Destination Weddings

Tying the Knot with DestinationWeddings.com

Posted by on October 14, 2011 at 3:36 pm. One comment

We’ve been a bit absent on the blog recently but we have good reason. Today’s post announces our biggest news EVER! Here’s the news release we produced to share this exciting news with our clients, industry partners and potential clients.

DestinationWeddings.com to Expand in Canadian Market by “Tying the Knot” with Weddings By Oceans

Worldwide Leader in Producing Destination Weddings Responds to
Increasing Demand with Toronto Office Opening

WAYLAND, Mass. (October 13, 2011) – DestinationWeddings.com, the largest producer of destination weddings in the world, today announced a union with Weddings By Oceans, one of the top five producers of destination weddings in Canada, to launch DestinationWeddings.com LLC (dba DestinationWeddings.com Canada) on October 1. Led by industry veteran Megan McWhinnie-Crouse, DestinationWeddings.com Canada will be headquartered in Toronto with plans to add 100 Certified Destination Wedding Specialists throughout Canadian provinces by the end of 2012.

“We are so pleased that DestinationWeddings.com and Weddings By Oceans have tied the knot,” said Ed Cotton, chief executive officer of DestinationWeddings.com. “Our respective companies share a passion for providing couples and brides-to-be with specialized romance travel services, ensuring they experience dream destination weddings and romance getaways that are stress-free and personalized. As demand by Canadian couples increased, we knew it was vital to partner with a highly-reputable company like Weddings By Oceans to further our presence in Canada.”

DestinationWeddings.com has been the largest producer of destination weddings in Canada for the past six years. Upon joining forces with Weddings By Oceans, one of the top five producing destination wedding specialists in Canada – certified by The Wedding Planning Institute of Canada and registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) – DestinationWeddings.com Canada will be introduced as the trusted leader in the market.

“We are very excited to combine forces with DestinationWeddings.com and build upon our esteemed reputation as the most recognized destination wedding company in Canada,” said McWhinnie-Crouse, managing director of DestinationWeddings.com Canada. “Together, Weddings By Oceans and DestinationWeddings.com have helped produce more than 13,000 destination weddings. With our unparalleled experience, we are confident DestinationWeddings.com Canada will be the top choice for couples and brides-to-be seeking specialized expertise and support in producing dream destination weddings, honeymoons, and romance getaways.”

McWhinnie-Crouse has 25 years of experience in the travel industry, during which time she visited more than 30 countries, enabling her to provide firsthand advice on the ideal destination to suit each couple’s preferences and needs. McWhinnie-Crouse started her esteemed career with Club Med, where she worked in the field and later in the Canadian sales office in Toronto. Over the next decade, she held various positions for companies including Conquest Vacations, Trans National Travel, and SuperClubs, which allowed her to live in destinations such as Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Prior to joining Oceans Travel in 2004, McWhinnie-Crouse was the manager of Destination Services for Air Canada Vacations, overseeing 22 Caribbean destinations and 87 destination representatives. After four years with Oceans Travel, she started her own company dedicated solely to destination weddings – Weddings By Oceans.

As managing director of DestinationWeddings.com Canada, McWhinnie-Crouse will seek to grow DestinationWeddings.com Canada to include more than 100 Certified Destination Wedding specialists from provinces across the country.

Headquartered in Toronto, DestinationWeddings.com Canada will offer couples a full-service “one stop shopping” approach to destination weddings and romance travel. Destination weddings are different from typical weddings and honeymoons and therefore require the planning of a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist.

Upon registering on DestinationWeddings.com Canada, a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist works with the client to determine the best destination and resort based on both their needs and wants.  Once the location has been booked, a resort wedding coordinator will manage the on-site details while a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist stays by the couple’s side through the entire process.

As a full-service company, DestinationWeddings.com Canada provides each couple with professional and personalized wedding planning services, the buying power to secure the best rates on travel packages for the wedding party and guests, a dedicated 24-hour hotline for the bride-to-be, and a complimentary wedding website, which serves as an interactive community and guides for couples and guests. To date, more than 110,000 destination wedding websites have been created.

