Destination Weddings

Bridezilla, Be Gone! Wedding Planning Tips

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on September 2, 2010 at 11:52 am. No comments

Are you afraid you’ll turn into Bridezilla while planning your wedding or on your wedding day? Tame the beast with these ultimate wedding planning tips.

Your wedding day is just too important to let stress ruin the fun of planning it, the events leading up to it and the Big Day itself.

Drawing from our experience as destination wedding specialists and from our own personal experience being brides, here are a few tips to allow you to enjoy this momentous occasion:

  1. Enjoy being engaged. Take time to relish your engagement – we suggest a month and an engagement party before starting to plan your destination wedding.
  2. Make it meaningful. Always keep in mind the real reasons why you’re exchanging your vows.
  3. Plan within a budget. Help keep it a stress-free event by budgeting for your destination wedding event. Nothing sucks the life out of a wedding than financial woes.
  4. Delegate tasks. Ask for help from your wedding party in planning parties and the wedding itself. Also, during the Big Day, ask someone close who’s not in the wedding party to be a go-to person for guests with questions.
  5. Control your emotions. Do you tend to hyperventilate during big events or maybe you’re emotional to the point of tears? Whenever you find yourself fighting strong emotions, try singing a silly ditty to take your mind off the negative thoughts or come up with a mantra, like: “This is the best day of my life – I’m marrying the man of my dreams!”
  6. Keep it simple, silly. Somewhat in line with #3 in this list about managing money, do the same for your time. Only plan events when you’re sure you have the time, energy and assistance to pull it off without getting overwhelmed.
  7. Calming reminders. No matter what happens with events leading up to and on the Big Day, you’ll be married! And the happy ending always trumps the speed bumps of life.
  8. Who do you plan for? Sometimes Moms are well-meaning but over-step their boundaries when their children get married. While this is a debatable subject because it’s very personal, we suggest that you plan the ceremony for you and hubby, and incorporate the Mom suggestions you like the most. Also, your guests are an important part of your celebration and you’ll want to make it as fun for them as possible. Make them your priority when planning food and entertainment.
  9. Hire a destination wedding specialist. Remember #6? Investing in a destination wedding specialist will greatly reduce your stress load. We help you mainly with the travel and accommodations for yourself, hubby and guests so you can all concentrate on having a good time. We also help keep you on-track with your planning and will liaison with the on-site coordinator on your behalf when needed! Read “Top 8 Ways a Destination Wedding Specialist Gives You Peace” for more information in how we can make your destination wedding planning easier.

Keep Bridezilla at bay when you use one or more of the above tips for planning your destination wedding!

Have we missed some essential wedding advice? Please share it below in the comment section for all the Beachside Brides-to-Be.

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Island Wedding Reception in Toronto

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on September 1, 2010 at 10:02 am. No comments

Are you planning a destination wedding and have guests who just cannot make it to your tropical celebration in the sun? Make it up to them with a Toronto island-y wedding reception!

One of the best features of a destination wedding is you get the romance and beauty of an exotic location while saving loads of money compared to a traditional wedding. The trade off to destination weddings tend to appear when a few of your beloved friends and family are unable to budget the resources for a week-long getaway.

As destination wedding specialists, we’re always looking for creative solutions so that our Beachside Couples can make their destination wedding work for everyone – like an at-home wedding reception at Toronto’s own Ward’s Island!

Have you been to Toronto’s little island paradise? Megan, our head destination wedding specialist here at Weddings By Oceans, recently enjoyed the city’s oasis at The Rectory Café twice in two months and thought it would be perfect for a beach-themed, at-home wedding reception.

The Café is a beautiful spot with a gorgeous, spacious patio and newly renovated inside bar/restaurant. Their menu features tasty, healthy cuisine, including island-y type meals like crab cakes and salmon dishes. With only a $6 ferry ride over to the island, your guests will have a chance to feel like they left the city without the expense or travel!

Here’s a video of The Rectory Café so you can get a better idea of what they offer:

Rectory Cafe — VIRTUAL TOUR from Stephen Webb Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Since the cost is low for destination weddings, hosting a separate event is a viable option for most couples. Guests who are unable to attend your destination wedding for whatever reason will appreciate the opportunity to celebrate this momentous occasion with you.

Do you have an upcoming destination wedding? Are you considering holding a separate, at-home event for guests who just can’t make it down south?

