Destination Weddings Discussions — The Knot Community

Looking for a reasonably priced elopement destination

[Deleted User] — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 02:38:05 +0000

Hi all,

My fiancé and I decided the perfect fit for us is to bring our families on a trip somewhere abroad and get married there. We would like to foot the cost for as much of the expense as possible, so we hope to find a destination on the more inexpensive side (per person.) We expect to have 12-15 people total, including the two of us. We'd love to travel outside of the country. We have flexibility for when the trip could be.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

What to wear to a summer formal Catholic Wedding?

stephswander — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 19:24:41 +0000

Hi All!
My husband's best friend is getting married in July 2016. I know I have plenty of time, but I like to plan ahead. My husband is in the wedding, so no issue there, but the wedding is a formal Catholic wedding. I have no idea what I'm suppose to wear. All the weddings I've been to have been casual or semi-formal. I do know that it is formal, not black-tie (which I didn't know there was a difference!). Any suggestions?

Eloping to Paris

Edizarodriguez — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 22:18:46 +0000

My husband and I eloped to Paris. I feel like this is the best decision for the both of us.

The Royalton in Mexico...

Beth173 — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 20:58:02 +0000

Who has been to the Royalton Riviera Cancun? Would love feedback on weddings there! Thanks!

Destination Wedding - Invite/RSVP Meal Card Help

ejohnsonk — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 19:55:48 +0000

Hi,

Sorry in advance this is long, there a couple factors to consider here... I am getting married 5/6/16 in Nassau, Bahamas (woo!). As part of our weekend, we are having a Welcome/Rehearsal Dinner that all resort (Sandals) guests are invited to in addition to our ceremony + reception. Both meals are sit down, NOT buffet style.. therefore guests have to RSVP and select what they want for each meal. My question is regarding invites and RSVP/ Meal Cards.

I want to see if any of you are having (or had) similar, and what the simplest way to do RSVP cards/get meal choices was. I'm looking to keep it SIMPLE and easy not only for me, but my guests! I tend to over complicate things :-)

We have 76 people RSVP/booked for the wedding (I know.. lots of amazing people are coming, we are VERY lucky that so many people are making the financial commitment and time off to be with us). So far, everyone is staying at our resort -- no one is staying off resort. However, I have heard that a small group might rent a house or stay somewhere else. Other than the Y and possible off site guests, we pretty much know everyone who is coming or not coming, but want to send invites of course.

The options I thought of (please note: all options will still include sending invitations to all guests invited):
1. Include RSVP cards with a simple Y___ / N___ option for just the Ceremony/Reception and Dinner to EVERYONE (without meal options included)? Then try to find another way to have the Y people chose their meals? If so, what would that be (would like to avoid sending out two separate items)
2. OR Include simple Y __ N__ RSVP cards to ONLY people who have NOT booked (people who have booked we know their RSVP is Y). Then, for those who HAVE booked their rooms, we include RSVP cards with meal options for both events. So in this option, I would be getting 2 kinds of RSVP cards (**see below): 1 with Y/N, one with Y/N + Meals. Yes, it might be a little more work on my end sorting what goes in what envelope, but I don't mind. It would look something like this (similar to picture):

Welcome Dinner:

YES__ NO __

Meal __ Meal __

Reception Dinner:

YES__ NO __

Meal __ Meal__

Challenges/things to consider:
1. I've read it's not proper etiquette to do Welcome + Reception dinner on same RSVP Card? I don't see that a huge issue, personally.. is this true? (don't freak out on me people!! ).
2. **Only resort guests are able to come to the Welcome Dinner, so I don't want to send Welcome Dinner RSVP and Meal Card to EVERYONE if not everyone is permitted (resort policy for this one.)

Help a girl simplify!! Thank you all for your help!

California

CoppersWifey — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 02:07:22 +0000

Does anyone know any pretty places on the beach in California that are perfect for a tiny vow renewal? Just us and our 3 kids. I'm trying to find something that's not super popular and crowded. I'm completely open to location at this point! Tia

Anyone getting married at One and Only Club in Bahamas or Cruise Wedding

TabMac — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 15:53:52 +0000

We are taking a cruise to the bahamas and getting married on the island. Does anyone have experience with this?

Lake Tahoe (West Shore) Lodging?

