Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly is a Destination Wedding? When a couple decides that they want to exchange their vows and celebrate their love in a dream location that they and their guests will have to travel to, they are deciding on a Destination Wedding. Destination weddings often take place in tropical areas such as the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii. Others decide to celebrate their wedding in Europe, South America, or a domestic seaside location. The entire wedding party will travel to the

2. Why plan a Destination Wedding?

There are many reasons to choose a destination wedding. Many couples look to a destination wedding as a way to have a unique and memorable wedding experience. Often, when looking at a guest list, many people will have to travel from far away states or countries. A destination wedding allows them to travel somewhere exotic and fabulous, where they can also enjoy a relaxing vacation; as opposed to asking guests to book a flight and hotel in a less exciting hometown. Some couples are in love with the destination, and want to spend the most special day of their lives in their idea of paradise. More couples decide upon a destination wedding as they are from different areas of the country, and do not want to decide against one hometown for another, so they opt to go to a location that will, from now on, be somewhere special to each of them.

3. Is a Destination Wedding right for us and our Guests?

Are there certain people, such as close family or friends, without whom you would not have your wedding? If so, we suggest that you poll these guests to see if attending your Destination Wedding is feasible for them. Click here for a sample of an email that several of our engaged couples have sent to their guests prior to committing to having a Destination Wedding.

4. Why book your destination wedding with DestinationWeddings.com?

DestinationWeddings.com offers a full service "one stop shopping" approach which has one goal in mind - to make the planning and coordination of your Destination Wedding as simple and stress-free as possible. Destination weddings are different from typical weddings and honeymoons, and therefore require the planning of an experienced travel agent, a Destination Wedding Specialist. Furthermore, DestinationWeddings.com offers a complimentary wedding website to its couples. The site helps organize and get the word out to guests, and serves as an interactive community for you, your guests, and your Destination Wedding Specialist.

In addition to expertise in planning DestinationWeddings.com also offers two unique discount reward programs that are available only to couples working with DestinationWeddings.com. First, the Circle of Love program features a network of hotels that have negotiated a "preferred" status with DestinationWeddings.com, which means you and your fiancé can earn extra "perks" based on the number of rooms your wedding books at the resort. Rewards range from champagne and chocolate covered strawberries ... to a complimentary stay! Second, DestinationWeddings.com has partnered with Dessy Design Group to offer destination wedding couples a discount on designer Destination Wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Not only do your guests get access to travel discounts not available to the general public, but you and your fiancé enjoy the extra travel and fashion benefits of dealing with the only true full-service Destination Wedding service.

5. How far in advance should I plan my destination wedding?

This really varies with the destination. One major factor is how many guests are going to be invited. For a traditional wedding a month or two is acceptable notice for "Save the Date" cards. Destination Weddings however involve travel arrangements, and therefore should be sent out at least 4-6 months in advance. This is to allow the guests to properly budget and plan for the trip, and to make sure that they are able to obtain reservations.

6. How do I decide between "Group Reservations" and Destination Weddings Wholesale Rates?

Our clients often ask for our help in determining if making a group reservation is better than taking advantage of Destination Weddings wholesale rates. In order for you to better understand your options, we feel it is important to outline the good and bad points of each option. Click to read more ...

7. Will I need a wedding coordinator to handle the ceremony at my destination wedding location?

Depending on the ceremony details, it is recommended that you work with someone at the location to help finalize the details. Many resorts and hotels have on-site wedding coordinators, who maintain reputable local vendor lists, and can help organize your big day. DestinationWeddings.com also maintains a list of reputable wedding coordinators in most destinations, who are available to assist as well. Your Destination Wedding Specialist will help you choose the best wedding coordinator, and will stay involved with you throughout the planning process.

8. What are the legal requirements when getting married out of the country?

This depends on the location of your destination wedding. This is a question your Destination Wedding Specialist can answer.

