Category: AIW

At Sandals Resorts, for your destination wedding you can choose from 16 resorts anywhere from Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Antigua, the Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, and Curaçao. Experience the beauty of the Caribbean! Every resort sits directly on a stunning beach on 7 of the most gorgeous islands in the Caribbean. Anything and everything is possible when you get married in paradise!

Luxury Included® Destination Weddings and Honeymoons
What do the world’s only 5-Star Luxury Included® weddings and honeymoons look and feel like? At Sandals all-inclusive resorts, your destination wedding is completely customizable. You can have all the romantic touches of a traditional wedding in the most spectacular settings in the Caribbean. Best of all, the honeymoon of your dreams begins the moment you say ‘I Do’. #SandalsResorts #AllInclusiveResorts #DestinationWeddings

Sandals Virtual Wedding Design Experience
Sandals Resorts makes it easy to plan your upcoming destination wedding with our exclusive Sandals Virtual Wedding Planning Experience. The Virtual Wedding Design Experience offers you everything you need to plan your dream destination wedding from the comfort of your home while having the opportunity to chat face-to-face with your wedding planner and explore our catalog of décor options, discuss important details, such as event location and times, and much more!

Sandals Weddings Platinum Protocol of Cleanliness
It’s the most important day of your life, and Sandals® is taking every step to ensure that it’s also the happiest day of your life. With our Platinum Protocol of Cleanliness, you can be assured that we’re taking every step to ensure the health and safety of you and your guests. After all, we’ve led the industry in health and safety protocols for nearly 40 years. Our resorts are even safer and more romantic than ever before, so you can enjoy a wedding free of worries and filled with love. For more information on how we’re protecting your wedding day or to book your wedding today, visit allinclusiveweddings.com #WorryFreeWeddings #SandalsWeddings #PlatinumProtocolOfCleanliness

Sandals Resorts: Get a Sneak Peek of Your Wedding & Honeymoon
A once-in-a-lifetime love calls for a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, and nobody throws weddings like Sandals® Resorts. The leader in destination weddings and honeymoons—what we call WeddingMoons®, even gives you a chance to look before you book. Tour the venues, taste the cuisine, and meet with the resort wedding team, all while experiencing the Sandals 5-star Luxury Included® difference for yourselves. Test Drive Your WeddingMoon® for up to three nights in paradise starting at just $250 per couple, per night, and get up to a $1050 credit when you book your wedding group of 5+ rooms. Call your travel advisor, visit allinclusiveweddings.com to book today. #sandalsresorts #destinationweddings #weddingplanning

Sandals Resorts – Customizable Destination Wedding Inspirations
Stunning wedding inspirations ignite your imagination to customize your own dream destination wedding. From storybook romance to breezy island chic to avant-garde or refined costal luxury, Sandals® lets you visualize every detail of your special day, while our planning team will help you every step of the way. Say “I DO” at Sandals and we’ll make your dream wedding a wonderful reality. #sandalsresorts #destinationweddings #weddinginspiration

Beaches Turks and Caicos – Real Wedding Danica & Anthony
From Aisles of white to Isles of Turquoise. From over-the-water ceremonies to over-the-top receptions, Beaches® Resorts offers your dream wedding in paradise that compares to no other; with the ability to choose from three 5-Star Luxury Included® Resorts and two mesmerizing Islands. At Beaches, we understand that your love story is unique and special… and your wedding should be, too. That’s why we’ve replaced wedding packages with wedding inspirations, making a very personal experience a personalized one for you and your family. We’ve added all the extras to make your special day even more extraordinary.

Sandals Resorts Weddings and Once Wed feature #AisletoIsle Weddings
From Aisles of white to Isles of Turquoise. From over-the-water ceremonies to over-the-top receptions, Sandals® Resorts offers your dream wedding in paradise that compares to no other; with the ability to choose from sixteen 5-Star Luxury Included® Resorts and seven mesmerizing Islands. Sandals let you visualize every detail of your special day and determine what inspires you, while our planning team will help the Bride & Groom to execute the wedding of their dreams, every step of the journey. Make your big day the ultimate celebration with custom welcome events, unique mani-pedi parties, rehearsal dinners and more. If you dream it, we can do it!

Sandals Resorts – Real Wedding Courtney & Matt at Sandals Emerald Bay
From Aisles of white to Isles of Turquoise. From over-the-water ceremonies to over-the-top receptions, Sandals® Resorts offers your dream wedding in paradise that compares to no other; with the ability to choose from sixteen 5-Star Luxury Included® Resorts and seven mesmerizing Islands. Sandals let you visualize every detail of your special day and determine what inspires you, while our planning team will help the Bride & Groom to execute the wedding of their dreams, every step of the journey. Make your big day the ultimate celebration with custom welcome events, unique mani-pedi parties, rehearsal dinners and more. If you dream it, we can do it!