Opening October 1, DestinationWeddings.com Canada’s Toronto office will be located at 45A West Wilmot Street, Suite 206 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. For more information about DestinationWeddings.com Canada, please contact Megan McWhinnie-Crouse at 905-764-2933 or mcrouse@destinationweddings.com.

About DestinationWeddings.com

DestinationWeddings.com provides full-service destination wedding planning for couples across the globe.  Destination weddings are different from typical weddings and honeymoons and therefore require the planning of an experienced travel agent or Certified Destination Wedding Specialist.  Combining the personal service and expertise of more than 175 Certified Destination Wedding Specialists with the technology of its informative and easy-to-use website, DestinationWeddings.com is the worldwide leader in producing destination weddings that ensure couples experience carefree celebrations that exceed their dreams and desires.  In addition to its planning services, DestinationWeddings.com offers complimentary wedding websites, which serve as interactive communities and guides for couples and guests.  As the recognized leader in the industry with resort partners in 35 countries around the world, DestinationWeddings.com has created more than 12,000 successful destination weddings.  www.destinationweddings.com

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Media contacts: Jenn Myres and Alexandra McClure at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500, alexandra@glodownead.com.

We are SO pleased to be partnering with DestinationWeddings.com because this will open up even more resources for us to help create dream destination weddings for all our clients! Actually, we’re so excited about this news that we’re at the Cancun Travel Mart, a travel industry convention this week to announce our “tying the knot” with DestinationWeddings.com.

If you’re looking for help to plan your dream destination wedding and wish to work with only the best, please contact us today!

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Thank You for a Great Fall Bridal Show!

Posted by on September 16, 2011 at 2:40 pm. No comments

A few weeks ago we invited you to join us at the National Bridal Show here in Toronto. Well, the show was last weekend and it was phenomenal! Here’s a special message (and offer) from our Main Cyber Maid of Honour and owner of Weddings By Oceans, Megan Crouse.

On behalf of Weddings By Oceans, I would like to thank you for stopping by our booth at the National Bridal Show this past weekend.

A very special thanks to each future Bride and Groom who took the time to speak to us and complete a Client Quote Request & Application Form. It was great to meet you and discuss your destination wedding plans. We’re excited to begin working with each of you and assisting you in any way possible with your destination wedding planning and travel arrangements.

For those of you who provided firm dates of departure and hotels of interest; we sent off your individual requests for quotes to the tour operators this morning. Please allow 7 to 10 days for a quote.

Brides and grooms who we spoke to that we require further information from prior to sending off your request will be contacted this week by one of the coordinators from our office to discuss your group needs in more detail.

As a show special, one of our tour operator partners Sunquest Vacations has offered Weddings By Oceans brides and grooms the following EXCLUSIVE offer:

Deposit your group by September 30, 2011 with Weddings By Oceans and the Bride and Groom will receive a $200.00 off their room total, and each of your deposited adult guests will receive $50.00 off  their booking.

Group minimum requirement 10 adult passengers. Only passengers who have paid deposit by the due date will receive the discount. Exclusive to Sunquest Vacations SUN destinations only.

Check out our Sunquest Wedding Show Offer Flyer (pdf) for specific details. To learn more about Sunquests product line up, visit: http://www.sunquestvacations.ca/

In the meantime, if you have any questions or require further information please feel free to contact us!

Thanks again. It was a pleasure meeting you!

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What to Include on Your Wedding Website

Posted by on September 1, 2011 at 9:25 am. No comments

So you’ve booked your destination wedding and you’re ready give all your guests the info they need to make a decision about accepting your invitation. One of the best ways to do this these days is with a wedding website. But what do you publish exactly? Here are a few ideas.

Once most of your bigger wedding decisions (like date, destination, venue and theme) have been made, and before you send out your save-the-dates (click here for a sample), it’s a good idea to create a wedding website.

Two excellent sources for creating a free wedding website are: MomentVille.com and WeddingAnnouncer.com.

