Category Archives: Destination Weddings

Destination Weddings

What’s Your Dream Destination Wedding?

Posted by on July 19, 2011 at 10:13 am.

As Destination Wedding Specialists (DWSs), helping create dream destination weddings is our mission! Here’s a list of stories from some of our past brides and grooms. And a list of review posts we’ve written covering destination wedding hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Photo Courtesy of our beachside bride & groom, Holly and Daryl.

Since we opened Weddings By Oceans, we’ve been involved in the planning of hundreds of dream destination weddings. Some of them we witnessed firsthand! But how do we know the ones we didn’t attend turn out to be the wedding of the brides’ dreams? Our satisfied couples and guests tell us so!

For starters, visit our testimonials page on our WEDsite. You can glean a few stories there but if you want the tear jerkers, you’ll want to read the stories some of our very generous past brides’ contributed to the blog:

Real Brides’ Destination Wedding Stories

Videos of Real Destination Weddings

Did some of these stories help inspire a vision of your dream destination wedding? If not, here are some hotel reviews that might help:

Hotel Reviews from Real Brides

Our Destination Wedding Resort Reviews

Can you tell we love destination weddings, travelling and blogging?! We hope this list helps you envision your dream destination wedding and with your resort research. If you need extra help and would like to have a destination wedding specialist at your side, contact us and let’s start planning!

We’d love to hear about your dream destination wedding. If you’re not too shy, please share it in the comments below.

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Destination Weddings

A Pineapple for the Teacher

Posted by on July 14, 2011 at 3:26 pm.

Recently we’ve been going all out and offering as much convenience and incentive than ever before to book your upcoming 2011/2012 destination wedding with us. This includes the Bring Us to the Beach giveaway contest and even better rates. Now we’re doing something special for teachers!

Many of you have may have noticed pineapples featured on your travels in your hotel’s decor. Did you know that the pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality? Well, being a teacher (and principal) we know you deserve an apple, but we’d like to give you a pineapple instead!

(Actually, even if you’re not a teacher, this is for you, too!)

Because of the nature of a teacher’s career, you are limited to when you can book your destination wedding. So we’ve selected currently available March Break and July 2012 dates at some of our preferred hoteliers and destinations for you to choose from:

Please note the following rates are per person, tax included and are ONLY valid until August 9th.

TORONTO – CANCUN

Sensatori

Jacuzzi Junior Suite

  • March 10, 2012. $2,175
  • July 1, 2012. $1,585
  • July 16, 2012. $1,585

Grand Sunset Princess

Junior Suite

  • March 10, 2012. $2,075
  • July 2, 2012. $1,405
  • July 16, 2012. $1,405

TORONTO – PUNTA CANA

Majestic Colonial

Majestic Colonial

Junior Suite

  • March 10, 2012. $2,208
  • July 3, 2012. $1,478
  • July 17, 2012. $1,478

Dreams Punta Cana

Deluxe Room

  • March 10, 2012. $2,238
  • July 3, 2012. $1,538
  • July 17, 2012. $1,538

Paradisus Punta Cana

Deluxe Junior Suite

  • March 10, 2012. $2,248
  • July 3, 2012. $1,678
  • July 17, 2012. $1,678

TORONTO – MONTEGO BAY

RIU Ocho Rios

Garden View

  • March 10, 2012. $2,046
  • July 1, 2012. $1,816
  • July 13, 2012. $1,816

Grand Palladium Jamaica

Grand Palladium Jamaica

Junior Suite

  • March 10, 2012. $2,256
  • July 1, 2012. $1,816
  • July 13, 2012. $1,816

TORONTO – VARADERO

Iberostar Varadero

Hotel Room

  • March 10, 2012. $2,138
  • July 3, 2012. $1,138
  • July 17, 2012. $1,218

Iberostar Laguna Azul

Hotel Room

  • March 10, 2012. $1,928
  • July 3, 2012. $1,238
  • July 17, 2012. $1,338

Do any of these dates, rates and destination wedding hotels suit your fancy? Remember, these rates are only valid until August 9th so contact us to book your 2012 destination wedding!