Sandals Resorts Inspires With Its Destination Wedding Experience From Aisle to Isle
Sandals Resorts hosted 25 international journalists at Sandals South Coast Jamaica November 28th through December 1st for a special preview of the brand’s new Aisle to Isle destination Wedding program. The four-day event included a sneak peek at Sandals’ latest new wedding ceremony and reception venues, samplings of eight new décor inspirations and customizable dining and itinerary experiences for Brides and Grooms to plans their dream wedding in paradise. Follow @SandalsResortsWeddings for more images and videos from the event.

The Luxury Included Weddings and Honeymoons | Sandals Resorts
See what a luxury wedding looks like. Explore what a luxury honeymoon feels like. Aisle to isle, let us take care of everything. Come experience our five-star, all-inclusive Sandals Resorts. Plan your wedding at Sandals Resort: allinclusiveweddings.com

Wedding Video Style: Vintage
For brides and grooms whose style is nostalgic and reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour, we have the Vintage Video Package. The video is taken in chronological order, embracing that old world feel and rustic charm. Accompanied by traditional Caribbean and Jamaican music, blending the modern and romantic.

Wedding Video Style: Traditional
Something borrowed, something blue, if Traditional best describes you, our videographers will capture your special day as it unfolds; from beginning to end. Chronologically edited so that every time you view it you will relive that magical moment and be transported back to the Caribbean.

Wedding Video Style: Contemporary
Our Contemporary Package is for those of you whose style is a little more edgy; you grew up watching music videos or appreciate a more artistic approach to the traditional. Your video will have the feel of a movie trailer; vignettes that are edited to blend into the mood of the music you choose to accompany it. Capturing your casual, elegant and playful sides. This package is currently available at all our resorts in Jamaica and Sandals Emerald Bay

Customize Your Dream Destination Wedding with Sandals Resorts Destination Wedding Designer
Introducing Sandals Resorts’ Destination Wedding Designer, an interactive online tool created to help you personalize every aspect of your dream destination wedding. Watch to learn how you can plan the perfect all-inclusive wedding at Sandals Resorts, the most romantic place on Earth. Create your dream wedding along the Caribbean’s best beaches with all the personal touches to make your celebration as special and unique as your love. After all, it’s Your Wedding, Your Style.

Holly and Matthew’s Real WeddingMoons® Story
Take a closer look into the romantic WeddingMoon story of Military couple Matt and Holly. They began the journey to the start of a new life together on the soft sands of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa, when Matt proposed on a romantic anniversary trip in May of 2012. Two years later, the couple returned to the beach where it all began to celebrate their union with a sweet and touching, intimate ceremony under a flawless, sun-drenched sky. Watch Matt and Holly’s entire bespoke WeddingMoon experience from their barefoot “I Do’s” with a special delivery by the groom just before their photo session, to their romantic sunset dinner on the beach marking the start to a honeymoon that promised to be nothing but magical!

Best Honeymoon Destinations in the Caribbean | Sandals Resorts
The best honeymoon destinations in the world are surrounded by calm turquoise waters where romance is inspired by the exotic allure of swaying palm trees and majestic sunsets. Where the best beaches in the world stretch as far as the eye can see and extraordinary honeymoon travels are defined by the most beautiful tropical islands like Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada, and the Bahamas. Where the Caribbean’s best all-inclusive resorts and decadently romantic honeymoon suites make Sandals® the #1 honeymoon destination for two people in love. #BestHoneymoonDestinations #HoneymoonTravels #BestHoneymoonDestinationsInTheWorld

Hot Tips Make Destination Planning a Breeze

• Budget right—Develop an overall budget, keeping in mind added expenses you may incur – such as travel, hotel, meals, transfers. Buffer in any exchange rate for weddings that occur in Europe, Asia, or Mexico.

• Block out airfare for guests with their preferred carrier—Keep in mind origination points and connections. Take a test run of the transfer time and transfer type required to get the guests from point A to point B.

• Learn the marriage license requirements for the destination you are booking—For instance, in France, the couple must live in that country for 60 days to be eligible to get married there.

• Watch the weather for the dates of the wedding—Don’t plan a Caribbean wedding during hurricane season.

• Get a website and plan ahead—Available free through us, or The Knot, or consider www.weddingwindow.com. This is a great option as it allows all guests to know who to contact for travel arrangements. Allow six months mailing for destination wedding Save the Dates. Consider an online version.

• Remember you’re traveling with the gown—When traveling with your gown, don’t check the gown as luggage – you may never see it again. This applies to all members of the bridal party. For brides, Wedding Gown Specialists offers a destination gown travel kit that fits in most air place overhead compartments (www.weddinggownspecialists.com).

• Prepare for windy conditions—Make sure the veil is weighted for weddings
on a beach or it will whip around, obscuring the bride and hitting guests as the bride walks down the aisle. Weighted magnetic veil clips are available through www.savetheveil.com.

• Passports—Remind guests that valid passports are required for any travel outside the United States.

• Keep an emergency kit—Carry stain sticks with you at all times and a steamer, along with adaptors in case you cannot plug into the power strips at the hotel.