You can then share this link on your save-the-dates. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details for your site yet; remember: you want to give your guests as much notice of the date as possible so they can start arranging their plans. As long as your site is up and running, you can always publish, “More details to follow.”

Your wedding website is an online resource for your guests so that those who are serious about attending can log on and see frequently updated details about your wedding as they become available. The information you’ll share on your website should be geared towards helping your guests make a decision to attend and help them plan for the trip.

What to Include on Your Wedding Website

Here’s a list of what we suggest you publish on your website:

  1. The Destination. What’s so great about the destination you chose for your wedding? Make sure to include its local colour: history, customs and interesting facts about the culture and cuisine. All of this will help get your guests psyched for the journey! Try linking to the tourist board website as it’s most likely a resource that contains a lot of this information.
  2. Travel Info. Let guests know the travel documentation they’ll need, currency info, where to exchange money while in the destination, travel options to and from the hotel and airport or if you’ve arranged this for them, links and/or contact info for travel options while in the destination, and anything else you can think of that will help them be prepared and get around. They might also like to know the time zone difference between their hometowns and the destination, and the cheapest options they have if they’d like phone home during the wedding week.
  3. The Hotel. There are so many benefits to your guests booking together as a group and staying at the hotel where you’ll get married. Not only do you get group rates but if you all book together, the hotel is less likely to send members of a group to alternate lodgings if they should happen to overbook. (You might share this link to our page on group booking advantages.) Plus, almost all of our couples have commented how convenient it was having everyone at the same hotel for outings and dinners, and having the peace of mind knowing everyone will show up to the ceremony on time.
  4. Local Hotel Options. It’s always helpful for guests to have options, especially if they decided last minute because of extenuating circumstances.
  5. The Weather. How will your guests know what to pack if they don’t know the typical weather conditions for your destination of choice at the time of year when your wedding will be held?
  6. Local Sites & Activities. Do a little research and include a list of sights and things-to-do in the area that your guests can choose to do on their own while in the destination.
  7. Scheduled Activities. Many couples organize a few activities for the group so guests have a chance to do something fun with the couple outside wedding-related functions. Use links to descriptions of these outings so guests can get excited about joining the group!
  8. Dress Code. There’ll be various wedding events and guests will appreciate having an idea of what to pack for each. Include the dress code for the ceremony, reception, special dinners, restaurant dress codes, etc. To help them even more with their packing tasks, share our blog posts: Helpful Packing List for Ladies and Helpful Packing List for Men (scroll down to the bottom).
  9. How to Book. Make it super easy for guests to book with the group once they’ve made a decision. Include the price with deposit amounts and the date of final payment. If you’re working with a destination wedding specialist, they’ll provide you with this information to share. Also worth sharing is information on travel insurance, send them to our blog post, “The Most Important Travel Tip Ever” and let them know they can obtain travel insurance with your destination wedding specialist.
  10. Your Destination Wedding Specialist’s Contact Info. You’re going to be very busy from now until the wedding. One of the benefits of working with a destination wedding specialist is that you can ask your guests to contact your Cyber Maid of Honour if they have any questions about the travel and accommodation aspects of your wedding. If you choose Weddings By Oceans, add a link to our contact us page.

These 10 sections will get you started but you may discover more as you continue your planning. Make sure to update your website regularly. To help keep your stress levels down, try scheduling a small block of time every week for this task and keep a list with you titled, “website additions” so you can add to it as ideas come to you.

Have you any ideas that will help your guests choose to attend your destination wedding that we haven’t covered in this post?

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Riu Palace Aruba Wedding: Margaret & Alan

Posted by on August 30, 2011 at 12:36 am. One comment

One of the perks of being Destination Wedding Specialists is hearing all the wonderful wedding stories from our Beachside Brides and Grooms. Here’s what Margaret and Alan had to say about their wedding at Riu Palace Aruba in early June of this year, some pictures & hotel features for your review!

Aruba is among one of the most beautiful spots in the world (as you can tell by Margaret and Alan’s photos). It’s a semi desert-like island in the middle of the Caribbean and stands out as an exclusive, sophisticated destination. It’s got world-class beaches, a spotless capital with Dutch-style houses, lively night-life and a gorgeous, well-preserved natural environment.

