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What is
a Destination Wedding?
As the
cost of wedding climbs, many couples plan a destination wedding. That
is, they plan to have the wedding and honeymoon at the same location.
Instead of hosting a large reception, the couple invites only their
nearest and dearest to a mini-vacation. The money they would have spent
on a traditional wedding will provide their family and selected friends
with an entire weekend of memories in a great vacation spot, instead of
one afternoon in a reception hall.
Many
wonderful choices are available and the choice of the individual couple
depends on special interests, location preference, type of venue,
assistance available and budget. If planning includes invited guests,
their needs and interests need to be taken into consideration, too.
If you are
considering a destination wedding, keep reading.
How to
find wedding professionals, service providers and vendors at the
destination you chose for your wedding?
Various planning options are available to you. But even before you examine
them you need to know where to start and what to do. Well, once you have
chosen the destination contact the visitors information center and
request information about what is, and what is not available in their
area. Request brochures including those of wedding facilities, resorts,
hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, mansions, chapels etc...
Check the internet for wedding service providers, vendors and
professionals and go to their web sites.
Do you like the look and feel of the site?
Does it provide you with the information you are looking for?
Did you find a clearly posted name, address, phone and email contact?
If not, skip it and go to another site.
Bookmark (favorite) the sites that are agreeable to you, and contact
them.
Planning
options
You can plan the wedding by yourselves. If so, you may wish to utilize
the Internet, phone and mail in your search for wedding professionals,
service providers and vendors. We are talking about your wedding. You
want the best and the best deal. So take time and choose carefully.
Contact them and judge their level of service and integrity before you
make your selection. Did they respond in a timely manner?
Did they take the time and make an effort to reply to all your inquiries
in detail?
If contacted by mail or email, did they include a phone number, time
zone and days and hours of operation in their reply?
Did they seem sincere or over eager? You'll need to communicate with
them often and choose the one you built a trusting relationship with. OR
Find a resort, hotel, bed and breakfast, a villa on the Riviera, a mansion,
a cruise or any other venue that offers wedding planning services for
guests who stay there. You'd be surprised how many of these places have
hosted weddings in the past, and may even have a wedding coordinator on
staff. Check if they can accommodate the ceremony and reception right on
site, or if they they make recommendations or arrangements. OR
Find a wedding chapel at the location you're interested in, that
provides complete wedding packages. Chapel packages usually include
photographs, flowers, music, officiant, and even marriage license. The
only drawback to accepting complete packages is that, though they are
the least expensive, they come as-is and you don't have a lot of control
over some of the details. Additionally, you and your guests may be put
off by the in-and-out nature of the ceremony. Generally the chapel will
only arrange for the ceremony. You'll still need to arrange for lodging accommodations
and if you so desire, a reception. OR
Hire a local wedding coordinator in your wedding destination. If you
have acquaintances in that area, ask them to collect references. Check
the internet under the terms -wedding coordinator in (city and state)
and - wedding planner in (city and state)- in your favorite search
engine. Contact the ones whose websites and information attract you and
hire a wedding planner based where you plan to have your wedding. A
planner who is familiar with the facilities, wedding service providers
and vendors available.
But if you are planning to get married abroad, unless you have friends
or family living in the general area of your destination wedding site,
your best bet is to utilize the expertise of a travel agent who
specializes in destination weddings and honeymoons. You'll need to start
early and furnish the travel agent with information. Request that the
travel agent assures that she/he arrange for every detail and guarantee
that you have everything in place and confirmed at least 3 months before
the wedding. You need plenty of time to inform your family and invited
frieds, allowing them time to prepare all the travel arrangements and
necessary documents.
Information
You Need for a Wedding Abroad
Different countries have different requirements for granting marriages
to take place on their soil.
You'll need to know and be prepared in order for everything to go
smoothly. If you work with travel agents who specialize in weddings and
are also familiar with your destination, they should advise you.
Otherwise, you'll need to contact the consulate and ask them if:
you need an entry visa.
there are any residency requirements - that is if there is a waiting
period before you can get married.
you need to provide any documentation and if so, does it have to be
translated.
you need to provide any medical records or undergo any medical tests and
how long in advance of the wedding do they need to be submitted.
there is a waiting period between the time you obtain the marriage
license and the wedding and if so, how long do you need to wait.
there any paperwork that needs to be prepared in advance and if so, how
long before the wedding does it need to be submitted.
you need any witnesses, and if so, how many.