Do these lists of dates, rates and hotels help you in your destination wedding planning? Let us know in the comments below.

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Destination Weddings

Win a Free Honeymoon! Enter the Bring Us to the Beach Contest

Posted by on July 11, 2011 at 2:12 pm.

Ever been in a contest where everyone wins? The Bring Us to the Beach Contest is your ticket to planning your upcoming destination wedding, cashing in on great savings AND a chance to win a FREE honeymoon trip (among other exciting prizes)!

Photo Courtesy of our beachside bride & groom, Margaret and Alan.

Last week we shared almost 200 options in Even Better 2011/2012 Destination Wedding Rates! so that brides & grooms could quickly select a date, rate, hotel and destination that suits their needs after merely glancing at our chart. The one real catch is that these quotes are only valid until August 12th, 2011.

Click here to view these available dates, great rates and destination wedding hotels!

Now to sweeten the pot, we’ve decided to hold a contest for all those who are ready to take advantage of these limited-time offers. It’s called the `Bring Us to the Beach’ contest and we’re busting at the seams to tell you all the details, including the awesome prizes up for grabs!

Bring Us to the Beach Contest

You’ve seen the list – are you ready to book your destination wedding in Mexico, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic to be eligible to win a FREE honeymoon? Here are all the details you need:

1st prize: a honeymoon on us!

Who wants a free honeymoon of your choice between Majestic Colonial in Punta Cana, Karisma’s El Dorado Seaside Suites in the Mayan Riviera or Riu Ochos Rios in Jamaica?

The first place winning couple will receive a complimentary 7-night stay (air included) for a honeymoon at one of the participating hotels listed above. This free honeymoon prize is applicable for travel 1 year from your destination wedding date. (Certain blackout dates and restrictions apply.)

2nd prize: a free 16 GB, wi-fi iPad (valued at $549)!

Picture this: you’ve just gotten married and you’re relaxing next to your new hubby on the beach with the sound of the ocean in your ear. You’ve got a bevvie in one hand and the other is busy on your new iPad laying on your lap. You’re excitedly sharing wedding photos and stories with all your friends and family at home who couldn’t make it to your destination wedding – and they’re saying it’s like they were there celebrating with you!

Actually, an iPad has become an essential item to pack for a destination wedding… You can use it to take photos and videos of your week-long celebration, and use it as an ebook reader for when you’re lazing on the beach or cooling down in the hotel lobby.

3rd prize: $200 gift certificate at The Keg Steakhouse!

Whether it’s for destination wedding planning or a night away from it all, the third place winning couple will enjoy a dinner-for-two at their favourite Keg Steakhouse!

Everyone wins!

Our 2011 Summer Promo is still going on so everyone that enters the contest receives $20.11 off per person in their wedding group!

Now that we have your attention, we bet you’re just dying to find out how to enter the Bring Us to the Beach Contest.

To qualify:

  • You must be a Canadian bride and groom.
  • Book your destination wedding group (minimum 30 guests) with Weddings By Oceans for your upcoming 2011 or 2012 beach wedding. (Applicable to new bookings only.)
  • Choose from one of the dates, rates and hotels (click here for almost 200 to choose from) that we promoted last week in Even Better 2011/2012 Destination Wedding Rates!
  • OR send us a valid quote from a competing Destination Wedding Agency so we can beat it (subject to availability and restricted dates)!
  • Since the quotes we compiled for you expire August 12th, you’ll have to book by then to be entered into the contest. (Also applies to price matching contestants.)

The Bring Us to the Beach Contest opens July 11th, 2011 and closes on midnight of August 12th, 2011. After picking your date, rate and hotel from our list or sending us a valid quote from a competitor, contact us to start planning your destination wedding and enter the contest!

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Destination Weddings

Even Better 2011/2012 Destination Wedding Rates!

Posted by on July 8, 2011 at 9:08 am.

