brides and grooms want to do whatever they can to avoid any problems or disasters. Here are our top 5 mistakes to avoid when having a destination wedding.

Mistake #1: Not blocking enough hotel rooms for your group.
We’ve found that a lot of couples hesitate to block rooms, as they are not sure how many people will actually come to the wedding. This is likely because they don’t understand the benefits of booking as a group. Group amenities are typically only honored when it’s in writing and this is done with a group hotel contract. This contract will state whether the bride and groom are receiving free nights, a free wedding, a free reception, or all the above. It will also provide a date that rooms must be released, to avoid being liable. In most cases, there is no reason to not do a group contract, unless the couple is eloping, when this type of contract wouldn’t be applicable. We regularly work with resorts that will do a group contract starting at just 6 rooms, depending on the time of year.

Mistake #2: Not taking advantage of local things.
Part of the fun in having a destination wedding is experiencing the unique culture that you’re in. If you’re in the beautiful destination that you’ve selected, don’t expect it to be exactly like what you’re used to at home. Immerse yourself in the special products or surroundings that your destination has to offer and allow yourself to fall in love with the options from the local area. For example: orchids grow on the island, so they’re less than roses? Awesome! A Spanish mariachi band is less than a string quartet? So fun! The guests will feel like they’re not only part of your wedding, but part of the culture. Your wedding planner can help show you the various pricing differences, but remember, if they must fly in something special, it will be a lot more expensive than getting a local product that can be easily acquired. This can be a big cost savings.

Mistake #3: No backup plan.
Back up plans are always great to have, especially when it comes to one of the biggest events of your life! For example, couples getting married outside need to have a backup plan for a ballroom or terrace wedding if the weather decides to change and unload on their wedding day. Rainy season is June through November in Mexico and the Caribbean. One of the most popular times to get married in the United States is September with the beautiful leaves changing and mild temperatures, but this isn’t the same case for the Caribbean, as it’s usually the most humid with the highest chance of hurricanes.

Mistake #4: Not inviting everyone.
Time and time again, couples only send invitations to those they think will want to come to the wedding and this can be a mistake! If the bride and groom are open to everyone attending, then invite everyone! A lot of times, friends and relatives would not travel to an all-inclusive resort unless they’re going with a group. If everyone is truly invited, then send an official invitation or save-the-date card. There always seems to be someone that you swore would not miss it, be unable to attend and on the other hand, you might be surprised at who decides to make the trip. The surprise of who can celebrate with you could become a special memory as you begin your marriage journey.

Mistake #5: Not working with a travel agent.
Planning your wedding takes a lot of organization and detail management. Couples that don’t use a travel agent are stuck being the middle person. The destination wedding is meant to make life simpler! Do you want to take time to answer small, detailed questions like what size hotel beds are in the rooms? What if guests have problems while traveling to the wedding? Do the bride and groom have to take time to help re-accommodate or re-schedule transportation? These kinds of details or issues can be frustrating and very stressful for the bride and groom and if you work with an experienced agent, they can take care of all the little things that come up for you so you don’t have to.
At Vincent Destination Weddings, we’re all about planning everything for you so your big day goes as smoothly as possible. We don’t charge a group contract fee and we’re paid a commission by the hotel that the bride and groom choose. There is no additional charge for working with the wedding travel agent! If you’ve dreamt of a destination wedding and the thought of planning it sounds overwhelming, contact us today to handle all the details.

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Hard Rock Resorts, Wedding Package Information

An extraordinary ocean-front experience where you can live life to the fullest

WOW Specialists are exclusive to the Hard Rock Resorts brand and are devoted to providing a destination wedding experience like no other! The Weddings on the Water Travel Agent Specialist Program is there to ensure no detail is overlooked and no luxury spared for your special day. They assist in bringing your wedding to life with extraordinary passion and commitment. WOW Specialists will help prepare for all your guest arrangements — from travel and flights to welcome receptions, cocktail hours, group events, and more. With a Hard Rock signature wedding collection, a certified WOW Specialist will ensure the wedding and wedding style you have always imagined is available through an all-inclusive beach resort experience.Relax knowing every detail of your dream wedding day is taken care of thanks to the dedication of your certified WOW Specialist and the All Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels of Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Specializing in Cancun, Punta Cana, Vallarta, Riviera Maya, an all-inclusive experience.