What are the ordinances regarding civil and religious ceremonies?
Is there anything else you need to know?
Unless you
use a third party, present the following to to the representative of the
lodging facility you plan to use.
list of
details, services and recreation you desire
Now that your options are before you, you need to put together your list
of details, services and recreation you desire. write them down in a
priority order.
INFORMATION
YOU NEED TO PROVIDE:
Your total budget
Your guest list
What expenses will you pay for how many guests? None - Wedding Guest Accommodations
- Travel - All.
For travel - your day of departure and day of return, your guests' day
of departure and day of return.
For lodging - your date of arrival and date of departure, your guests'
day of arrival and day of departure.
Your wedding date.
Time of ceremony, time of reception and duration
Style of wedding
Number of guests
Who will make the guests' travel and lodging reservations?
Who will make the bride and groom's travel and lodging reservations?
Destination: USA (state, city) - Canada - Mexico - the Caribbean's -
South America - Europe - Asia - Africa - Australia add as many details
as possible.
Special wedding theme: Disney - beach - western - country - floral
etc...
Accommodations: Bungalow - condo - economy hotel - luxury hotel - lodge
- motel - resort - rented villa - yacht - cruise ship - other.
Fun vacation activities: beach - casino - cruise - shopping - spa -
sports (swimming, golf, exercising equipment, etc...) - tours
SERVICES
YOU NEED FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY:
Catering or kitchen facilities
Ceremony location
Clergy - officiant
reception location
bar tendering
dance floor
Wedding accessories: unity candles and holders - cake serving set -
bridal garter - Guestbook and pen - toasting flutes - ring pillow -
bridal purse - caketop
Florists
Attire for bride - bridesmaids - mothers - flower girl
Attire for groom - ushers - ring bearer - fathers
Marriage licenses
photographers,
Videographers,
rehearsal meal (lunch - dinner)
wedding cakes
Decorations
hair and make-up
Wedding music
Wedding favors
Rentals,
linens
Valet parking
other
We
recommend that if possible, both bride and groom will be involved in the
decision making and interviews.
If you
interview potential wedding vendors in person or by phone, have a note
pad and pen handy, to write down important information and questions
that may arise during your interview. If you interview them by email,
print every communication and keep it in a folder.
Questions
for the representative of the lodging facility:
How long have you been accommodating wedding parties?
How many wedding clients have you served?
Do you offer any guarantees?
What are your rates for the different accommodations (rooms - suites)
you offer?
Do you offer bridal packages ?*
Do you offer discount for a block of rooms?
Do you offer a free room for every so many rooms?**
do you offer complementary lodging accommodations for Bride and Groom?
Do you provide transportation from and to the airport?
Are any meals included as part of the stay?
Do you provide rollaway beds to accommodate children?
Will you deliver small welcome gifts, we provide, to our guests' rooms?
What additional expenses may be charged?
Do you provide an insured and bonded babysitting service?
How much and by when will we need to put down the deposit?
What is the latest time frame for making changes?
Do they provide you with a written contract?
Does the contract include a 3 day cancellation clause?
* If you
plan your reception to take place at a bed and breakfast, resort or
hotel, it is most likely that they will accommodate your stay for the
night before and/or the night after the wedding. If you ask, you'll find
out that many hotels and resorts provide bridal accommodations as part
of the package, though it may be presented as their wedding gift to the
newlyweds.
** Some resorts and hotels offer a free room for every so many rooms.
(For every X number of rooms you get one free.)
You made
your choice! Now you need to receive a written contract signed by the
person in charge, and dated. The contract must include all of your
responsibilities and all of the responsibilities, warranties and
guarantees offered by the facility. Caveat Emptor - Buyer beware! Read
each contract very carefully, on, under and above the line. Be sure that
you understand it fully and agree with all the terms. If you have
questions, concerns, or are uncertain, contact them for clarification.
In most parts of the USA you have 3 days to examine the contract and if
you need to, cancel.
Copyrights
© 2004 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser, A-wedding Day and Gan
Publishing
Copyrights
© 2004 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser, Nily Glaser is the founder of
A-wedding Day, A-wedding Day a
very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a discount
shopping mall for wedding gifts, supplies and bridal accessories.
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