Where to start?

Seanap

Hey ladies! I am looking for your experience.... We know we want a destination wedding. We think about 100 guests will come... thinking USVI or Aruba? Any feedback or ideas or pretty much ANY ADVICE would be great!

oohlypinon

THe best place to start is a location and date.  Look in to what location cost and flight expences to help you pin down the best place for you and your FI.  If you have guests that you cannot picture your day without you will want to take thier travel budget into consideration.  Also if there will be any children you want to try and find a place that is kid friendly. Travel agents (severla ladies use destinationweddings.com or Beachbum vacations) can help you with locations, resorts, and travel arrangements for you guests.

Hope this has helped somewhat!
Welcome to the board and happy planning

angybanez

Ashley got it right on the dot. We first sent out an evite to get a feeler for the destination wedding idea and if people would be able to make it to the destination, the date. Prior to that we made sure our immediate family and our friends we want to be in teh bridal party could make it. After that, we signed an agreement with destination weddings dot com then provided an approximate number of guest we were expecting. From the Evite response, we took that number and lowered it a bit (since we knew that unfortunately things happen and plans of Yes could become Maybe...then to no...) and held rooms at a group rate. We opted to do a group rate to ensure our guests will exclusively have their rooms unlike guest just booking online where they can show up at the resort and find the room they want (double bed or king bed or suite) is not available. Our guests our currently contacting our TA at destinationweddings and he's been helping them book rooms and flight. On the other end, the wedding coordinator at our resort started contacting us with the help of our TA and we've been slowly making plans. WC usually focus more on you closer to your wedding date so don't be surprise of the island time they're in. Plus, this is the season for weddings so WCs are always busy with weddings. My resort had 62 in April alone!

Have fun planning! You will have a blast! (sorry this got long !!!)