Destination Wedding Locations - Hard Rock Resorts

TO RESERVE A WEDDING OR REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT OUR WEDDING DEPARTMENT:
(405) 418‑4180 / info@allinclusiveweddings.com

Group Benefits

Group Benefits for all types of wedding group sizes.

Now you and your guests can experience even more lavish style with our All Inclusive Wedding Group Benefits. Celebrate with friends and family and enjoy these group benefits. VIP Check-in upon arrival, complimentary room upgrade, private functions, cocktail receptions and more!

From a small crew of friends to an entourage of guests, we’ve got you covered with a full list of All Inclusive Wedding Group Benefits. Enjoy the very best of paradise with complimentary room nights, room upgrades, complimentary cocktail receptions, and so much more.

All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels offer an authentic experience that rocks for guests of all ages, making each location an ideal destination for multi-generational groups. Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts offer an unrivaled fun factor that is key to any wedding.

Destination Weddings are a growing market and we want to make sure we cater to each and every segment.

UNICO Destination Weddings in Riviera Maya

UNICO 20°87° redefines the meaning of all-inclusive by offering the unexpected. From select spa and beauty salon treatments to excursions and golf, your stay includes all the amenities of a luxury hotel plus more.Marylen Exposito is the creative mind behind the design of UNICO 20°87° experiential wedding packages. Marylen is an award winning, South Florida wedding planner whose work has been featured in Style Me Pretty and Enchanted Brides and whose creative style offers a touch of fairytale with a pinch boho chic.

The UNICO destination wedding collection features personalized details with regionally inspired touches to make each destination wedding at UNICO feel exactly as it should. A truly special, one of a kind event.

Compliments of UNICO 20°87° – Price: FREE

  • Ceremony location
  • 32 chocolate avante garde chairs
  • One rose bouquet and one matching boutonniere OR two bouquets OR two boutonnieres*
  • Non-denominational minister to perform symbolic or vow renewal ceremony**
  • Audio system for ceremony
  • 1 tier wedding cake for 32 guests
  • Sparkling wine toast for 32 guests after ceremony
  • Dreams and Destinations WOW Specialist, pre-resort event consultant and onsite wedding coordinator
  • Dreams and Destinations customizable complimentary wedding webpage and registry
  • UNICO 20°87° Honeymoon Experience

*Two bouquets or two boutonnieres option are available for same sex weddings

**Additional cost applies for civil (legal) ceremonies

The Riviera Maya Experience – Price: $5,800

UNICO’s new take on the classic beach wedding offering a fully immersive experience.

  • Ceremony location
  • Ceremony decor
  • Ceremony seating for 32 guests
  • One bouquet and one matching boutonniere OR two bouquets OR two boutonnieres*
  • Non-denominational minister to perform symbolic or vow renewal ceremony**
  • Audio system for ceremony
  • 2 tier wedding cake for 32 guests
  • Sparkling wine toast for 32 guests after ceremony
  • Unpacking service for couples, including preparation of wedding day attire (dress and suit pressing)
  • Dreams and Destinations WOW Specialist, pre-resort event consultant and onsite wedding coordinator
  • Dreams and Destinations customizable complimentary wedding webpage and registry
  • UNICO 20°87° Honeymoon Experience

*Two bouquets or two boutonnieres option are available for same sex weddings

**Additional cost applies for civil (legal) ceremonies

The One of a Kind Experience – Price: $7,700

Expands on the Riviera Maya Experience with a deeper level of personalization.