Against industry standards, we recently shared great rates for your 2012 destination wedding at selected hotels in Panama and Punta Cana to help you with your decision. Well hold on to your veils because here are even better rates for those hotels AND we’ve added to the list for greater selection!

Why waste precious time searching through hundreds of brochures and websites for destination wedding hotels only to be disappointed when you find out it’s not in your (or your guests’) budget? Or, even worse, that the hotel you love doesn’t have an available wedding date that suits you?

As dedicated Destination Wedding Specialists, we want to make your life easier – and less painful. So we’ve done all the work for you!

We’ve gathered together almost 200 quotes with rates between $1,000-$2,000 per person (tax included) for a variety of 2011 and 2012 wedding dates at some of our favourite hotels in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican. Whew!

(Click here to access the chart.)

But wait! Before you begin searching our date-rate-hotel chart for something that suits your needs, there are a few very important things you should know:
  1. These rates are valid ONLY until August 12th, 2011. That’s only a month away!
  2. For most of these offers, your group will be entitled for a complimentary passenger! Please contact us to see if you’re preference is eligible for this added bonus.
  3. The bride & groom may deposit $400 to hold 30 seats and 15 rooms for up to 90 days. (Read our post on How Group Deposits Work for more info.)
  4. All the departure dates listed on our chart are mid-week. Why? For really good reasons!

Why are the departure dates mid-week?

Because of the rising popularity of destination weddings and the trend for weekend departures, as well as the fact that many destinations require the bride and groom to be in the country for 2-3 business days before getting married there, this has all put a strain on the availability at destination wedding hotels.

Since most wedding groups arrive on the weekend, the most popular days for destination weddings are: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We love solving issues for both our couples and favourite hotels so…

With a mid-week departure, not only do you cash in because these are naturally priced lower than weekend departures, it allows you greater opportunity to get the ceremony date and time that you want on the less popular destination wedding days: Friday, Saturday and Monday.

What are you waiting for? We’ve made it SO easy to book your 2011/2012 destination wedding!

Besides these even better rates, don’t forget our current summer promo is running so you get an additional $20.11 off per person! We also offer price matching so send us a valid quote from one of our competitors and we’ll beat it!

If any of the dates, rates and hotels listed on our chart suit your needs, please contact us about booking your wedding group. And if you don’t see a date listed that works for you, still contact us and we’ll do our best to fulfill all your wishes.

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Destination Wedding in Panama: Liza & Marc

Posted by on July 7, 2011 at 2:30 pm.

If you’ve been reading our Testimonial Tuesday posts, you’ll know that many of our Beachside Brides & Grooms take the time to send us their reviews and wedding stories. (Thank you SO much!) Today Liza and Marc tell us about their destination wedding in Panama at the Royal Decameron.

Well let me take this opportunity again to say THANK YOU to everyone at Weddings by Oceans. Truly our wonderful wedding week could have never been possible without all of you. I’ll definitely be calling you all for our ten year vow renewal!

Here is my feedback on the resort and my overall experience. Having a destination wedding was the best decision I think we made. The week we spent with family friends will be forever remembered by all.

The Royal Decameron is a beautiful resort, however as trip advisor says we should know that it is massive and the climb up some of the stairs was getting to a lot for some of our older, mature guests.

The resort was clean, food was good (fresh fruits and seafood) and the workers were friendly. But yes, brush up on your Spanish! (Here’s Megan’s Handy Spanish Phrases in a handy, downloadable pdf).

If you are used to going to the Caribbean where everyone speaks English and you expect to see fellow Canadians, this is not the place. I loved it because of the diversity of the Latin guests and it felt like we were really away, felt more “authentic”.

The beach resort is on a “dry spot” so even though it was rainy season there was sunshine all week. As for the wedding, Julia the coordinator was very HELPFUL she made us feel right at home and really welcomed. About 2 months before the actual date we were really in constant contact with each other. She was very responsive and her communication very clear as I know English is not her first language.