Here’s what Margaret and Alan had to say about their destination wedding experience:

Aruba was fantastic! I don’t even know where to start! Service was excellent, food was amazing (I think everyone definitely gained a few pounds), everyone enjoyed their time there and they are all asking us where we are going next year!! (They want to make this a yearly trip.)

Carolina was perfect [the hotel wedding coordinator]. We met with her 2 days before the wedding and she’s a very nice person to chat with. She even gave us some ideas if we want to buy a property/land in Aruba.

Thanks again for helping us. I wouldn’t have known what to do without you and your team. I think I would have been a bridezilla!!!

I’ve attached some pictures for you to share with everyone. By the way, our photographer from Aruba was awesome!

About Riu Palace Aruba

This hotel definitely comes across as “swanky.” (Did you notice the hotel lobby in this photo of Margaret and Alan!?)

    It’s all-inclusive which means it includes accommodations, taxes, all meals and unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non) and gratuities. The Riu Palace Aruba also has 24-hour room service!

They have two swimming pools (1000 and 223 sq metres) one with adjoining jacuzzi; children’s swimming pool; complimentary sun loungers, towels and parasols by the pool area and a sun terrace.

In terms of body love options, the “Vita Novus Spa” offers different beauty treatments, hairdresser, beauty salon and massages (additional charge). Plus a complimentary gym, sauna and jacuzzi.

They have a casino and gift shop, as well as 2 conference rooms (ideal for wedding indoor receptions).

Accommodations

The Riu Palace Aruba has 450 guestrooms with turn-down service.

Their junior suites feature bathrooms with hydro-massage bathtubs, central air, mini-bars and liquor dispensers, integrated lounge area with 2 steps between levels (with sofa) and more! Most offer a balcony or terrace.

Regular suites feature bathrooms with hydro-massage bathtubs, shower cubicles, bidets and bathrobes; sea views; integrated lounge area with 2 steps between levels (with sofa); balcony or terrace. Suites with jacuzzi on terrace can be reserved.

Double rooms have carpeted floors, all the regular offerings, like central air, telephone, satellite TV, hairdryer, iron and ironing boards, electronic safe, etc., plus French balconies.

Food & Bevvies

Breakfast:

  • Full American breakfast buffet, on the spot cooking stations, fruits, juices and Cava
  • Continental breakfast/snack

Lunch:

  • Hot and cold buffet and on the spot cooking stations
  • Pizzas, pasta, salads and assorted desserts

Dinner:

  • Buffets and on the spot cooking stations
  • Special evenings: theme buffets (twice a week)

Optional dining (reservations required):

  • “Krystal” Fusion Restaurant (à la carte)
  • “Sayuri” Japanese restaurant (à la carte)
  • “Milano” Italian restaurant (à la carte; buffet starters)
  • “Nautilus” poolside restaurant/grill and steakhouse with non-smoking section and terrace (à la carte)

Bars:

  • “Bon Bini” lobby bar
  • “Barry’s” bar with terrace
  • Casino bar (not included in All-Inclusive)
  • Sports bar
  • “Palm Beach” poolside bar with swim-up bar

Riu Palace Aruba Weddings

Riu weddings offer 3 types of ceremonies: civil, religious or renewal of vows.

Civil ceremonies must be performed at City Hall by a judge and are legally recognized. Religious and renewal of vows are performed by a non-denominational Minister and can be performed on the beach but they are not legally recognized by Aruba. Couples must already be legally married.

Wedding Locations
  • Gazebo: Maximum number 50 people. For religious weddings & renewal of vows.
  • City Hall: Maximum number 60 people. For civil ceremonies.
Riu Wedding Packages

Riu Palace Aruba offers 3 wedding packages: Classic, Royal and Caprice. Click on this link for the package details.

Congratulations to Margaret and Alan on their marriage! We’re so happy you and your wedding group enjoyed your week-long celebration in Aruba. Thank you for your testimonial and for sharing your beautiful wedding photos with us.

