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Publisher’s Note
by Roberto Ugaddan Hello readers, It’s now half of September and soon it will be officially Fall. Not only that when the months starts to end in BER, that means we are almost approaching the end of 2019. It was just like yesterday when we started with the year 2019. There were lots of activities/concerts coming up [...]
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Page added on June 18, 2010

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TRAVELAERO TIPS

June is the month of marriages and perhaps many of you have long imagined taking your vows on a gorgeous powder sand beach under swaying palms and sunny blue skies and spent hours day-dreaming about your romantic, luxurious, honeymoon at an idyllic resort in paradise. And now, the time has come for you to live the dream. Whether that has you barefoot on the beach with just you, your fiancé and parents attending, or elegantly attired in full wedding regalia in an oceanfront chapel accompanied by 50 guests, you will be a sight to behold in your magical surroundings.

Planning a wedding ceremony can be very stressful. It’ s better to plan in advance, and if you have firm ideas on what you want, the sooner you get things under way, the better. Here are some tips that might help.

Select a destination. Your destination choice should reflect your personal desires.

Is a small and elegant resort your personal preference or is your group all about big, splashy mega resorts? How many guests are you anticipating? If children are not a factor, you might prefer an adults only property. If kids are involved, check into babysitting services, kid’s clubs and activities. Elderly guests? Best if the resort’s terrain and public areas are easy to navigate.

If your wedding includes a reception dinner this can be pre-planned based on menus and venues provided by your Wedding Co-ordinator. You might wish to inquire about a post-dinner venue where the hotel sets up celebratory beverages and speeches are then delivered.

What are choices in ceremony locations? In general weddings are held in on-property chapels, beautiful seafront gazebos, terraces, private rooms, yachts perhaps, and of course the beach itself. Occasionally the size of your wedding will dictate the location and the style of decoration provided.

Day passes may be required. Usually wedding guests stay at the same resort as the bridal couple, however, guests may choose to stay elsewhere. In this instance, hotels can require non-resident guests to purchase a resort day pass to attend the ceremony and festivities.

Choice in Ceremonies.Civil weddings; religious weddings; symbolic weddings; renewal of vows. Rules and regulations regarding types of ceremonies vary between destinations

Documentation.Documentation requirements also vary between destinations as does the period of time you need to be in destination prior to your wedding WEDDING CO-ORDINATORS

We cannot over-emphasize the value and importance of having an on-site Wedding Co-ordinator. Stress is less when a knowledgeable destination professional manages your event . Be prepared with questions when you make your initial contact. Build a comprehensive list of questions and provide your wedding date, anticipated guest count, a clear idea of the event you seek, and your most realistic budget estimate. Ask about special services e.g. does the resort provide a private website so that friends unable to attend can watch the wedding from home? Ask for photos or a website address showing ceremony sites, decorations, cakes, optional add-ons etc. Ensure you are clear on all rules and all documentation requirements for both your destination and your wedding. And stay in touch. It’s important to have a good relationship when you get there.

CHECK IT OUT

If you’re unfamiliar with the destination chosen, consider doing a “site inspection” to explore and check out the resorts under consideration. Many bridal couples plan a two week wedding & honeymoon, spending the week prior to the wedding day enjoying the resort, resting and tanning, testing hairstyles, make-up, potential excursions and meeting the Wedding Co-ordinator to finalize the ceremony venue, the flowers, the cake and any incidentals. You’ll be gorgeous, cool, calm and collected when your guests arrive.

ADVANCE PLANNING

Most experts will tell you that you should begin planning one to two years prior to your wedding date. This is optimum of course, and not carved in stone. However, if there is a lot to be done, and you have very firm ideas on what you want, the sooner you get things under way, the better. Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular and the top resorts are booked well in advance. A word to the wise.

FOREARM POTENTIAL ATTENDANTS
If you will not be covering the costs for your attendants, before you invite friends to stand-up for you, speak to them regarding your intentions and destination possibilities and furnish estimated costs so if money is an issue they can decline comfortably.

SEND OUT A “SAVE THE DATE” ANNOUNCEMENT
Once you’ve confirmed your date (or the week of your wedding if you can’t be 100% specific about the actual day) send out a Save The Date announcement to guests, and the earlier the better to allow invitees to plan for any expense. If it is a small, intimate affair, a personal phone call should do it. If you have details on the destination and resort at this point, tell people a little bit about what’s in store for them in your announcement.

SEND OUT INVITATIONS 4-6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE
Include the name, phone number, addresse and website of the travel agent who is managing your travel details with Sunquest and the website of your hotel. In many cases, the bridal couple set up their own website with detailed information e.g. the dress code at the resort, any special documentation and any and all other information they wish to impart.