Minderbe — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:48:54 +0000

Hi everyone! My fiance and I have chosen to get married at the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion in Lake Tahoe, CA. I asked my wedding planner about what we should do about lodging for guests, and all she said was that we should send save the dates out ASAP so they can find their own.

There aren't really any hotels we can buy blocks from, all of them are in Southshore (about 45 min away from Venue), and are really overpriced anyway. My family and I go to Tahoe every year and just use Airbnb to find a cabin for us and maybe another family.

This is what I suggested to our guests on our wedding site under accommodations. I just feel bad that we are kind of making them plan way ahead, it's probably a bit stressful for some of them. I've been reaching out to a few people to see if they need any help with planning. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I look into getting a hotel in Southshore and then hiring a bus to take people to and from the venue?

Looking for an wedding planner in Playa Mujeres Mexico

Beth173 — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 02:24:49 +0000

Having a wedding in Mexico next year and am looking for an amazing wedding planner. Thanks!!

Grandparents cant make it to Destination Wedding (At Fiance's Home) ??

Knottie1441806345 — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 21:05:19 +0000

While there are PLENTY of threads regarding destination weddings and grandparents not being able to attend, mine is a very unique twist on the dilemma. My fiance and I are in the early stages of planning our wedding in the Bahamas, where he was born and raised, and where his parents own a small private resort. The resort would be closed to our guests for the wedding for 3-4 days at a great price!! His immediate family and grandparents live there and the rest of his family lives in Florida (a short plane ride). My family is from Illinois/Iowa and I'm devastated to find out my grandparents don't think they can make the trip away from home. They are 84 and 89, still living at home alone and are very active for their age but they are slowing down. I can't imagine them not being at my wedding, but I am dead set on the destination wedding. I am a part time wedding photographer and have seen enough weddings to know that I do not want a big hometown wedding, where you spend 30 sec with each of your 250 guests, most of whom were invited by obligation. I LOVE the idea of spending a long weekend with my close friends and family, instead of a huge wedding where the entire day is a blur. I cant very well have the small wedding I want in my hometown without hurting someone's feelings. I'm wondering if a post destination wedding reception would be enough for the grandparents or if I should change my plans completely and have the wedding where they can attend? I know only I can answer this, but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice that may help!?!?

Cancun Photographers - Photos in Cancun

Knottie39311636 — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 05:02:34 +0000

Hello everyone!! I just wanted to tell you all about our amazing photographers! Their business is called Photos in Cancun, but their names are Derek and Lorena. They did such a wonderful job in our pictures and even helped coordinate our wedding day! They were true professionals and I'm in Loveee with our pictures. If you're searching for a photographer in Cancun, you should definitely contact them!

Finest Playa Mujeres in Mexico

Beth173 — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:46:30 +0000

Hi. We are looking to have a wedding for about 50 people next August at this location. Has anyone been here or had their wedding and can give us feedback! Thanks!!

Invitations

ready2wed59 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:10:34 +0000

What all did you include with your invitation to your wedding? I've been thinking a pamphlet with info including average airfare costs, hotels and costs in the area, fun things to do in St. Pete. Things like that. Our date isn't till August 6, 2016 so I have some time but I thought I'd ask what others had done! Thanks!

Destination Wedding Questionnaire?

shara486 — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 16:25:15 +0000

Have any of you done a questionnaire? For things such as food, drinks, preferences for breakfast, lunch etc?
Looking for examples, please!

Legally Married in Puerto Rico -- To Do or Not To Do?

Knottie1440380386_23898541 — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 19:13:49 +0000

Help?!?! We are getting married in Puerto Rico in March (we're both from Massachusetts). We are going back and forth about getting legally married in PR. We have a great officiant who has given us all of the requirements but it seems cumbersome. Has anyone done in recently? Is it as painful as it sounds?

Any advice would be most helpful!

Belize, Roatan, or Dominican Republic???

xnflchick — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 04:00:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to plan my destination wedding and am considering Belize (Ambergris Caye or Placencia), Roatan, or The Dominican Republic (Probably Punta Cana, but would consider other areas). I want a great beach with turquoise water, a casual yet elegant ceremony/reception, and it would be for aproximately 50 guests (75max, but that would be surprising). I would love advice from couples who are currently planning in one of these locations or have already had their wedding and can advise and even send photos. Oh, and we prefer not to have it at a place that cranks out 5 weddings a day.