Are you impressed with the Hotel Riu Palace Aruba? If you’re thinking of having your dream destination wedding there, please contact a Weddings By Oceans’ destination wedding specialist – we’d love to help you!

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Win 2 Free Tickets to the National Bridal Show

Posted by on August 25, 2011 at 9:43 am. No comments

Are you a future bride and groom in the Toronto area looking for an easy way to score 2 free tickets to the National Bridal Show this September? Keep reading to find out how!

Being the dedicated and enthusiastic Destination Wedding Specialists we are, we’re getting ready for the Fall National Bridal Show this September 9-11 at the Toronto International Centre. And we couldn’t help but think, “How can we help more brides and grooms-to-be make it there?”

So we came up with a contest where WE buy your admission tickets (valued at $15 at the door)!

The Facebook to Bridal Show Contest

If you’re a future bride and groom, then you’re eligible for this contest. And you’re probably just dying to get yourselves to the bridal show to see what’s there so you’ll really appreciate the prize.

(Well, we know at least the brides are looking forward to the bridal show. The grooms may be more interested in looking for the beer stand… And no, you won’t find one there, boys.)

Contest details:

  • Winners: The first 25 future brides and grooms to successfully fulfill the contest requirements (see below in “how to enter” and please, only one entry per couple – the prize is for two!)
  • Prizes: 2 FREE admission tickets to the Fall National Bridal Show
  • Value: $30 per prize
  • Contest Closes: midnight on August 31st

How to Enter:

All you have to do to win your 2 free tickets is:

  1. Follow us on Facebook by “liking” our Weddings By Oceans page (either you or your hubby-to-be, though both of you are invited to like us!)
  2. Convince 5 of your Facebook friends to do the same (they don’t have to enter the contest – unless they want to!)
  3. Write on our wall the list of your friends who’ve liked us.

Once we check to verify these new additions to our likes, you’ll be a winner! As long as you enter before the 26th successful entry, that is.

All winners will be contacted by a Weddings By Oceans’ Destination Wedding Specialist to personally congratulate you and let you know how you’ll receive your prize. And, of course, we’ll announce the winners here on the blog!

What are you waiting for? Contact your FB friends and ask them to help you get to the National Bridal Show for FREE!

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Top 5 Tips to Narrow Down Your Destination Choices

Posted by on August 24, 2011 at 10:40 am. 2 comments

So you’ve decided on a destination wedding but where, oh where will you have it? If you’re overwhelmed with all your options for destinations and hotels, here’s a post that will help you narrow down the oodles of choices you have for your destination wedding.

Part of our services as destination wedding specialists is to provide Beachside Brides and Grooms-to-be with our knowledge in helping you find the perfect wedding destination for you.

However, because there are so many possibilities in the Caribbean and Mexico, we always provide these tips to help clients condense their list of options:

  1. Pick your top 3 countries and take a look at their marriage requirements. Many times these legal guidelines make a difference. Now if you’re really stuck on a destination and their marriage requirements are too tough, consider having a ceremony at home. (For more info, read this guest post by Mike Van Slingerland, an Ontario Wedding Officiant.)
  2. Think of your top 5 resort features. Based on the feedback from some of our former Beachside Brides, here are their preferences: 1) Location, location, location! 2) Choice of wedding locations on property (beach, garden, gazebo); 3) All-inclusive, with a wide variety of activities for guests to enjoy; 4) Good service; and 5) Available wedding packages.
  3. Real weddings. What could give you a better idea about the potential of your wedding than hearing and reading about, and viewing real-life photographs and videos featuring real-life destination weddings? For instance, we just posted Ryan & Chantelle’s story – they got married at the Majestic Colonial earlier this year. If you like that post, then look for your hotels of interest in our compilation post, What’s Your Dream Destination Wedding?, where we listed all the wedding stories and reviews we’ve published on the blog so far, like Katie & Amit’s wedding video at the Hotel Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica and Jason & Angela’s wedding at Paradisus Palma Real in Dominican Republic.
  4. Read our hotel reviews. Scroll down past the real weddings section in our What’s Your Dream Destination Wedding? post and you’ll see a list of our hotel reviews that our destination wedding specialists write when they return from their site inspections. You’ll find reviews on hotels such as Karisma’s El Dorado Maroma in the Mayan Riviera, Couples in Jamaica and Sol Melia in Veradero, Cuba.
  5. Save-the-Date for our Annual Destination Wedding Event! This is your chance to visit with the people who help make your dream destination wedding a reality. Speak (in-person) to representatives from various tourist boards, Canadian tour operators and hoteliers. Those who will be participating are some of our most preferred industry partners because they consistently satisfy our clients. Oh! And don’t forget the mystery guests: a few of our past clients (Beachside Brides & Grooms who are now happily married) may join us so you can ask them some of your most burning questions about their destination wedding experiences!