  • Ceremony location
  • Ceremony decor
  • Ceremony seating for 32 guests
  • One bouquet and one matching boutonniere OR two bouquets OR two boutonnieres*
  • Non-denominational minister to perform symbolic or vow renewal ceremony**
  • Audio system for ceremony
  • Choice of violin, guitar or saxophone soloist for ceremony
  • Phone valet to allow ceremony to be more intimate with unplugged wedding signage
  • 2 tier wedding cake for 32 guests
  • Sparkling wine toast for 32 guests after ceremony
  • Printed menus and place cards for wedding reception for 32 guests**
  • Unpacking service for couples, including preparation of wedding day attire (dress and suit pressing)
  • Personal Valet Concierge for one of the parties throughout the getting ready process
  • In room hair and make-up service for 1 person****
  • Dreams and Destinations WOW Specialist, pre-resort event consultant and onsite wedding coordinator
  • Dreams and Destinations customizable complimentary wedding webpage and registry
  • UNICO 20°87° Honeymoon Experience

*Two bouquets or two boutonnieres option are available for same sex weddings

**Each additional place card is $0.50 per person and each additional menu is $0.50 per person. Guest list and menu selections must be provided 2 months prior to wedding date

***Additional cost applies for civil (legal) ceremonies

****Must be part of wedding couple

The 20°87° Experience – Price: $8,500

Immersive wedding experience taken to the next level. The 20°87° Experience weaves in Unico destination weddings Proud Local spirit with Riviera Maya’s natural elegance to create a setting unlike any other.

  • Ceremony location
  • Ceremony decor
  • Ceremony seating for 32 guests
  • One bouquet and one matching boutonniere OR two bouquets OR two boutonnieres*
  • Non-denominational minister to perform symbolic or vow renewal ceremony**
  • Audio system for ceremony
  • Choice of violin, guitar or saxophone soloist for ceremony
  • Phone valet to allow ceremony to be more intimate with unplugged wedding signage
  • 2 tier wedding cake for 32 guests
  • Sparkling wine toast for 32 guests after ceremony
  • Printed menus and place cards for wedding reception for 32 guests**
  • Unpacking service for couples, including preparation of wedding day attire (dress and suit pressing)
  • Personal Valet Concierge for both parties throughout the getting ready process
  • In room hair and make-up service for 1 person****
  • “Getting Ready Suite” for one party to use for the day leading up to the ceremony
  • In room hair and make-up service for 1 person in “Getting Ready Suite”****
  • Welcome bag delivery free of charge
  • Dreams and Destinations WOW Specialist, pre-resort event consultant and onsite wedding coordinator
  • Dreams and Destinations customizable complimentary wedding webpage and registry
  • Complimentary honeymoon package
  • Private Dining Experience For Couple
  • Upgrade for wedding couple to suite*****

*Two bouquets or two boutonnieres option are available for same sex weddings

**Each additional place card is $0.50 per person and each additional menu is $0.50 per person. Guest list and menu selections must be provided 2 months prior to wedding date

***Additional cost applies for civil (legal) ceremonies

****Must be part of wedding couple

*****Requires group contract of 10 or more rooms. Based on availability

Of course you are not limited to just what is offered in each package. That is the beauty of UNICO destination weddings. Each aspect is completely customizable. You can start with the complimentary option and add elements that are most important to you. Or you can take the luxurious inclusions of the 20°87° Experience and elevate that further with different design elements and experiences.

Wedding Ceremony Locations :
Gazebo
Beach

Wedding Event Locations:
Beach
Multiple pools
Multiple terraces
Ballroom

Wedding Group Amenities for UNICO Destination Weddings
UNICO destination weddings can range from intimate elopements for just the two of you or large group weddings full of family, friends and new memories to be made. For wedding groups beginning at 10 rooms (minimum of 3 nights or longer) couples can accrue amenities based on the size of their group and number of room nights. These amenities range from complimentary rooms, complimentary upgrades, and complimentary private functions (food and beverage).

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What A Texan Bride Expects from a Destination Wedding

Destination weddings are gaining more popularity every year! They are a great way to save money and to have a more intimate celebration. There are so many reasons a Texas bride would choose to have a destination wedding! Lets begin to explore some of the fun and unique perks that brides from Texas would love to have as a part of their festivities.

Doesn’t every bride fantasize of making a grand entrance to her wedding? Can you picture the gasps of delight and surprise when your guests see you arrive to the ceremony in style as you glide onto the beach in your hot air balloon? At Dreams LaRomana in the Dominican Republic your fantasy can become a reality! We all know Texans like things bigger and better. This is a sure way to make an impact and keep people talking for years to come!

