| Frequently Asked Questions, FAQ Destination Weddings |
BeachBrideToBe Destination Weddings Made Simple!
| Destination Wedding Questions and Answers...ask Diana! Email all of your wedding questions to : Diana@beachbridetobe.com Hi, Diana, How can I find out when its high tide so I don't schedule my beach wedding when the tide is in? Thx, Abby Hello, Abby, Here are some web sites that can help you with determining when it is high tide. www.saltwatertides.com covers the beaches in the USA. Tides and Tide Prediction and Tides.info: Tide predictions from around the globe. Great info on these sites. You might also check out the Weather Channel Wedding Planner - My Wedding Weather, Set the Date, Wedding Planning Tools and Tips, Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Planner. This site includes sunset calculator if you want to schedule your wedding at sunset and great outdoor wedding tips. Cheers, Diana Diana, I am getting married in Las Vegas and its the second marriage for both of us. Is it appropriate for me to wear a wedding dress and for him to wear a tuxedo? The wedding chapel says yes, my family says I shouldn't. I really want to wear a wedding style dress. After all, this IS my wedding to my soul mate. Thank you, Jan Hello, Jan, It is completely appropriate for you to wear an informal style wedding dress. Its still a wedding dress and they can be very elegant. You can find informal dresses done simply or with lots of flam and glitz. Stay away from the rouched skirts, which are the full pick up skirts, and long trains. Look for a sleeker more sophisticated dress, it can even have a small sweep train. After all, you are still a bride! Don't wear a veil, a simple rhinestone headband or small tiara will suffice. And yes, its appropriate for your happy groom to wear a tuxedo. Cheers, Diana Dear Diana, What should I know about a Caribbean resort before I book the wedding there? Andi Hello, Andi, Your wedding should not be held to chance. And chances are, you've not been to the resort, nor can most brides and grooms afford to take a pre wedding trip to the location to check it out in person. I advise you to check with others who were married there by asking them for references from newlywed couples. You can also check various Internet newsgroup and bulletin boards for real life experiences from newlyweds. I know that the all inclusive Sandals and Beaches resorts get high marks from my clients. I've had family members honeymoon at the resorts and they give them 5 stars for quality, luxury, value and fun. I've personally toured one when I was in the islands and didn't want to leave! I also advise my clients to look for opinions at Trip Advisor. Click here: You'll find honest travelers opinions. I use it as my travelers bible BEFORE I book. Is the resort all inclusive? All inclusive means all food and beverages are included in addition to your lodging. Some resorts include top shelf alcohol and cigarettes. Most resorts will have dining choices and all inclusive will offer money savings. Ask the following questions: Does the resort include a free wedding planner/ consultant? What is included in the price of the wedding, like flowers, wedding cake, champagne? Can you steam my wedding dress? Are rooms available at discount for guests? Are tours included or extra? Make yourself a list and ask BEFORE you book! And don't forget to apply for your passport! Cheers, Diana Hi, Diana, We are planning a beach wedding and of course, my parents are paying for it. Now a question that I have before talking everything out with the folks is how is everything paid for. The plane tickets and the hotel, are they paid by the guest or the parents? Does that include everyone or just immediate family? Or do they pay a percentage of the cost? Thank you very much, Aubrey Hi, Aubrey, Great question! The costs of the guests travel and hotel rooms is usually paid by the guests. It is the responsibility of the guests. Your hotel may sometimes offer discounts to your group. It is entirely up to the bride's parents to decide what costs they wish to pick up. They generally will pay for their accommodations and travel and those of the immediate family, their children. If you book an entire wedding at Sandals, that is, wedding, accommodations and travel, the bride and groom's travel expenses are all handled in the package. That's why Sandals is such a great deal. If your parents want, they can contribute to the travel costs of the guests. Its entirely their call on what they are willing or able to spend. Cheers, Diana Hi, Diana, What should we do if it rains at the time of our ceremony? We are having it on a beach, TYVM Jen Dear Jen, I always advise wedding couples to have a plan B in case of inclement weather. This might mean renting a beach house or condo or using a hotel. If you use a hotel, they'll have the plan B in place for you and you won't have to handle anything yourself. They'll host the wedding inside and when the rains lift, you can take your photos on the beach. We recommend you using a wedding coordinator in the area where you are getting married for reasons such as this. They'll handle it, you don't have to. Cheers, Diana Dear Diana, Where do I start to plan my destination wedding? Confused Cari Dear Cari, You and your fiancé need to decide on a date and location. Make a budget and then start looking at different places and prices online. Do you want an all inclusive wedding so you don't have to do anything but show up? Or do you want to handle all the details yourself? Do you need a wedding planner? We believe in wedding planners, they will guide you every step of the way. Many all inclusive resorts will include airfare transfers and a wedding planner so you don't have to do anything but gather your legal documents, pack and head to the airport. Read the pages here and get some ideas! Cheers, Diana Diana, What is an all inclusive wedding? Sam Hello, Sam, An all inclusive wedding is a wedding at a resort that includes the entire wedding, the wedding coordinator,the wedding site, the officiant, flowers, reception