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Destination Weddings

The Big To Do about a Destination Wedding “I Do”

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 27, 2010 at 2:51 pm. 2 comments

Who wants a destination wedding, what’s the appeal and why are so many modern couples choosing destination weddings over traditional weddings? We find out in today’s post!

Our industry partners, Air Transat, published a wonderfully written article in their magazine, Atmosphere, this past spring about destination weddings. They talk about the changing trends and what’s attracting couples of all ages to these exotic wedding locales.

Check out the article, “Far and away, a great way to say I do!” (flip to page 53).

Here are the article highlights, plus a few more points we had in the bag based on feedback from our beachside brides:

What do destination wedding couples have in common?

Every couple who decides on a destination wedding wants to:

  • Be unique and redefine tradition
  • Travel and experience different cultures

What’s the big draw for destination weddings?

Traditional weddings are lovely, but there are quite a few defining characteristics of a destination wedding that appeal to many couples marrying today:

  1. An event which creates even longer-lasting memories. Destination weddings are typically a week-long celebration. The happy couple and their guests have the option to get together regularly for dinners and destination adventures before and after the Big Day.
  2. Pampering for the lovebirds. Who wouldn’t love champagne when you arrive at the hotel? What about fresh fruit and flowers every day, a private driver or an attentive concierge? (Available at some hotels, check with your destination wedding specialist!)
  3. Convenience & Cost-Savings. The hotel takes care of every wedding detail, usually in a package and for a song and dance compared to the cost of a traditional wedding. Couples who choose to stay for their honeymoon at the same hotel where they exchange vows also enjoy preferential rates. After factoring in group rates for the guests, there’s no question what type of wedding is most cost-effective!
  4. Make your wedding more YOU. Destination weddings are already different but you can personalize them even more by choosing a personally meaningful ceremony, reception at sea or an eco-friendly destination and hotel.
  5. Bridezilla, Be Gone! Who wants to be a basket-case while planning the most important day of their lives? With your own personal Cyber Maid of Honour you can actually enjoy planning your wedding! Read, “Top 8 Ways a Destination Wedding Specialist Gives You Peace.”

Oh! And how could we ever forget the uber high romance factor of exchanging your vows on a tropical beach!?

Can you think of any more benefits or allure of having a destination wedding?

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St. Lucia Destination Wedding Resorts Review

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 24, 2010 at 11:39 am. No comments

So many perfect Caribbean beaches for destination weddings and so little time! That’s why our destination wedding specialists conduct regular site inspections. Today, Megan reviews several St. Lucia resorts to help make your wedding planning easier.

Reduit Beach St. Lucia

Megan teased us with her St. Lucia familiarization (FAM) trip when she blogged about her experience at Jade Mountain three weeks ago. Then we found out just how committed she is as a dedicated destination wedding specialist when a broken toe failed to stop her from inspecting her scheduled list of St. Lucia resorts!

Now that she’s had a chance to recoup, here is the much-anticipated St. Lucia destination wedding resort review:

Cap Maison

After an informative 45 minute water taxi ride from Jade Mountain to Castries, we took a 15 minute cab ride to this little slice of paradise where we stayed for one night.

Refined yet unpretentious, Cap Maison is a beautiful enclave of villas with lovely grounds. The main reception area contains a small but well-equipped gym, spa and lounge with an “honour bar”. The Cliffside “Cliff@Cap” serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; and you have the option of room service. There are a couple of pools, and lovely seating areas around the grounds to view the spectacular sunsets.

The villas contain all the amenities with modern appliances, flat screen TVs and Bose i-pod docking stations. They have wonderful architectural details with archways, crown mouldings and wooden shutters, and the bedrooms have A/C. Some of the villas even have their own pools, so you have the choice to live it up here at Cap Maison!

This would be a perfect location for a wedding, with the option of a group renting out a block or two of villas and enjoying a relaxing and stress-free holiday or wedding. There is access to a small beach beside the property at Smuggler’s Cove with a beach bar.

The BodyHoliday LeSPORT

Located right on Cariblue’s Crescent beach, this resort offers an amazing variety of land and water sports. The spa facilities are wonderful, with daily treatments for both men and women included.  The 42 acres of grounds are lush with an excellent gazebo for weddings located near a small water feature.