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Amber

Documentation for wedding in Ireland

bcmfall — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:33:57 +0000

Hi all - just wondering whether anyone around here is planning a wedding in Ireland, or has gotten married there? The process to get a marriage certificate seems overwhelming (notification of intent 3 months prior, specifications for documentation needed, etc.) and I'm wondering if anyone out there has gone through it and can vouch for how cumbersome it is (or isnt!) for a non-citizen/non-resident.

Invite list decisions for wedding abroad

bcmfall — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:22:57 +0000

Hi all - After going back and forth on our wedding location for a while (we live in NYC, I'm from here and friend/family live mainly in the northeast, he's from Ireland with a mix of family both here and there, though mainly there), we just booked our wedding for next year in Ireland. Most of my close friends are married and have/will have babies by next year, so I know it's unlikely that many will be able to travel which is of course understandable. My question is -- knowing the trip is a lot to ask of them, should I invite them anyway to let them know their presence it welcome/wanted? Or does that put them in a bad place to have to say no, and/or come across as gift-hunting?

'Destination' wedding...but only for some

KnickerGold — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 18:26:21 +0000

Hi all, I'm new here as I just got engaged last Saturday!

So, I'm originally from NYC. My parents now live in Florida. I live in Texas, as does my fiancee's family- albeit 3+ hours from us. The rest of my family lives between Mass and DC. So really anywhere would be a destination wedding for a large percentage of our guests.

We settled on NYC, getting married where my parents did. Not an issue for any family members, but fiancee has indicated it may be an issue for some of his friends (he hasn't spoken with any of them about it, he just thinks it will be) and they may not be able to attend.

So fiancee wants to have 'another reception' in Texas after we get back from our honeymoon, which most likely puts us in early/mid november, which means the "easy fun ranch party" (held at the back of the ranch where I board my horses) won't be easy or fun because most likely it will be cold and rainy. And if by chance it's sunny, the ground will still be very very muddy--which is how it is from late October through April every.single.year.

Plus, I don't really see why we *need* to have another party, all of our family will be at the main event. AND the ranch is at least 2.5 hours away for most of his friends anyway, so they'd still need to get a hotel. Plus, do I then invite those people who also came to the wedding? That seems silly and odd. But if not, then it's us and 10-15 people... so why bother? Not that they aren't important, but why don't we just go down to where they all live one weekend and have a big dinner or something- I feel like that would make more sense. But Fiancee wants it to be like a second reception... outside in the mud...

I'd feel differently if we were going to Italy or Aruba or something to get married and only inviting 15-20 people, but we're having a full wedding/reception already, and all the people we'd invite to the 'second reception' would already be invited to the wedding and declined to attend...

What do those with more wedding experience say?

Anyone have any information on a Destination Wedding Paris

Kate0985 — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 06:12:41 +0000

I was hoping to get information for a small destination wedding in Paris. can someone help please

Thank You

Katie

Timelines

jharrison07 — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 20:32:09 +0000

I have read so many things and timelines for requirements vary often. Our wedding is in October 2016 in Mexico, just slightly less than a year away. I have already booked the resort and found a travel agent and have begun securing room blocks. I am wondering what everyone's opinions are on the timing of Save the Date, Invitations and RSVP requests should be. With our room block they need to book no later than 65 days before the wedding or I will be penalized for any unreserved room in the block. Do I take that into consideration with timeline for RSVPs? Or do I still make that 4-6 weeks before the wedding to provide my destination a final headcount? I was planning on save the dates sooner than later to allow people to save for the wedding December 2015 giving them 10 months notice...too early?? Invitation when??

The timeframes since travel is involved confuses me, thank you for your help!!

Italy Vendor Documents

Knottie1438904788 — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:52:22 +0000

Hi all!

For those who had a European destination wedding (specifically Italy), how much personal information did you have to give your wedding vendors? My photographer (who I already have a signed contract with) is asking for my birthplace and copy of my passport, which for me raises some red flags. I've heard from another bride who got married in Italy that services are taken care of differently both with payments (bank transfers) and documentation, so I'm curious to know what other brides have gone through.