DON’T BE DISAPPOINTED…
You already know that not everyone will have the available time off work or the funds to join you, but you can also expect to be pleasantly surprised at the number of friends and family who will jump right in and be there for your great day.

WEDDING ATTIRE

It can never be said enough: first and foremost, consider your comfort: You truly do not want to be perspiring and over-heated (dress shields are a good idea in any event). Designs with fabrics appropriate to tropical climes are far more available than in the past and are certainly worth investigating during your wedding dress search. If your day includes a plunge into the sea with the groom at any point, you must be prepared to either “trash” your dress, or wear a gown which will withstand a soaking.

There are really no fixed rules regarding who wears what and you can dress in whatever you like, of course (you’ll often see brides in elaborate wedding dresses with grooms in casual pants and shirt). However, the rule of thumb is for the groom’s apparel to match the bride’s style. If you plan to wear full bridal regalia with all the trimmings, a suit or tux would be great for him.

Some brides plan on two outfits. A gown for the ceremony and photos & then something tropical and frothy for the events following.

PACKING THE GOWN

Check with your airline to see if there is an area to hang your gown or whether there is a policy regarding this issue. Some brides have their dresses vacuum packed to fit in their suitcase. Others commandeer an overhead baggage compartment for their gown (put a sign on it – Wedding Dress, Please Don’t Disturb! And then who would dare). We have heard of the rare and very brave bride who has couriered their dress to the resort. Check to see if you can have your wedding attire pressed at the hotel (some weddings already include this service).

PACKING FOR THE BIG DAY

Check. Check. Check again. Walk around with a pen and paper and every time you think of something WRITE IT DOWN! You do not want to forget your favourite earrings. And it happens. Here’s a starter list to consider.

THE BRIDE

The dress & veil
The shoes
The jewellery
Lingerie
Garter (something old/new/borrowed/blue)
Make-up – lipstick, gloss, foundation, mascara, eye-shadow, eyebrow powder/pencil/highlighter, eyeliner, blush, concealer, eyelash curler, sunscreen
Hair – shampoo, conditioner, spray, gels, clips, pins, brush, comb, hair jewellery
Nails – Polish, undercoat, top coat, dryer, remover, cotton balls, file, nail buff, nail scissors (even with pre-wedding mani/pedis – chips & other problems can arise!)
Sunscreen

THE GROOM

The suit. If a tux, all additional gear, cummerbund etc.)
The shirt
The shoes
The jewellery – including cufflinks if needed
Accessories (belts, suspenders, ties, sox etc.)
Razor
Hair products
Grooming products
Sunscreen

PLUS…

Wedding bands
Valid passports and all other documents needed (very, very important)
Speeches, vows, other special sentiments
Music for your ceremony
Goodie bags and/or gifts for bridal party
Camera(s), film, batteries, memory stick
Video camera, batteries, memory card, tape

PHOTOGRAPHY

A specific number of photos may be included in the wedding package you select. If not included or you want more than provided, check out the prices for the resort’s own on-site photographer. It is not unusual for bridal couples to take their own photographer for the occasion (check with your Wedding Co-Ordinator if this is your plan).

MUSIC

Many hotels suggest you bring your own CD(s); others offer live music or ipod sound-docks. Add this to the list of questions for the Wedding Co-ordinator.

GIFTS RECEIVED IN DESTINATION

Sort this out before you go as no doubt there will be some well-meaning souls who will arrive with a gift in tow. Send gifts home via courier, or ask guests returning to your home town to manage a few for you, or bring an extra bag to carry them home yourself (be sure they are unwrapped).

GIFT BAGS TO WELCOME YOUR GUESTS

A small “goodie bag” or gift basket in each guestroom is a lovely surprise. Perhaps a CD of local music, a special souvenir, top quality tanning lotion or a fragrance, a list of tours and experiences or better still, a complimentary tour as a thanks for coming (a group rate may be available for you). Wedding Co-ordinators have great ideas and may arrange this charming touch at a price, depending on your resort.

ATTITUDE

You have chosen to marry in the lands of “manana” and “no problem.” Things may not always go as quickly as you may like. Allow for plans to be fluid and don’t have the expectation that every single thing will be 100%. You may find that certain components cannot be finalized until you are actually in the resort. That is the way it is. Remain calm. Be gracious. Be kind. Be understanding. Enjoy every minute. Don’t ruin your day by over-reacting to what, in the final analysis, is a momentary hiccup. You don’t want to regret a second of this experience.

We, at Travelaero wish you a fabulous wedding day and all the best for your wonderful future!

TRAVELAERO TIPS

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