The BodyHoliday means pleasure, rejuvenation and relaxation. It delivers a memorable active beach holiday combined with your favourite sports, great food, exercise programmes and personal service. You’ll leave feeling totally rejuvenated both mentally and physically.

This resort is for anyone interested in health and well-being, old or young, fit or unfit, looking for adventure or relaxation, or just looking to rediscover yourself. There’s something here for everybody.

Cotton Bay Village

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Destination Wedding Group Process Unveiled

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 19, 2010 at 10:38 pm. No comments

Besides the romantic beach, week-long vacation and cost-effectiveness, destination weddings differ from traditional weddings because of group travel and accommodation. In this post, we reveal the process behind this aspect to help make planning even easier!

Much of a successful destination wedding relies on the coordination of the travel and accommodation of the wedding group. That’s where we, as destination wedding specialists, really shine so that you can relax and actually enjoy planning your destination wedding.

We’ve hinted at the group travel process before when we posted a calendar countdown to the Big Day here on the blog. However, we thought it might be even more helpful if you saw the entire process (from your perspective) on its own.

Here’s the basic (without any glitches) destination wedding group travel and accommodation process:

  1. Contact a destination wedding specialist to help narrow down your selection.
  2. Your destination wedding specialist requests rates from Canadian tour operators (takes up to 7 business days).
  3. You and your destination wedding specialist discuss options and prices to help you decide where your destination dream wedding will take place!
  4. You’ll receive a quote shortly, valid for 7 to 30 days (depending on the tour operator).
  5. Ready to make your dream a reality? A non-refundable deposit of $150 – $300 per person is required, which will be deducted from your final travel expenses.
  6. RBC Insurance is highly recommended and offered to clients for out of country medical insurance/trip cancellation insurance. (We’ve blogged about this in how to save a destination wedding gone wrong and the most important travel tip EVER.)
  7. The final balance due dates vary. If there is an Early Booking Bonus (EBB) included in the rates, then payment is due on this date.
  8. Without the EBB, the balance is usually due 60 days prior to travel with proper spelling of names.
  9. Tickets are issued 2-3 weeks prior to travel and are usually electronic.
  10. Bon voyages!

While you’ll be leaving the group travel and accommodations mainly in our hands, we will be working together as decisions need to be made. Keep in mind that during this process, we’re performing magic behind the scenes – like getting better deals for you!

Does seeing the group travel process like this, laid out step-by-step, help you plan your destination wedding? Would you be willing to take on this process by yourself, while deciding on colours, music, food, etc.?

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Destination Weddings

Where Are You Getting Your Destination Wedding Info?

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 17, 2010 at 5:57 pm. No comments

Getting married can be as stressful as it is wonderful. Unless you’ve helped someone close to you plan a wedding, you’ve got a lot to learn and do before the Big Day. And if you’ve chosen a romantic beach wedding, there’s travel & hotel research, too. Where do you source your info?

From the colours, music and dinner to wedding resorts, destinations and planners, you’ve got a huge list of services and products to research and compare before making an investment.

There are many resources available out there to provide you the information you need to plan your destination wedding:

  • Friends &  family
  • Print magazines
  • Online magazines
  • Websites
  • Forums
  • Blogs
  • Destination wedding agencies

The list is endless, really. If you’re like most people, you find out what others have done, narrow down the choices and then compare prices before making decisions. And the internet is a huge help in this area because it comes from all over the world. Plus, anyone nowadays can publish their opinion without censorship (well, in most cases).

We’d like to know where you’ve been getting the most helpful, honest and trustworthy information for planning your destination wedding.

Did you use www.tripadvisor.com to make a decision about a hotel? Did you take the advice from a destination wedding specialist (and who) or from a couple who married at the hotel (were they strangers you met on a forum or friends)?

Please don’t be shy and if you have the time, be as specific as possible!

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Attn: All New Wedding Groups

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 13, 2010 at 2:54 pm. No comments

As the summer continues to heat up, so are things around here! Please read this post for a special announcement regarding all new wedding groups.

Weddings By Oceans is currently preparing for our upcoming wedding shows in September. We will have exciting offers and information available at that time which may help reduce the cost of your destination wedding group and assist you in making decisions.

It is for this reason, as well as finalizing fall wedding group departures, a sudden influx of business and our commitment to superior service, we have decided to wait-list all new inquires until September 13th.

This is effective as of today (Friday, August 13th) at 5pm and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We ask for your understanding and patience as we gather the appropriate resources to provide you the service you deserve.