Thanks!
-a sincerely nervous bride

Legal Documents

Knottie1446571899 — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 00:58:01 +0000

Hello! My fiance and I have decided on a destination wedding in St. Lucia this coming May. I know the resort we are getting married at is handling all of the documentation preparations required for St. Lucia to get the marriage license. My question is: do I have to apply for a license or certificate in Florida before I leave to get married in St. Lucia? Do I have to fulfill any requirements or apply for anything when we get back from St. Lucia in order for our marriage to be valid in Florida?

I just want to make sure I understand everything correctly. Thanks in advance for anyone that can share advice on this topic!

Royal Holiday Trap - beware

Knottie2446612 — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 05:14:19 +0000

Warning re: Royal Holiday. We wish we had been warned! My husband and I got sucked into buying a membership with Royal Holiday while on our honeymoon in Punta Cana and later discovered how many negative reports and problems people have had with this company. They are based out of Mexico so honeymooners going to Mexico and Dominican etc should be warned not to get trapped. We are going through a nightmare trying to cancel our contract with them (as many others are also experiencing)! Our wonderful honeymoon experience has now been tainted by dealing with this company. Here is a link if you want to check out our complaint and others. If you search online you will see how many people consider this company a scam. Hoping to save others, especially honeymooners, from being trapped in such a horrible situation. Here is the URL to our complaint.
http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/…/2015/OCT/complaint50932.cfm
The more views hopefully the more pressure on this company.Thanks everyone!

Private Ceremony with Reception for all?

Knottie1439947505 — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 21:16:05 +0000

My Fi and I are getting married in a State Park in May. We are only having immediate family at the actual ceremony. 2 questions really...1. Can we not invite my Fi's step brothers gf? They just moved in together and have been dating for a few years, but are very on again off again and not engaged. Is this possible or just going to cause hurt feelings?
2. We are going to have a reception the next weekend for everyone to celebrate. Should we still have a wedding shower or is it a snub since no one is invited to the actual wedding?

Wedding Reception after Destination Wedding?

Knottie1432346376 — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 22:42:23 +0000

My husband and I married this past August among just our immediate family at the ocean. My brother was the only one who could not be in attendance, as he was deployed and serving overseas. We had planned to have an intimate reception that he could attend since he could not be present for the wedding once he was back home on leave. This has become a great challenge to plan, however, since he is not given the dates he is allowed to come home until almost last minute. The next time we know he will be home will be for the holidays, around Christmas. Would it be appropriate to plan a reception that far past the wedding date, especially now that I am pregnant??

Please help!!! I don't want to disappoint family or make anyone feel left out. Thank you!

Sandals Brides! What did you choose for photography?

ambartlett — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:44:35 +0000

Hello, I am getting married next year at Sandals in Jamaica. I was wondering who else got married at Sandals and what they choose for their photographer/package. They have partner photographers and the cheapest one is almost $3,000, but if you choose to go with their onsite photographers you have to choose a package which includes a bunch of stuff I don't really need. I asked if it was possible to just choose the pictures I want and have them on a CD and they said that in order to do that I need to pick an entire package.

Does anyone have any experience with using the onsite photographers? We are eloping so there wont be any guests that we can have take pictures for us.
Thanks!

in-laws unhappy... HELP

ready2wed59 — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 20:27:17 +0000

My FH parents are VERY unhappy we decided to have a destination wedding... We are both from Texas but decided to have a beach wedding in Florida. They think we're being selfish... How can we help them understand this decision wasn't out of selfishness or to keep them uninvolved but because we wanted an intimate and FUN wedding?

Fuchsia and Teal or Fuchsia and Turquoise Wedding?

bsquare04 — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 15:30:16 +0000

Hi Everyone!

I'm having a destination wedding in Ochos Rios, Jamaica July 2016! The wedding is not on the beach but will be outdoors. I'm trying to finalize the colors and having the hardest time choosing between fuchsia and turquoise or fuchsia and teal. Below is the shade of each that I'm referring too.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Turquoise Teal

Hard Rock Punta Cana

jenna lee — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 19:49:00 +0000

Hi there, We have booked our wedding at HRPC for Nov 2016. I'm just wondering if anyone else out there is getting married around that time? I would love to exchange any tips and/or planning information. I have read through some HRPC wedding tips posted but I would love to hear more. What locations did you use for ceremony and reception, what vendors did you use, what type of decor did you select, and were you happy with everything? I'm trying to find a picture of the standard centerpeice that comes included with the private events and a 'unedited' photo of the complimentary cake. Thanks for any info you can share, Jenna