We hope these tips help you narrow down your choices in destinations and hotels for your wedding. We know how difficult it can be! So don’t forget, as destination wedding specialists, we’re here to assist you in every way possible. Contact us and let’s start planning!

Do you have a tip in how couples can narrow down their destination wedding choices? Please help the community by sharing!

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3-in-1 Sexy Island Sandals for Destination Weddings

Posted by on August 8, 2011 at 1:22 pm. No comments

Megan’s got a sizzlin’ find for your destination wedding that you will go absolutely ga-ga over – everyone in our office is ordering them for the convenience of travelling AND looking sexy as hell!

One of the most frustrating things in the world when it comes to travelling is packing. (Check out our Bride & Groom’s packing list, ladies’ packing list and men’s packing list.) As dedicated Destination Wedding Specialists who travel frequently to personally inspect different destination wedding hotels to help you decide on the best, we know from experience.

Especially for the ladies and their footwear. There are just too many outfits for the different occasions while on a vacation, and especially at a destination wedding, that require matching shoes! Well, Megan found the ultimate the solution to this dilemma.

As seen on ABC’s Shark Tank, we’d like to introduce you to the perfect travelling companion for a woman: ONESOLE.

It’s a sandal designed for alternating different straps so you only have to pack one bulky pair of soles while having the versatility of several different, light-weight and easy-to-pack “tops” to mix-and-match with your wardrobe!

We’re especially fond of the Elegance and Leisure styles – they come in a package of the one sole and 3 tops for ultra affordability.

But wait! Before you order online from the U.S.A. (unless you’re from America, of course), those in the Toronto area will save on shipping costs with Megan’s find: a retailer in Etobicoke who sells ONESOLE. Lily Avalon Shoes is the place to go, check out the ONESOLE shoes on their “Just Arrived” page.

How’s that for an unimaginably perfect find for destination wedding bound women? Have you gotten a pair of these beauties? Which ones do you fancy?

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Save-the-Date for our Annual Destination Wedding Event!

Posted by on August 4, 2011 at 1:25 pm. No comments

If you’re engaged, thinking of a destination wedding and live in the Toronto area, then this post is for you! Mark Nov. 5th on your calendar and keep reading for details on our Annual Destination Wedding Event – it’s the perfect opportunity to help you decide on the location & hotel for your upcoming wedding.

We’ve hosted several Destination Wedding Events in the past (Ryan & Chantelle, the authors of our most recent Testimonial Tuesday post, attended our last event and mentioned how helpful it was in their review).

This year’s event is will be even bigger and better! You can get a sense of what to expect (and some of the attendees’ reactions) by reading these posts about the last two events:

Why Attend our Destination Wedding Event?

Planning a destination wedding can be cumbersome, we know, especially when you have a normal life to live! That’s why we’ve created this annual event. It’s like rolling up days, weeks or even months of research in destinations and hotels into a few, short hours!

It’s similar to a mini-trade show or a `lunch ‘n learn’ where we bring together some of our most trusted industry partners into one room so that engaged couples have the chance to meet face-to-face with the destination wedding suppliers who help create dream beach weddings. To top it all off, it’s a fun time with a Caribbean theme, including food and music, AND awesome prizes to be won!

