Destination Weddings?

Im looking into getting married and honeymooning in Cabo (mexico). How did your destination weddings work out? Was it everything you imagined? And how involved are you in making the arrangements (such as menu options, flower arangements)? Answers from people who has had a destination wedding or have had someone close to them have one only please! Thanks.

Destination Weddings?
Really, you're asking several questions, here.....



(for the record, let me just state that my fiancee and I are currently planning our destination wedding in Hawai'i...and we also just returned from a family friend's destination wedding in Grand Cayman...)



First of all (and I can't stress this enough)...unless you have good friends/family who live in your destination AND are willing to help you plan, HIRE A WEDDING COORDINATOR!!!



See, unless you can afford the time and money to take AT LEAST a couple of trips to your destination to organize stuff, you're never going to get everything coordinated.



Think about it, not only do you have the ceremony and reception to think about...you also have to worry about coordinating flowers, decorations, bar set up and tending, wedding favors, transportation to and from the ceremony, music/dance floor, your marriage license, table linens, flatware and dishes, centerpieces, hotel/condo reservations, the minister/officiant who will marry you, etc...etc...etc. That's ALOT for someone who actually LIVES there to take care of...not to mention someone who lives in a different COUNTRY!!!



Honestly, hire a wedding coordinator. Look for reviews on the internet and do a phone interview with several before you pick one...and make darn sure that you like what you're hearing from whoever you pick. This person is going to be your eyes, ears, and mouth for your wedding planning and you are going to be relying on him/her more than you can imagine, so trust is a BIG issue.



Now then...as far as how much input you'll have...well, it depends. How much do you want? If you want control over everything (as my fiancee and I do) then a good wedding coordinator will work with you to make that happen. We're in contact with ours almost daily about stuff like the decorations in the tent (we're having our reception outside), the specific types of flowers we want in our bouquets/leis, the kind of liquor we want in our bar, the menu, and the color of table linens. However, if we just told her, "our budget is 'x', the colors we like are 'a' and 'b'. Make our wedding happen." she'd do that too. Really...a good coordinator will make the level of your involvement largely up to you.



Finally, PLEASE don't let the suggestion that a destination wedding is "tacky" or "rude" dissuade you from doing it. Yes, you are likely going to have to sacrifice some of your guest list...and yes, there will be people who are "offended" by the suggestion that they spend their vacation attending your wedding....



BUT...the thing is, this is YOUR wedding and the day YOU want to remember for the rest of your life! If it's your dream to get married in Cabo, then GO GET MARRIED IN CABO!!! The people who REALLY want to will come and the people who don't, won't. It's that simple. If you spend the rest of your life trying not to offend ANYONE, you'll be pretty miserable, 'cause you'll never please yourself.



(Incidentally, if destination weddings are "tacky" or "rude", then how come they're so popular?)



Anyway...go. Go get married in Cabo. And have a WONDERFUL time!!!!
Reply:I had a destination wedding in Jamaica. We hired a wedding coordinator who did an excellent job. We stayed in contact with each other by email and phone. Up until we left, I was very anxious and stressed... worried that everything wouldn't be how I wanted it. Once we arrived at the resort and I met her in person, all those worries went away. My wedding was everything I dreamed of and more.



TIP: Keep the invitation list small... the more guests you have, the more time you have to spend doing activities/dinners with them. And if they choose to stay at a different resort, you will be responsible for day passes for them to come to your resort (which can run $100 pp).
Reply:If you can afford it, hire a wedding planner...I think they work the best for these type of weddings, well worth the money....
Reply:I'm answering your question that you left on my posting! Hi!

Well I am professional wedding planner. I am certified novice member in the association of bridal consultant! My website is www.uniqueventweddingplanner.com, which I will be renewing this weekend!

I have worked with a top wedding planner located in Miami, Fl. Her name is Anna Cruz!



Thanks,

Patricia Pamphile

Unique Event Wedding Planner
Reply:I am a certified wedding planner and am soon going to be also a certified destination wedding planner.



See if you can find a destination wedding planner in your area. They are experts in dealing with the resorts.
Reply:I'm planning my destination wedding right now and it requires a great deal of trust. I had to hire all the vendors through the internet and phone interviews. So I technically haven't met most of them. You have to be confident and comfortable with your decisions. So if you're a control freak and need to have your hands on everything I don't suggest planning a destination. However if you're relaxed and willing to go with the flow it's fairly quite simply. At least for me it is.
Reply:My fiance best friend had one.... and I find them terrible tacky. You want people to go and pay their way therefore basically paying for the wedding since it's all inclusive. His trip was about $800 per person and he was pissed when we refused to go. We both didn't have that type of money to spend and also it's rude to ask people to use their vacation time on your wedding.



Elope and only invite very close family... don't invite 150 people and think they are going to go.....



None of his friends went- only family.