Travel Agent - August 27, 2007 - (Page DW6) Destination Weddings SPECIALIST 2.0 Putting the Pieces T ogether Above: Ritz Carlton, Cayman Islands; Below: Sandals, Preston Bailey’s Signature WeddingMoons packages Matching the Couple to the Ideal Product Perhaps the strongest sales feature of a destination wedding is that it can be anything your clients want it to be, from an intimate beach-side ceremony with just the bride and groom to a big traditional event in an exotic location, with plenty of choices in between. Below are some of the destination wedding segments and what they offer the couple. The All-Inclusive Wedding This can be at an all-inclusive property or any resort that offers a wedding ceremony or vow renewal free of charge or for a minimal fee, usually with a minimum stay. Typical inclusions are the services of the wedding officiator, the wedding license, scenic spot for the ceremony, wedding cake, bouquet and boutonniere for the bride and groom and a few photographs. An on-site wedding planner can help the couple choose their extras if they want, which can include almost anything you would find at a traditional wedding. The wedding planner also handles all the paperwork and details, allowing the couple to simply arrive and enjoy their special day and honeymoon after. Couples can come on their own or bring as many guests as they like for the festivities. Choices in the Caribbean include Sandals, SuperClubs, Sol Melia’s Paradisus resorts and Half Moon Bay Resort, while Paradisus and AM Resorts’ Dreams and Secrets properties are popular options in Mexico. The Resort Wedding Many resorts (including those cited above) in the top honeymoon spots in the world have hired on-site wedding planners to create the ideal event for the bride and groom. You will THE ON-SITE WEDDING PLANNER The on-site wedding coordinator at the host property can most probably suggest an onlocation wedding planning company that can re-create the most elaborate of your brideand-groom’s wedding fantasies. You can also check with the local department of tourism for wedding planning companies that are members. Many government tourism Web sites offer links to wedding planners Web sites. It may be easier for you to match the wedding planner with the bride and groom directly and let them work out the details of the offsite event, while you handle the travel arrangements for the wedding group. Do your own research by calling and speaking to planners directly to get the right match for you. Ideally, you’d like someone who works with travel agents and who will give you a referral fee or commission. This may not always be possible. Find out the planner’s background, gauge their professionalism and organizational skills before starting a relationship with him or her. Also ask about their direct experience in planning the type of ceremony and/or reception your bride and groom want. 6 Destination Weddings Specialist 2.0 | Travel Agent | August 27, 2007
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.