10 Things to Ask When Choosing Your Destination Wedding Resort
Your wedding day is meant to be a happy occasion that you and your partner will cherish for years to come. However, the process of planning a destination wedding can be stressful and overwhelming. Finding the perfect destination wedding resort can help relieve some of the stress. But where do you start? We've put together a list of questions that you should ask before you choose your resort.
1. What ceremony and reception options are available?
Some resorts have many options to choose from, while others may only offer the beach and one other location to have your ceremony. It’s important to elaborate on what “vision” you have for your wedding ceremony.
Do you want to be married on the beach? Do you prefer a rooftop terrace? It’s important to get ALL options available and what the capacities are for each location. While most all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico have beach ceremony options, many have much more! Also, not all beaches are created equal!
So it’s important to discuss with us if a pristine beach is important to you. We will always tailor our recommendations based on your vision. Consider getting married in a gazebo, tropical garden, or terrace overlooking the beach if getting married on the beach is not a “deal breaker”. Be sure to ask for recent pictures or videos of the locations as well.
Don’t want your heels in the sand, but still want a beach backdrop? Consider this incredible gazebo at Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Cap Cana in Punta Cana.
2. What décor options are available?
Most resorts will provide all of the décor for your ceremony and reception. Ask what complimetary options are available for each location and if there are ways you can customize the décor. You’ll want to get price lists on customization options. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for something that you think may otherwise not be an option. You’d be amazed at what these resorts can pull together! They will do everything to accomodate you and make sure your vision becomes a reality. As expected, these “extras” will come at a cost, but just be upfront about your budget and prioritize with the wedding planner based on that.
3. what packages are available?
When you plan a destination wedding, it is important to understand what packages are available to you and your fiancé. Many resorts will offer a basic package with a ceremony and reception setup, but you can pay extra fees to upgrade. Make sure to also ask which packages include photography, videography, music, etc.
4. CAN I BRING MY OWN VENDORS?
Have a friend that is also a photographer or DJ? Some resorts will require that you use only their chosen vendors or they’ll charge you an outside vendor fee. If you plan on bringing any outside vendors, make sure you request all their fees in writing.
Also, if you do have to use the resorts vendors, make sure you love their work just as much as you love the resort itself! Ask for examples of wedding they have done for reference. This is extremely important for photographers and videographers.
LET US PLAN YOUR DREAM DESTINATION WEDDING!
Schedule a consultation to start planning the destination wedding of your dreams. During your consultation, we’ll walk you through our process and share with you some of the perks of working a travel agent at Shoreline Destinations.
5. Is my desired date available?
This is a no-brainer question if you have a specific date in mind that you can't change. If not, see what other dates you might be able to work out. We recommend planning at least a year in advance, if not more! We know how long the process takes and we also want to make sure we’ve given your guests enough time to book and pay for their room. Most like our payment plan options and prefer to pay along the way. So the more time you can give your guests, the better! It will also mean a higher attendance rate!
Pro tip: The more flexible you are with days / dates, the better chance you’ll have in getting your room block, ceremony and reception locations, etc. Fridays and Saturdays are the most popular days for weddings and if you are open to days in the middle of the week, you might get more options and availability.
6. HOW MANY WEDDINGs DOES THE RESORT HAVE EACH DAY?
Some large all-inclusive resorts have multiple weddings on popular dates. Make sure you understand if there will be other weddings on the same date as yours and how the resort handles timing and locations for multiple events. Consider having your wedding in the off-season or at a smaller resort if you don’t want to have another wedding the same day as yours.
Tracey and Roman chose to have their wedding reception overlooking the beach in Turks & Caicos. This gave guests incredible views and a great location for extra entertainment - fire dancers!
7. WHAT LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER EVENTS?
Many destination wedding couples choose to have a welcome reception for guests a day or two prior to their ceremony. This allows guests to get acquainted with each other prior to the big day. We have even had couples request locations for “Shedding for the Wedding” group fitness classes, brunch farewells, and more. Ask what venues are available to make your experience with guests memorable.
8. What accommodations are there for my guests?
A very important thing to consider is what the resort offers for your guests. You need to understand what rooms and room rates might be available to your guests and if you think it is something within their budget. It is important to understand how room blocks work and if the resort can hold enough rooms for your guests.
Note, many all-inclusive resorts will charge an additional fee for any wedding or reception attendees that are not staying at the resort. If you choose a resort that is not within your guests’ budget and they stay somewhere else, you might have to pay additional fees for them to attend your events.
Meet our Couples
9. WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS?
Besides rooms, also ask what activities are available to your guests and which activities are included. If you have guests with kids attending, consider a family-friendly resort with kids activities or a play area. If it’s an adults-only wedding, consider if you want a resort that is quiet, a party scene, or somewhere in between.
10. WHAT IS THE PLANNING PROCESS?
Make sure you understand the process for planning a wedding at your resort. Will you be assigned a wedding planner at the resort? How will you communicate with your planner? How will you communicate with other wedding vendors that work with the resort? Your travel agent will guide you through the entire process and will explain these details to you.
When you work with a travel agent at Shoreline Destinations, they will guide you through the entire process and make it stress-free. Ready to start planning? Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to start planning your dream destination wedding!
Cheers to all things love and travel!
- Andrea Norfolk
Secrets Akumal