The manager at the spa was able to help me with communicating how I wanted my hair and makeup (as the hair dresser did not really speak English as well). The wedding day was perfect to say the least, Julia was there to make sure everything went okay and the weather was perfect for our plans.

The photographer was well worth it, Sebastian took awesome pics! (Here are a few.) The decorations for the ceremony and the reception was exceptional and more beautiful than I ever expected. All-in-all the day was a fairy tale!

I would suggest Panama to those who are not expecting the usual all-inclusive treatment and for those who can appreciate the diversity of central America. I would definitely go back again. Panama is a historic country and great for those who want to venture out and go somewhere different, a must-see is the waterfalls and the canal.

But I would have to say, sometimes the time you have is based on the company you keep and we had wonderful company!

Thanks again…wishing I could do it all over again!!!!

Liza and Mark
Royal Decameron Panama

Are you impressed with Liza and Marc’s destination wedding hotel review? If you’d like to book at the Royal Decameron in Panama, check out these great rates we just posted for 2012 destination weddings. If all this works for you, contact us to book your wedding before July 26th – when these dates expire!

Thank you, Liza and Marc, for sharing your story and beautiful wedding photos with us! Have you, dear readers, ever visited the Royal Decameron in Panama?

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Destination Weddings

Great Rates for Your 2012 Destination Wedding

Posted by on June 30, 2011 at 5:43 pm.

Canadian brides and grooms who are thinking of an upcoming destination wedding will benefit from this post. Yes, we’re doing it again… defying destination wedding industry standards and publishing currently valid group quotes. This time it’s for Punta Cana and Panama.

Many of our couples are budget-conscious. They tell us, “Those are great prices and if it was just us… but we have to think of our guests and what they can afford.” So being the helpful and dedicated Destination Wedding Specialists that we are, here is a list of currently valid group rates for your budget.

Please note: these rates expire on July 26, 2011, so if you see something that fits your needs as well as your guests, contact us to book your destination wedding group.

Also note:

Paradisus Punta Cana Lobby

  • Prices include taxes.
  • Dates are mid-week departures since they are always priced lower than the weekends.
  • Rates are per-person based on double occupancy.
  • All are for 1 week duration.

Panama

Royal Decameron

  • January 9, 2012: $1,348. A savings of $92 per person.
  • February 13, 2012: $1,393. A savings of $97 per person.
  • March 26, 2012: $1,357. A savings of $93 per person.
  • April 16, 2012: $1,339. A savings of $91 per person.

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Punta Cana

Majestic Colonial

  • January 4, 2012: $1,473. A savings of$98 per person.
  • January 31, 2012: $1,516. A savings of $53 per person.
  • April 11, 2012: $1,465. A savings of $97 per person.
  • May 4, 2012: $1,546. A savings of$149 per person!
  • May 18, 2012: $1,483. A savings of 182 per person!

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Melia Caribe

  • January 4, 2012: $1,506. A savings of $101 per person!
  • January 31, 2012: $1,560. A savings of $57 per person.
  • April 11, 2012: $1,407. A savings of $160 per person!
  • May 4, 2012: $1,542.
  • May 18, 2012: $1,479.

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Dreams Punta Cana

Dreams Punta Cana

  • April 11, 2012: $1,440. A savings of $94 per person.
  • May 4, 2012: $1,584. A savings of $81 per person.
  • May 18, 2012: $1,521. A savings of $114 per person!

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Dreams Palm Beach

  • January 4, 2012: $1,564.
  • January 31, 2012: $1,680. A savings ofe $85 per person.
  • April 11, 2012: $1,519.
  • May 4, 2012: $1,525. A savings of $120 per person!
  • May 18, 2012: $1,462. A savings of $143 per person!

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Paradisus

  • January 4, 2012: $1,686. A savings of $121 per person!
  • January 31, 2012: $1,725. A savings of $76 per person.
  • April 11, 2012: $1,584. A savings of $110 per person!
  • May 4, 2012: $1,728. A savings of $147 per person!
  • May 18, 2012: $1,665. A savings of $180 per person!