You might even get to speak to some of our past clients who might drop by to share their experiences with you…

2011 Destination Wedding Event Details

Changes from last year: Due to an overwhelming demand, we had to change venues this year to accommodate more couples, and also charge a small fee to ensure that everyone gets one-on-one time with the vendors.

Last Year's Destination Wedding Event

Who Will Be Attending the Event this Year?

  • Future destination wedding couples, like yourselves
  • Weddings By Oceans’ Destination Wedding Specialists staff
  • Various representatives from Canadian tour operators, tourist boards and hoteliers (TBA)
  • Possibly several mystery guests (hint: past clients who will be able to answer your burning questions)

Space is limited! So if you want to reserve your ticket now or don’t think you’ll be able to attend the Fall National Bridal Show, email us (info [at] weddingsbyoceans [dot] com) with the subject line, “I want a ticket to your DWE!” to register and you can pay at the door.

Stay tuned for another blog post in the near future for event updates that will reveal the “TBA” details.

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Majestic Colonial Wedding in Punta Cana: Ryan & Chantelle

Posted by on July 26, 2011 at 11:58 am. 3 comments

Last week we posted a compilation post sharing all the real life destination wedding stories and hotel reviews that we’ve published so far from some of our Beachside Brides & Grooms. Well, here’s another one to add to that list, written by Ryan on behalf of he and his wife, Chantelle!

How it all began…

In the summer of 2009, I proposed to my girlfriend of 5 yrs to marry me. I never really thought about where and when we would get married, but I wanted our wedding a little different from the rest of our families. I was really surprised that when we discussed it and we both wanted a destination wedding!

We announced our engagement and told our friends and family that it was going to be a destination wedding, but we didn’t know where yet. Over the years of being together we had traveled to different places down in the Caribbean and we thought that since our first trip together as a couple was down in the Dominican Republic, we would get married there as well.

We both loved the people and the country of the Dominican Republic and now we only had to find a place that could fulfill our dream wedding. We went to a couple of wedding shows in Toronto and we stumbled upon a destination wedding travel company called, Weddings by Oceans.

We spoke to the some of the representatives and then to Megan, the owner of the company. She suggested that we attend a luncheon [editor's note: our annual Destination Wedding Event. Save the date - this year it's being held on November 5th at Marlow in Richmond Hill!] that they hold for all the new bride and groom couples. Megan mentioned that this luncheon was designed by Weddings by Oceans to help couples decide on a destination where they’d be married.

It brought in representatives from all the major resorts that specialize in weddings so they could talk firsthand about the facilities and packages. We attended the luncheon and it was probably the best thing for couples looking to book a destination, but don’t know exactly where. All the staff from Weddings by Oceans were very professional and courteous as were all the reps from the different hotels and resorts.

My fiancée and I decided on the Majestic Colonial in Punta Cana. We were very impressed by the resort and its facilities, not to mention that they were the #1 destination in Punta Cana for weddings.

We booked through Megan and her crew at Weddings by Oceans for 50 people initially, but as we found out over the course of planning the wedding it was a more realistic 28 people who were actually going. At one point it actually got down to 12 people, but things worked out.

Destination wedding planning…

The booking process was super simple…we called Ashley our rep at Weddings by Oceans and we asked her when the right time to book was. Since we were about 2 yrs out from the actual wedding date she mentioned that it would be a little early to get accurate pricing, because the hotels don’t put their pricing for about a year before the actual date.

She was very gracious and promised to keep an eye for other hotels and destination that would fit our budget for ourselves and our guests. Over the course of the year, I touched base with Ashley and the crew at Weddings by Oceans and they gave me options and choices on possible other resorts that might fit our group.

In April of 2010, after reading and researching reviews on different hotels on Tripadvisor and other sites, we kept our decision on going to the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana. We got pricing for our group and it was a little more than we hoped (not much more), but in retrospect it was well worth it.

