It’s a familiar story (mine, lol) of why you should hire a Destination Wedding Specialist. A couple gets engaged and becomes really excited about a destination wedding until they start thinking about questions. Questions about location, flights, rooms, transfers. Planning a destination wedding by yourself can be formidable and the couple often becomes overwhelmed. This was me! Even though I used a travel agent to book all my accommodations, I was left to do all the research myself. Talk about OVERWHELMING AND STRESSFUL!
Does this sound like you? If so, the most important question you should be asking as a newly engaged couple is, “Should I hire a travel advisor to help me with this?” The answer is unequivocally yes!
How does a Destination Wedding Specialist help with destination wedding?
They will help you determine the best resort for your wedding based on first-hand experience. They know which resorts offer perks and which ones have the best prices. They often have exemplary relationships with wedding planners and staff so they can get information more quickly than you can on your own.
Best of all, they will handle all of the travel arrangements for you and your guests. Can you imagine trying to book Aunt Becky’s transfers and room at the same time you are sending out invitations and scheduling bridal fittings?
Once your party has arrived at the destination, your destination wedding specialist will still be providing support. When cousin Eddy doesn’t like his room, he can call the destination wedding specialist to have it all worked out instead of asking you to fix it. Having a destination wedding specialist in your back pocket will give you an added layer of insulation between all the things that could go wrong with travel and the real reason why you are there – your wedding.
If you choose an international location, this may be the first time some of your guests have ever been out of the country. They are sure to have plenty of questions about passports, traveling during the time of Covid, and what happens if they need to cancel their trip. Instead of calling you to have their questions answered, your destination wedding specialist will provide expert answers to ensure they are ready to travel. They will also be able to answer simpler questions about the dress code for the resort or if the menu has gluten-free options.
On occasion, your destination wedding specialist may be able to provide on-site support. In this case, the destination wedding specialist would travel with you and be available to assist the group for the entire time they are at the destination.
Will I still need a wedding planner if I’ve hired a Destination Wedding Specialist?
Maybe, some Destination Wedding Specialist (like me) are both a Travel Advisor and Destination Wedding Planner, some are only Destination Wedding Travel Advisors. Regardless, they will work together with your onsite wedding planner to help you celebrate your marriage.
Your destination wedding specialist will be in charge of helping you choose a location that fits your budget, style, and preferences. They will also book all travel arrangements for you and your guests and help with any issues that may come up while traveling.
The onsite wedding planner is in charge of the day-of details on your wedding day. Additionally, they will help you with wedding plan packages and options to secure florists, photographers, and caterers. However, some Destination Wedding Specialist will coordinate with your onsite wedding planner to help plan your perfect day and make sure that everything you dream of is done to perfection.
Some destination weddings, such as a Destination Wedding at a Villa or off resort site will require a Destination Wedding Specialist that also specializes in Destination Wedding Planning, as these areas do not always have an onsite wedding coordinator. Destination Wedding Specialist that are also Destination Wedding Planners have trusted contacts in other countries, that can help with the planning.
When should you hire a Destination Wedding Specialist to help you plan your destination wedding?
You should hire a destination wedding specialist as soon as you have decided to have a destination wedding. Their primary job is to help you determine the venue which is one of the first things you should secure in the planning process.
How can you prepare for the first meeting with your Destination Wedding Specialist?
When you meet with your destination wedding specialist for the first time, be ready to answer the following questions:
- What is the approximate number of guests you are expecting?
- Are any of these guests under 18?
- Do you have a preferred resort or destination in mind?
- From what cities will your guests by flying?
- Other than the wedding itself, what other events would you like to host? Some of these events might include the rehearsal dinner, bachelor/bachelorette party, or a celebration brunch.
It’s okay if you don’t have all of this information nailed down the first time you talk to your destination wedding specialist.
Destination Wedding Specialist are a must-have for a destination wedding!
A destination wedding is planning a huge group vacation with all the added details of the wedding. There are a lot of logistics involved which can become taxing. With a destination wedding specialist, you won’t need to worry about any of that. Instead, you’ll be raising a glass, toasting your spouse, and celebrating with friends and family.
My Destination Wedding
Wanted to share a little inspiration for you of my destination wedding (Click Here to View Gallery). Password: Wedding
Photography by Kelsey Danielle Photography