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

Paradisus Palma Real

Paradisus Palma Real

  • January 4, 2012: $2,150. A savings of $295 per person!!!
  • January 31, 2012: $2,168. A savings of $137 per person!
  • April 11, 2012: $2,019. A savings of $116 per person!
  • May 4, 2012: $2,163. A savings of $82 per person.
  • May 18, 2012: $2,100. A savings of $115 per person!

Bonus offer: For every 20 paying adults departing same dates and duration, staying in the same room category, the 21st adult is complimentary excluding tax. Maximum 2 comps per group.

If you’re interested in learning more about these hotels, here are a few posts to review:

Please contact us if any of these destinations, hotels, dates and rates suit your needs. And remember, you still have access to our 2011 summer promos, meaning you get an additional $20.11 off per person – even after the above savings!

Have you been to any of the above hotels? Let us know your experience in the comment section below.

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Destination Weddings

Mayan Riviera Destination Wedding: Felicia & Darren

Posted by on June 28, 2011 at 9:58 am.

The Mayan Riviera, Mexico, is one of our favourite places to visit and so we recommend it often to our destination wedding couples (as you can tell from some of our Testimonial Tuesday posts). Today we feature Felicia & Darren, who married this year in May at Dreams Tulum.

Darren and I both want to thank you and everyone at Weddings By Oceans so very much for helping us plan such an important day!

The day could not have gone any smoother (with the exception of Darren having the flu, my maid of honor having a swollen eye from a bug bite, and myself having severe stomach trauma that no amounts of Imodium could fix!).

Anabel was our coordinator, and she was fantastic. She truly went above and beyond. In our conversations leading up to the wedding, and upon our meeting there, I was completely put at ease. All the little things that we wanted to make our wedding and reception special, she did it all.

The ceremony itself was spectacular. It was on the beach at 3:30 and where the ceremony took place was slightly away from the crowd, so no one was on top of us gawking at the ceremony. Which was really nice.

We held the reception indoors in one of the convention center rooms. It was air conditioned, the food was fantastic and the decorations were beautiful. The flowers they provided for my bouquet were just ok – if I had to do it again, I would have picked tropical flowers over the roses, they seemed much healthier and more fitting for the beach theme.

The resort went so far above and beyond, we had 4 people with mobility issues in our group and Anabel had made sure a golf cart would take the people who were not able to walk. They were driven from the beach ceremony to the reception, which was about an 8 minute walk.

Hair and makeup was fantastic. The woman who did mine did not speak a lick of English, but I brought a picture of what I wanted and she did it perfectly. And I was really pleased with the makeup, I did NOT want to look like a leftover from Halloween, and I thought I looked very natural. I could not have been happier.

I used the resort photographer and was pleasantly surprised by how great the pictures turned out! I was expecting amateurish pictures but some of them were really beautiful. (Here are just a few.)

For the resort itself, we absolutely loved it. They upgraded us for free to a premium junior suite, which was pretty central but far from everyone else (not that I minded!). Food was fantastic, drinks were great. They had room service, and turn down service. The a la carte restaurants were all fabulous, I loved that you didn’t have to make reservations (a big downside of some resorts where you have to wake up at 7am and stand in a line…).

There were a ton of weddings there, too, 3 every single day! Dreams Tulum handled them all well, though; they were very organized and the other weddings did not interfere at all with ours or our experience as hotel guests.

There were just a few things that weren’t perfect. The beach looked nice but it was rough to walk on with all the broken shells. Water shoes solved this issue. And any brides wanting a party resort, Dreams Tulum is not it. It is very relaxing but after 1am there is not much to do on the resort, all the bars shut down and the disco was closed. We made the best of it, though, with our group congregating in one area and ordering room service with booze and food.

The resort organized something for our group on May 5th to go to Coco Bongo in Playa, and a rep from CocoBongo picked us up in this unbelievable bus, had a stripper pole on it and hardwood floors. We had a blast and didn’t get home until 5am!