9. Do you have a list of resorts that you work with?

We can work with just about any resort out there. Because our top priority is assuring your Destination Wedding is perfect, we do try to stay with properties that we have worked with in the past for other couples.

10. Do you get the best prices for travel packages?

Yes, and given that our parent company just celebrated its 51st year in the travel industry, we are always competitively priced. When you work with a Destination Wedding Specialist, you won't be lured or fooled by "loss leader" quotes. Furthermore, at DestinationWeddings.com our "full service" approach to destination wedding planning and coordination sets us apart from the rest. We are unequaled in our offerings of a 24-hour, in-house staffed emergency travel assistance hotline, a free wedding web site great for communicating with your guests, and our new EasyPayment Plan -- just to name a few.

Keep in mind that Destination Weddings are not just about guest travel. Although your guests do have access to discounted rates not available to the general public, you and your fiancé also benefit through two reward programs (The Circle of Love and Dress Discount Program) where you can earn discounts on your travel and your wedding fashions!

And remember: Destination Weddings are all that we do. Why would you deal with anyone who doesn't make destination wedding planning their company mission, and their passion? Your destination wedding is a once in a lifetime celebration, and you only get one chance to make it perfect!

11. How are all your services free to me and my guests? What's the catch?

Simply put, there is no catch - ours is a "win win" relationship. Because we are reimbursed by our suppliers, we are able to offer all of our services complimentary to you and all of your guests. Because of our commitment to making your dream Destination Wedding a reality, we simply ask you to commit to making your travel arrangements with us, and encourage your family and friends to do so as well.

12. I'm concerned about my guests being able to afford to come, what does a Destination Wedding cost for the guests? And do we have to pay for our reservations in full right away?

Because we custom build every wedding to the unique dreams and needs of our couples, each wedding is different, as are the costs. Most guests will purchase a 3 night package, and historically we have seen these packages start at $750. This is dependent upon many variables including, but not limited to, availability, hotel, time of year, etc. It is very rarely feasible to assume a guest travel budget of less than $750, so consider that a good starting point.

New! Destination Wedding Travel offers our exclusive EasyPayment Plan, which allows you and your guests the flexibility of spreading the payment of travel expenses out over time. With the average travel costs for guests starting at $750, do you think your family and friends would rather pay upfront, or pay a little bit each month? The choice is simple, our EasyPayment Plan makes it easier and more affordable for your closest friends and family to be part of your big day. Learn more about DestinationWeddings.com's EasyPayment Plan.

13. What is the "Circle of Love"?

The "Circle of Love" is a program that rewards couples for the total number of hotel bookings for their wedding. DestinationWeddings.com has negotiated with hotels in our most popular destinations to offer your guests discounted rates not available to the public, AND offer you and your fiancé rewards from free meals to free stays! Once you start working with your Destination Wedding Specialist be sure to ask how you and your wedding guests can benefit from this exciting program.

14. What is the Dress Discount Program?

In a survey of over 2,500 of our couples, we asked for their main concerns (other than travel) in planning their Destination Wedding. Overwhelmingly the answer involved the wedding and bridesmaid dresses. The climate in most of our popular destinations is very tropical, which does not work well for most dresses. Keeping with our full-service commitment to our couples we have partnered with Dessy Design Group to offer a gorgeous line of Destination Wedding and bridesmaid dresses and accessories.

But that's not all! Much like the "Circle of Love" program we offer a discount off your dress, based on the total number of hotel bookings for your wedding. Your guests book DestinationWeddings.com's preferred discounts, and you get the additional discount off your wedding fashions ... it's a true "win-win" situation. Best of all, you can participate in the "Circle of Love" and Dress Discount programs at the same time, which means double the rewards! Visit www.DestinationWeddingDresses.com for more information on the program, and to find your perfect Destination Wedding dress!

ABOUT US | PRESS ROOM | TRAVEL INDUSTRY AWARDS | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Destination Wedding Travel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.