After the initial deposits for our group, Megan suggested that we start a website or send an email to all the guests that were going to inform them of the important dates (for the bookings and payments) also to get them excited in going by giving them information about the Majestic Colonial and the Dominican Republic. She also took us through everything that we needed to book for the hotel (wedding location, photographers, DJ services, reception).

We also booked a photographer that Megan knew who was always at the resort. His name was Phil Steingard and if you take a look at his work on his website, you will want to book him as well. Another one of Megan’s suggestions was to book DJ Mannia in Punta Cana, also another excellent choice!

Over the next couple of months, the staff at Weddings by Oceans were very communicative and very understanding to the “stress and demands” of our wedding party. We even had a last minute booking from one of my family members in the USA that was flying in 2 days later than when we got in, and the Weddings by Oceans staff made sure that when he landed he was placed with our group in the proper area of the hotel!

About  2 months before the trip, we had booked:

  • our beach-side gazebo wedding (done through Megan)
  • we had confirmed our reception location (done by emailing your wedding coordinator at the Majestic Colonial)
  • our DJ (done by contacting DJ Mannia through his website)
  • our photographer (done by suggestion from Megan and contacting him through his website)
  • and finally, booked our Pastor (referred to us by Megan, because we wanted a symbolic ceremony in the DR but we also wanted a little religious touch because my family is catholic).

We picked our tickets up and were very excited to get married at the Majestic Colonial. We flew out of Toronto Pearson International airport and finally landed in Punta Cana!

The wedding week…

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Destination Weddings

Bride’s Dress Rehearsal Promo from Karisma

Posted by on July 25, 2011 at 3:04 pm. No comments

The destination wedding promotions keep on coming! Karisma Hotel & Resorts is now offering a fantastic deal where wedding couples can view their potential wedding location first-hand before deciding on the venue. Keep reading for details…

If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know we’re offering a ton of deals, options and even a contest for those who are ready to book their 2011/2012 destination wedding.

But what if you don’t know where you want to book? Most couples are not as fortunate as our couple Marie-Eve and Jonathan who had a chance to personally check out hotels before making a final decision. (Here are their hotel reviews.)

Well, thankfully Karisma has come to the rescue!

For only $399 per couple, brides and grooms who have not yet booked their destination wedding can stay for 3 nights at their hotel of choice and have the opportunity to taste different cake options, sample menu items and even view the various locations and setups for their ceremony and private events.

This promotion is for any El Dorado Spa Resort or Azul Hotel by Karisma, and is going on once a month for the rest of 2011.

Here are the dates:

  • July 28
  • August 25
  • September 22
  • October 20
  • November 3
  • December 15

And here are the highlights of this promotion:

  • Upgrade to best available room upon arrival
  • Complimentary honeymoon & anniversary package during stay
  • Cake tasting, food samples & private event setup
  • $500 food & beverage credit after 10 rooms or more are booked
  • Meet executives and hotel staff
  • Romantically decorated suite
  • And more!

The best of all? When you decide to book at a Karima property, wedding groups of 10 rooms or more will receive a $500 credit towards the wedding!*

Terms & Conditions

This promotion is combinable with the Bride & Groom stay free promotion. No coupons may be used on these bookings. Transfers included between resorts only, airfare and airport transfers are not included. GIVC points cannot be used to pay for this package. GIVC will not receive points for this booking. Not valid if wedding date is held or deposited. Travel agents are not permitted to attend. $500 credit will not apply to groups with less than 10 rooms. All couples will be required to sign a disclaimer at check-in stating that they will attend a site inspection of the host hotel as well as a presentation at El Dorado Royale on Saturday. *Clients who want to travel outside of selected dates will be required to pay the current hotel rate at the time and will not receive the $500 towards the food & beverage portion of any private event they book. Booking must be made 30 days in advance; space is limited.

All you have to do to cash in on this great offer is to contact your preferred G.I. Wedding Consultant – we hope that’s us! (Here’s a post you might like in regards to this promotion, “Why Plan Your Destination Wedding with a G.I. Wedding Consultant.”)

What are you waiting for? Contact us today and let’s book your dress rehearsal at a Karisma property you think you might like! Hurry, space is limited!

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