I’m recommending Weddings By Oceans to anyone I know of who’s thinking of a destination wedding. Darren and I really loved how special and intimate our wedding was. Thank you, Megan, and everyone at Weddings By Oceans for everything.

Congratulations Felicia & Darren and thank you for this wonderful contribution to our blog! It was our pleasure to help you create your dream beach wedding. For those of you interested in Dreams Tulum as a destination wedding resort, read more about it in Megan’s hotel review.

Ready to plan your destination wedding? Contact one of our Destination Wedding Specialists and let’s get started! For the rest of you, have you visited the Mayan Riviera or Dreams Tulum? Let’s hear your story.

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Summer 2011 Destination Wedding Promos

Posted by on June 16, 2011 at 7:59 pm.

Are you waiting to book your 2012 destination wedding? If you are, this post is for you! Keep reading for reasons to book now, including two incredible offers that only last until the end of summer.

Photo Credit: Sam & Filipe

Last week we posted several hot dates and rates for destination weddings still available from some of our most trusted hoteliers in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Jamaica. Couple these options (we have more, just contact our office!) with our summer promos and these deals are too scorching to handle!

Weddings By Oceans’ Summer Promotions

  1. Book a minimum of 20 adults with full deposit by August 15, 2011 and the bride and groom will receive $20.11 credit per adult booked towards their own trip.
  2. Bring us a valid quote from one of our competitors* and if we are able to match it, the bride and groom will receive an additional $100 toward their trip.

These summer promotions combined is a minimum $500.00 value for the bride and groom to put toward the cost of their own trip!

*A competitor is defined as a similar Canadian boutique agency specializing in destination weddings, such as Luxe Destination Weddings, The Wedding Holiday, Romantic Planet and Wedding in the Tropics.

Please note: No chain or online agency quotes will be considered for price match (read our post, The Low Down on Price Matching, to find out why). The quote must be received by us in writing as a forward/copy of the exact agency quote and is applicable only for the same dates of travel, tour operator and room category.

Why Book Now?

Besides taking advantage of these roasting summer deals, there are many reasons to book your destination wedding early. The most important one being how popular destination weddings have become. (Megan, our lead Destination Wedding Specialist, talks about it in this interview.)

Hotels have limits for how many weddings they can hold in one day, depending on their policies andavailable resources. This includes space! Securing space for all your guests (usually between 20-40) is important to ensure everyone’s at the same hotel. And this limited availability/space also goes for seats on flights, too.

Both space and timing are integral elements of creating a dream destination wedding. There really are only a certain number of months where Caribbean weather is ideal for beach weddings (read The Most Popular Months for Destination Weddings to find out more).

Some guests might prefer to book on their own but there are definite benefits for them (and you!) to book in a group. If you’re thinking about booking your destination wedding group, contact one of our Destination Wedding Specialists and read our post on how group deposits work.

Oh, and shhh… don’t tell our competitors but we’re currently working on a Bride & Groom Wedding Kit designed to answer all your questions once you’ve booked your destination wedding. You’ll have everything you need to get started planning your destination wedding in a convenient pdf as a bonus for booking with us!

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Off to Gay Paris!

Posted by on June 14, 2011 at 3:43 pm.

Even Destination Wedding Specialists need a vacation! In today’s post we share some good news for our leader, Megan, as she hops on a plane today leaving for the beautiful and extravagant Paris, France.

It’s Megan’s birthday this Saturday and as a present from her loving hubby, they’re on their way to enjoy a holiday in the city of love: Paris, France. Yes, that’s right, a real vacation! Although Megan travels regularly to the Caribbean and Mexico, she will not be inspecting hotels while there, so please don’t ask!

However, if you’re interested, upon her return she will share the best places in Paris to get baguettes, chocolates and macaroons. :)

This is an exciting trip for them both as they’ll be flying with British Airways in 1st class, complete with flat bed sleeper seats, pajamas and pillows! (Click here to find out more on all the perks.) This would normally cost $14,000 between the two of them but, thankfully, the cost was dramatically reduced by using their frequent flyer points.