In the meantime, we would love to discuss your wedding plans and invite you to come meet us in person at the fall wedding shows:

  1. Sept 10-12 –  National Bridal Show in Mississauga at the International Centre.
  2. Sept 24-26 –  Canada’s Bridal Show in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

All Brides will be refunded their admission to the show when they book with us and in addition, we’re also offering a $150 discount per couple for the bride and groom when they book with us by October 31, 2010.

If you are unable to visit us at the shows, we’d like to extend the same offer as a thank you for inquiring. You are also eligible to receive the $150 discount per couple for the bride and groom when you book with Wedding By Oceans by October 31, 2010.

We hope to see you at the fall wedding shows!

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Destination Weddings in Anguilla

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 11, 2010 at 9:08 am. No comments

Today’s testimonial is brought to you by our trusted industry colleague Susan Carvahlo from Air Canada Vacations. She reviews 6 Anguilla hotels that might be the perfect spot for your destination wedding.

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean lies a small wonder, Anguilla.

Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, 16 miles long, and 3 miles at the widest point that has 33 white sand beaches with crystal clear waters. The island is a retreat for couples, families and singles offering a wide range of accommodations that are among the finest in the world.

Cuisine is a central feature of the Anguillian experience, there is over 85 restaurants that offer some of the best Caribbean dishes. It is the warmth and friendliness of the Anguilla people that will make your experience truly incomparable!

One of the world’s most tranquil eco-tourism getaways, Anguilla’s coral and limestone flatlands and salt ponds offer the ideal setting for shooting spectacular photographs or simply watching the sun as it melts into the sea. Carefully maintained and preserved by the gracious and proud population, Anguilla is a nature lover’s dream.

It’s a sailor’s dream, too. An honoured tradition of locally built and designed boats is shown off at regattas on national holidays, particularly during the annual Carnival celebrations.

Anguilla is a diverse mix of experiences that will make you slow down, relax and unwind! Escape to this place off the beaten path, that will offer you ultimate bliss, no-worry weather, warm smiles, stunning sunrises, shimmering sunsets, blissful beaches, gourmet cuisine and total seclusion!

HOW TO GET THERE

Air Canada Vacations is offering a direct non-stop flight from Toronto to St. Martin/Maarten beginning December 18, 2010 until April 9, 2011. Plus, we offer convenient connectors from 65 Canadian Cities.

  • Fly into St. Martin/St. Maarten and enjoy a 30-minute ferry ride to Anguilla followed by a 15-minute bus transfer to your hotel.
  • USD$1 daily government tourism levied tax, paid by guest on departure.
  • Please note a USD$20 per person departure tax is to be paid in cash upon departure from Anguilla.
  • Children under 12 are free.
  • Entry Requirements – Passport

Note: The Anguilla Air Services (AAS) offers daily charters for approximately USD$80 one way/per person from St. Martin/Maarten to Anguilla. For full details, go to  to www.anguillaairservices.com.

HOTELS & RESORTS CAP JULUCA (5 star)

www.capjuluca.com

Cap Juluca has 72 Rooms and Suites, 6 Pool Villas. Moorish-style architecture, two miles of pristine white sand beach on Maundays Bay. The hotel has 3 restaurants: Spice (pan-Asian cuisine) in a Moroccan setting; Pimms (Eurobbean fusion) and Blue (casual dinner on the beach).

A full menu of spa services allows guests to indulge in the privacy of their room or on the beach. The must-play Temenos Golf Club with its Greg Norman designed course is only 10 minutes away.

Optional Meal Plans:
Continental Breakfast Plan (daily).
Full breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Cap Juluca Hotel Review

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Proof We’re Dedicated Destination Wedding Specialists

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 9, 2010 at 9:03 am. No comments

Mail carriers have their motto and now we have ours: “Neither blowing winds nor rain nor heat nor broken toes stay these destination wedding specialists from the thorough completion of their appointed site inspections.”

If you’re following the Beachside Brides Blog, you’ll know our fearless leader and original Cyber Maid of Honour, Megan, recently travelled to St. Lucia to inspect properties for destination weddings. Shortly after publishing her live Testimonial Tuesday post about Jade Mountain and before she was to begin her intensive trek around the island, St. Lucia broke her toe!