• Have your couple buy insurance—Require clients to purchase wedding insurance through vendors like www.travelers.com or www.wedsafe.com along with travel insurance.

• Travel has become safer, but one never knows what can or will disrupt a destination wedding—Weather conditions, illness, government issued warnings, etc.

• Keep your rental contracts handy—Shipping items ahead may cause a problem if they get stuck at customs. If you take things with you, like linens, pack them separately and include your rental contract inside. Keep an extra copy with you. If you get stopped at customs, you can show that these are a rental and the items will come back with you and are not being sold.

• Hire a translator—Mostly not necessary when booking with all-inclusives, but to help you become familiar with the location. Find a destination friendly locale—in Europe there are many hotels that do not welcome weddings.

Although destination weddings may involve exotic islands, romantic cities, or foreign countries, for the wedding planner, destination weddings can be a great deal of work. This is where we come in!

“As a travel agent, destination weddings are the part of my job that I love the most. The brides we get are confident that we do our utmost to make their day perfect, and that makes us all feel much more relaxed and get things going in a smoother way!”

– Lia Vincent

Getting married in another country means you and your guests can be immersed and experience the food, culture, sites, services, language and more that will make your wedding truly unique and an experience of a lifetime!

Destination weddings are weddings that take place in a location where the bride and groom do not reside. Often, these weddings are outside of one’s home country and passports are required. But, increasingly, destination weddings are being held a bit closer to home, which expands the destination wedding market. “Couples can be very creative. Whether they select an exotic resort in the South Seas, a castle in Europe, or a lodge in Northwestern Wisconsin. Making this happen, and a success, is our job.”

It’s so true that “Anything is possible!” Just look at the explosive changes in destination weddings over the past 10 years. What started as a small, niche idea has grown exponentially. Not only have the numbers increased, but the very definition of what constitutes a destination has been revised. Is a destination weddings right for you? We can help you navigate the challenges and make it a success! Explore the ancient ritual and charm of a Mayan destination wedding, as well as events in Italy and Ireland. The possibilities are truly endless! We can help you discover your unique wedding and use it to set yourself apart from the crowd!

GLAMOROUS DESTINATION WEDDINGSHAVE ADDED CHALLENGES
Destination planners face other challenges unique to their specialty, like identifying the client. In the end, not only are the bride and groom the client, but the guests as well. Planners find themselves playing host by assisting guests with questions about the location. The guests see the planner as the point person in assisting them with travel plans and questions. There are also legal and procedural challenges planners encounter. “We often get in touch with couples thinking that they can arrange their legal wedding in one to three months.” “It can be hard to make them understand that some procedures, like asking for a marriage license, especially if we are speaking of a Catholic wedding, take time. The bureaucracy of Italy is terrible. It can be quite a clash of cultures.

Budget, too, can be an issue as couples often have an unrealistic expectation that holding a wedding in a foreign country is less expensive than their home country. “Sometimes it can be hard to make them understand that if you want to get married in famous places like Venice, Rome, Florence, or Amalfi, prices can be rather steep and accommodations, especially during peak season, are very expensive. It’s then our job to make them see the other possibilities and help them choose the solutions that fit their expectations, and which do not break the bank.

Research is often the key to getting the budget right—especially outside your home country. “When working on a budget or quoting costs to the client, be sure that you have researched on-island costs and have these in writing. For example, flowers can cost more than five times what they are in the U.S.

LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS
Logistical considerations and back up plans are also critical to address in destination planning. Rain and back up options are a must. Many hotels have small or limited event space to host an inside event, so the planner must consider renting tents to ensure the wedding occurs without a hitch. Find out if the location or venue offers tents before you suggest a location. If it cannot accommodate a rain plan, move on. Sometimes, this leads to disappointment for couples set on a certain locale. “Occasionally, their dreams are not reality-based and compromises are difficult to swallow. Breaking the news is often more difficult than solving the issue.

How destination wedding specialists make those weddings perfect is in the details—incorporating local traditions, customs, and flavors into the day. Perhaps it’s being entertained through dinner by a local Mariachi group, dining on regional fare, drinking local wines, or gifting guests with sweet treats from the area. “Each time, we offer something different, depending on the style and taste of the couple. I could never think of doing the same for everyone,” says Lia, who has arranged varied events for her destination weddings including wine tastings, spa treatments, and tours of the Italian countryside.

In the end, the memories that are created for couples are life-changing moments that lead to happy endings. “Up until now, among the biggest challenges we’ve had, are a symbolic destination wedding which was planned in just three weeks; a double, twin wedding; a Catholic-Protestant wedding that needed the authorization of the Bishop; super-small weddings and quite large weddings; relaxed country-style weddings and hyper-modern weddings; beach, lakeside, and vineyard weddings,” “Oh, yes, destination weddings can be anything like this, or not be like this at all. And we are always happy to help out!

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”

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  

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.

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.