They’ll also be connecting in London where there’s a spa in the airport. Lucky Megan will experience the ultimate pampering for her b-day thanks to some complimentary spa services. And this is all before landing in Paris where they’ll do the usual (and knowing Megan, some unusual) tourist attractions!

We wish Megan a very happy birthday and happy travels to both her and her husband. May they dine on the finest Parisian cuisine and suckle on the tastiest French wine! They’ll return on Tuesday, June 21st, so we might be fortunate enough to hear about her trip that week on the blog. *fingers crossed*

Megan suspects from all the goodies that she’ll be in a carbohydrate coma and unable to operate a computer. However, she’ll be back to work on Wednesday, June 22nd, but the office is open in her absence! If you’d like to book your destination wedding group, please contact our highly competent, knowledgeable and friendly Weddings By Oceans’ team.

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Why Work with Destination Wedding Specialists?

Posted by on June 10, 2011 at 7:57 am.

Of course you are more than capable of planning your destination wedding from start to finish by yourself. That said, it really does pay to get a little professional help – especially when services are complimentary! Here’s how working with a Destination Wedding Specialist can help you achieve your dream beach wedding.

Many enthusiastic brides make the decision to plan their destination wedding by themselves without first gathering all the facts to really know what they’re getting into. So if you’re about to start the process and you’re wondering why you might need some professional assistance, here are a few reasons to mull over:

Why Work with a Destination Wedding Specialist?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of this post, we want to remind you that a destination wedding specialist is a travel agent who specializes in destination weddings. Please visit our FAQs if you’re just learning about destination weddings.

Bridezilla, Be Gone!

Typically, a wedding is the most important day of a woman’s life. She puts a lot of pressure on herself (and others) so that it turns out perfectly. This alone can create a Bridezilla, but stress is compounded when the bride-to-be has never planned a wedding before. She needs time – which there seems to never be enough of – to figure out what she needs to know, make decisions and still do all the things she needs to do before the big day.

As with anything in life, experience gets us closer to perfection. Brides who are new to destination wedding planning must `wing it’, adding to their anxiety because they’re always questioning whether or not they’re doing the right things. This creates huge stress and usually sucks the joy out of the planning process.

Plus, our stress often spills out into the world and affects, most frequently, the ones closest to us and those only trying to help! A professional in their field has already put in the time and acquired the knowledge and experience to guide their clients along the way. They offer a great relief to the novice.

Imagine that, you don’t have to be a Bridezilla if you don’t want to be!

Destination weddings are different.

So you want to marry in a tropical location. No problem! But, of course, doing this requires additional elements not found in planning a wedding at home, the main ones being: destination and hotel choices, marriage requirements, travel and accommodations for you and your guests, and different wedding packages.

A destination wedding specialist has, in their head and at their finger tips, all the travel, accommodation and wedding-related information you will ever need to create the beach wedding of your dreams. Easily and hassle-free. Especially when they are certified by a wedding planning association, like Weddings By Oceans is (read our About page on our WEDsite)!

They will get all your guests there on time, make sure you cash in on early booking bonuses and your guests get group discounts, and can hook you up with additional savings because of their industry connections! Plus, because of their travel experience, the best destination wedding specialists can act as an effective go-between with you and the hotel.

Planning a wedding when you’re in a different country adds it’s own challenges. But having a destination wedding specialist who is fluent in the native language (for the Caribbean, it’s Spanish and French) can help you overcome any language barriers as well as crack the whip on `island time’ to speed up the planning process with the onsite wedding coordinator.

These are just a few ways we can help you plan your destination wedding. We offer complimentary services so for more benefits, please read Top 8 Ways a Destination Wedding Specialist Gives You Peace and Why Use a Destination Wedding Specialist? Also, if you’re wondering about the differences between travel agents, wedding planners and destination wedding specialists, read this post.

When you’re ready to book your destination wedding with the help of a destination wedding specialist, contact our office for quotes and so we can start planning!

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