and the honeymoon. What is GENERALLY included in an all inclusive wedding: your transportation and transfers to the resort, a wedding planner, the wedding location, the ceremony, flowers and photographers, a wedding cake or reception, your accommodations, all your food, alcohol, cigarettes, entertainment and water sports, golf, beach, pool, spa, tips and baggage handling. In other words, everything you need, want or can think of is included in one price. Each all inclusive resort may include or not include certain items, read the fine print to see what is included. I've heard raves about Sandals resorts for their wedding packages and weddingmoons, which is a word they coined for wedding and honeymoon. Cheers, Diana Hi, Diana, What all inclusive resorts do you recommend? Ali Dear Ali, We don't recommend any specific resorts because all resorts have certain charms and amenities that appeal to different couples. I might like something that you might dislike and vice versa. We talk about resorts that our brides have recommended to us based on their personal experiences. Some resorts are family friendly, some aren't Some include top shelf liquor, some don't. We hear a lot about food, food usually is based on personal preferences., but then again, bad food is bad food. We recommend you go to the site Trip Advisor and read the reviews of the resorts you might be considering. I love this site, I use it myself all the time before I book because you are getting firsthand information from past guests. And the site is worldwide, so there isn't anyplace where you can't get the scoop. Some specialize in weddings, such as Sandals Resorts and they consistently get high marks from couples and honeymooners. We also get great reports on the Riu resorts and Dreams resorts. Right now there are so many travel deals that you need to read the reviews before you book so you don't miss a great place. Happy travels, Diana Dear Diana, How far in advance do we send out save the date cards to our destination wedding? Kati Dear Kati, Save the date cards should be send out as far in advance as possible AFTER you have firmed up your reservations and wedding arrangements at your destination wedding. Your guests should have enough time to save the money to pay for their travels, arrange time off of work and to get themselves ready to travel. Not everyone you invite will be able to travel or can afford to travel, so 9 months to a year is not unreasonable. If you are marrying at a resort, arrange for a discounted block of room rates for your guests as well as another less expensive option nearby. Give them the choice of accommodations. Also give them information on how to fly, drive or get to your wedding destination . We suggest you set up a web site with all the travel information for your guests. Update it regularly, so if there are any changes, your guests will know about them. Happy Travels, Diana Hi, Diana, Should we plan something for the guests to do during our wedding weekend? Kelli Dear Kelli, Since your guests have traveled a long way to get to your wedding, its a nice gesture to plan a barbecue or dinner the night before the wedding. Its considerate to can set up a hospitality suite that you keep stocked with snacks and soft drinks during the day, coffee and danish for breakfast. You might want to treat your brides maids to a spa visit. Don't over plan for your guests, they will want to hit the beach or take in the local scenery because this is a vacation for them also. Your wedding planner will have some great ideas for you. She can suggest group tours or some other activity if they choose to participate. Not everyone will want to participate. If everything is arranged far in advance, and its on your web site in advance, they'll know their options. Its not up to you to entertain them 24/7, but if you arrange a dinner, you and your fiancé should be there. Cheers, Diana Hi, My FH and I are renting a beach house for our guests at our beach wedding. We are staying at a hotel, the wedding is on the beach at the hotel.l We are picking up the cost of the beach house for our parents, brothers and sisters and wedding party. Are we obligated to stock the house with food? Everyone is driving, so getting around the area is not a problem. Trish Dear Trish, No, its not necessary for you to stock the house with food. Most beach houses come without linens, towels and toilet paper. Remind your guests if they'll need to bring their own bed linens and towels. It would be nice of you to buy toilet paper and a case of cold bottled water for the fridge. If there is a super center nearby, you can stock up on soft drinks and coffee for the coffee pot. Or put someone in charge of food for the house for those who want to eat in the house. Have them all chip in for burgers or meat and cheese trays. Their meals are not on you, except for the reception. And you are under no obligation to stock the house with alcohol. Since they have a car, they can drive to a restaurant or they can all chip in and buy groceries. Have a fun wedding, Diana Diana, I'm the groom. What are my responsibilities for a destination wedding? My bride says I need to get organized. I'm confused. Dave Dear Dave, Do you have your passport and other papers in order so you can travel and apply for your marriage license? Have you researched your destination? Do you have your wedding attire ready? Do you have an idea of what you are packing to take to the wedding and honeymoon? Have you shopped for some new items of clothing? Do you have a wedding gift for your bride and for the groomsmen? Do you have your finances in order so you have money to spend on the honeymoon? Are you helping to keep the wedding guests and groomsmen in the loop? Your responsibilities are to handle travel plans, the details of the marriage license, help her in all the planning and dealing with the wedding coordinators, etc. You should support her in all the wedding plans and make yourself available to help. Ask her, she'll tell you what needs to be done. And then just do it! Congrats, Diana |