Imagine that since your food and beverages are already included in the resort stay for yourselves and all of your guests, that you feel inspired to host your friends and family for a fun experience in lieu of a rehearsal dinner. How about taking a beautiful champagne sail as you all watch the sunset together and toast to new beginnings? When your wedding is on a beautiful beach, this is simple to arrange. Ask us how!

As you research and plan for your wedding, you may have noticed that rustic decor and farm to table decor is very popular in Texas right now. If this is something that you are interested in, you CAN have your cake and eat it too! You can have a beautiful, rustic set up with a white, sandy beach as your setting! Check out the amazing new UNICO 20.87 resort in Riviera Maya!

Texas has long had a reputation of appreciating and enjoying live music! Your guests will have a blast at your reception while you all dance to the rhythms of a Steel Pan Band and watch a performance from a Fire Dancer at one the incredible Sandals Resorts maybe in beautiful Jamaica, exotic Grenada or one of their other wonderful resorts sprinkled throughout the Caribbean.

You can appreciate the variety of option for a dramatic backdrop at your ceremony. The options are all scenic and will save you so much money on decor! You could have your wedding on a rooftop with a gorgeous 180 degree views of the blue Caribbean Sea! That is not something easily arranged in Texas, but its no trouble at all at Azul Sensatori, Riviera Maya. Plus, you can wear your heels because there is no need to walk in the sand and worry about how you will walk in your gorgeous wedding shoes!

Now we have confirmed that there are so many unique and fun reasons for brides from Texas (or anywhere!) to choose to have a beautiful destination wedding! We are here to help. Call and tell us about your perfect wedding so that we can get started on making your dreams come true!

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Top 10 destination wedding invitation tips

Top 10 destination wedding invitation tips

 

If you and your fiancé are planning on tying the knot in a special destination wedding, it’s important to make the invitation stand out. With the destination being something special, there are lots of ways to make the wedding invitations, special too. Here are our top 10 destination wedding invitation tips. 

 

#1: Save the date.
When it comes to a destination wedding, these cards are very beneficial. They give guests additional notice to help plan for time off work, in addition to giving them time to look at flights and arrange other necessary trip details. It’s not uncommon to send these cards out nine months to a year in advance.

#2: Keep it unique.
If you love the traditional invitation look, great! However, many couples that are choosing a destination wedding want to make their invitations stand out in a special way. You could choose a themed invitation or something that is unique to you as a couple – get creative!

#3: Keep affordability in mind.
Invitations are important, but when thinking about your overall budget, consider spending the bulk of your money on the actual destination and ceremony. Unless people plan on saving the invitation as part as a memento or keepsake for many years to come, there isn’t a need to spend incredible amounts on the paper.

#4: Think about specific wedding details.
In addition to the standard wedding date, time and location, consider adding directions to the venue, or other accommodation information that is necessary. If you are going to a country that many people have not been to, it’s nice to include any information about transportation and currency exchange rates, too. 

#5: Include events.
In addition to the invitations, it is common for couples to order another card to include that has the wedding events on there. This could be a special bonfire, goodbye brunch, welcome lunch, group dinner nights, etc. If you plan on offering any special events like this, be clear on what and when those are.

#6: Plan ahead.
Plan on sending your invitations out at least three months ahead of time. This will allow for plenty of planning time for your guests.

#7: Be specific.
A destination wedding is usually a smaller, more intimate event, so keep this in mind when creating your guest and invitation list. Be specific in your invitation language on who is invited. For example, Mary and Bryan versus Mary and Bryan + family. Keep them clear, concise, and informative.

#8: Engage your guests.
Your destination wedding is going to be a memorable time and full of special adventures, so it’s fun to get your guests engaged in the event from the moment they open the invitation! Ask them what their favorite dance song is, what drink they like the most, or what they would like to see during their trip to your wedding.

#9: Reflect you as a couple.
Don’t get lost in all the bells and whistles, but instead keep your invitation original to you. Have fun with them and make sure they reflect who you are, not what everyone else is doing. 

#10: Consider a website.
If the details for your destination wedding are too many for an invitation, consider creating a free wedding website that includes all the details your guests might need such as weather information, local attractions, and more. 

Your destination wedding will be an exciting time and the invitations are just the beginning! Contact our team at Vincent Vacations to start planning your destination wedding today!