That’s right, the island decided Megan needed an added challenge so she could prove her dedication as a destination wedding specialist. We say the island did it because there’s no good reason for the break – it just happened as she was walking. The situation was so unusual that it wasn’t until she returned home and had it x-rayed before she knew for certain what had happened.

Despite the pain, Megan knew she had to press on for the sake of her brides. Giving herself the first day to heal her mysterious wound, she rescheduled all her site inspections for the entire week. Hobbling around the mountainous island of St. Lucia, here is her itinerary:

Tuesday

8:30am – Boat transfer to Castries from Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet.
Stayed overnight at Cap Maison.

Wednesday (Site inspections)

Thursday

Transfer to Coconut Bay for 3 nights.

Saturday

Now, isn’t that dedication!? If Megan’s itinerary peaked your interest, stay tuned for an upcoming Testimonial Tuesday post where she’ll share her FAM trip report with us in a single review of St. Lucia for destination weddings.

Have you been to St. Lucia for a vacation or a destination wedding? We’d love to hear about it.

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Testimonial Tuesday: Karisma Properties

Posted by Beach Bride Blogger on August 3, 2010 at 1:12 pm. No comments

Karisma is one of our favourite destination wedding properties in Mexico and now Nikki, one of our Cyber Maids of Honour, knows why. She just came back from her very first familiarization `Fam’ trip to perform a site inspection of Karisma’s Azul and El Dorado resorts in the Mayan Riviera.

Being a new agent, I was a little nervous about attending my first Fam trip at Karisma properties. I didn’t know what to expect except for the great things I heard at work about these hotels. Before leaving, I researched each property so I’d know a little more. However, once I arrived I realized no one, pictures or descriptions, could have prepared me for the beauty!

Each Karisma property has its own unique and special quality about it. These hotels are Gourmet Inclusive, from the food to the incredible service and this is all included at no extra cost to the guests.

I have been to resorts all over Mexico, Dominican and Cuba but this is the first time I was in complete awe of the entire appeal of this chain and what is has to offer clients. Although this is a five star chain, they have something to offer for anyone, in any age category. You can go there with your loved one for a romantic getaway or go away with the family and stay in one of the many family suites the Azul properties have to offer.

Just a few of the amenities and Gourmet Inclusive that each property has to offer are:

  • Personalized check in, no waiting in line and a glass of champagne is awaiting your arrival.
  • Beautifully decorated Jacuzzi’s in all suites.
  • Spa services.
  • Sky massages, massages over the ocean in one of the “Sky” beds.
  • Full menu 24 hour room service.
  • Turn down service.Aromatherapy menus.
  • Pillow menus.
  • Personal concierge services.
  • All restaurants are “A la Carte” – no buffets and no reservations.

All of this and more is offered at each hotel and is catered to whatever suits you and your individual needs.

EL DORADO PROPERTIES (Adults only)

EL DORADO SEASIDE

This is the hotel that I stayed in while on my Fam trip and I had an entire day to look around the hotel to become familiar with it before the other agents got here.

When I first arrived, I was expecting a huge lobby with a front desk to check me in. But to my surprise, it was a small but welcoming entrance where I was greeted with my glass of champagne and then they checked me in personally at a small desk with my personal concierge. It was different than anything I was used to but it made it a very personal and somewhat romantic welcoming.

My room was nothing like I had stayed in before. The basic rooms are all suites, and where I stayed, it was anything but basic! It had a 4 post canopy bed, a flat screen TV, double sinks for him and her, a large stand up shower, and my favourite, the Jacuzzi tub with curtains all around it. I loved it!

There are 282 suites at this hotel each with a Jacuzzi tub, marble or Mexican tiles, safety deposit boxes, and every suite has a terrace or balcony. The swim up suites were my favourite, I only hope to be able to stay in one someday! Each one has a lazy river that is right outside your hotel room on your balcony. Another first for me!

The property itself is located along a white sandy beach that has a coral reef directly in front of it. The Karisma resorts are going “green” and the reef is protected so no guests are able to swim directly in the coral to destroy it.

There were a few weddings on property while I was there, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them. The wedding locations are set on the beach with a beautiful gazebo, set up with whatever colour design you like with as many of your closest family and friends as you like. This hotel caters to couples who want to go away for a romantic vacation or just to get away from it all.

By the way, the El Dorado Seaside has also been awarded by Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten romantic hotels in the world. After my visit, I’m not surprised!

EL DORADO MAROMA

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