Thinking of planning a destination wedding? Winter destination weddings are a fantastic way to celebrate your love without the chaos of the busy summer season. Plus, wouldn’t it be better to celebrate your devotion to your love in the beautiful tropics while the rest of the world chills back home in the cold?
You get to escape your chilly hometown to make new memories with family and friends and they get a vacation from the cold as well. Further, if you plan to explore paradise with your loved ones before or after the wedding ceremony, you’ll have a wide range of places to see, and things to do.
Photo: Dreams Punta Cana
Read on for more ideas to help you decide on where you plan your winter destination wedding.
Planning a Winter Destination Wedding
Planning a winter destination wedding isn’t much different than a destistination any other time of the year. Having the gorgeous blue seas and white sands of the tropics are a place that everyone loves to visit, but especially more so in the colder months. The only problem is deciding which destination you want to go to. Which hardly feels like a problem, right? Well, believe it or not, there are soooo many places you could pick from that it becomes overwhelming really fast. That is why having an experienced travel agent help you narrow it down is essential.
A winter destination wedding is the perfect way to combine the ceremony and the honeymoon into one package and spend more time in paradise away from the cold. There are a lot of options you can choose from in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean that offer all inclusive options which make it easy for you and your guests. If you’d rather not do an all inclusive option, there are so many wonderful places you can still choose for your destination wedding such as Hawaii, Belize, Costa Rica and many Caribbean islands.
Resort Options For Your Destination Wedding
Deciding what type of resort you want to have your wedding at is only part of the decision. Next, you’ll need to figure out how many guests you’re having and if children will be attending. Once you have that figured out, next you’ll want to secure a room block with your travel agent. This will ensure that you and your guests get the best pricing possible for their stay.
Photo: Dreams Los Cabos
Below are some options to consider when thinking of your guest list:
Adults Only Resorts
Kids are lovely, and many people enjoy spending as much time as they can with their kids or grandkids. However, there are times when an adults-only celebration is needed. When you stay at an adults only resort for your destination wedding, you’ll be happy knowing it really is kid-free. Plus, if you decide to extend your stay into your honeymoon, you will not have your romance disrupted by children.
Just keep in mind that if any of your guests plan on bringing their children, they cannot stay at an adults only resort. Nor can their kids attend the wedding if it’s being held at an adults only resort. These resorts are TRULY Adults only and they do not budge or make exceptions with that. 18 and older only.
Photo: Secrets the Vine
Kid-Friendly Resorts
More often than ever before blended families are becoming the norm for weddings and wedding ceremonies. When you’re looking for a kid-friendly all-inclusive resort to book for your destination wedding and honeymoon, you can expect options that also offer a lot of the same great amenities as the adults only resorts. Many kid-friendly resorts also offer an adults only section or a pool so you can get away from the kids if you prefer that.
Photo: Dreams Onyx
If you are planning to have children at your wedding, you want to make sure it’s a family friendly resort. Certain brands of resorts, such as Secrets and Dreams, often have their kid friendly resorts (Dreams) located next door to their adults only resort (Secrets). This allows the kid free people to stay at Secrets while the families with children stay at Dreams, and the adults at Secrets have access to both sides. This is a great option if you have a mix of people wanting both options. Rebecca with Wanderland Escapes also works closely with this resort brand and can help you pick out the right one.
Options and Amenities
Pretty much any resort you choose that offers destination weddings will offer the same benefits as if you were to just stay at the resort for a regular vacation. For example, if you choose an all inclusive resort, the same all inclusive benefits will apply. However, doing your wedding at their resort will often open up the possibility of some extra perks that you wouldn’t receive as a regular vacation guest. Such as a free room upgrade, champagne in your room, or use of a bridal suite to get ready in!
Photo: Dreams Macao Punta Cana
Below are some additional things to look for and choose from when booking your destination wedding:
Destination Wedding Packages
From custom cakes, photographers, fully decorated ceremony spaces, flowers, reception setup, and even dance floors with DJ’s, they can make it happen. Some wedding packages come with a pre-set amount of things included, such as how many guests it will accomodate, and if it includes a bridal suite or a cocktail hour.
As with any package, you will also have options to add on any extras such as a DJ or a photographer. Most wedding packages also come with a wedding coordinator to work with you and your travel agent to make sure everything is picked out and perfect for your day. Talk to your travel agent to make sure you pick out the right wedding package for your needs.
Photo: Secrets Akumal
Wedding Locations
Many resorts have multiple options for places on their property to have your ceremony. Whether you dream of a sunset ceremony under a gazebo, or you have your heart set on a beach wedding, they are more than capable of accommodating your requests and making your wedding location unforgettable. Many resorts have more than one location you can choose from with unique ways to decorate the space to make it perfect for your vision.
Photo: Secrets Los Cabos
Accomodations
When setting up your room block, it’s good to know who is rooming with who and who might want an upgraded room. This allows you to set aside the room types that your guests will want to book. Depending on your room block contract, the bride and groom can often get a complimentary room upgrade or even a few free nights. Your travel agent will go over all of the details with you when you do the room block and again when you are preparing to travel. They’ll also make sure you get the freebies you’re entitled to.
Photo: Dreams Riviera Cancun
Destinations to Pick From
There are many beautiful tropical locations that can satisfy any dream wedding idea. Some of the more popular locations that Wanderland Escapes books for destination weddings are: Hawaii, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico. Each location boasts a plethora of great restaurants, beautiful banquet spaces, and stunning beach scenery. Rebecca is also versed in locations that also offer same sex wedding options, since some of these are limited.
Photo: Dreams Riviera Cancun
Book Your Winter Destination Wedding With an Experienced Travel Advisor
When you are feeling the pressure of planning your destination wedding, there’s no one better to turn to than your very own personal destination wedding and travel specialist. Rebecca at Wanderland Escapes has a certification in honeymoon and destination weddings with Travel Leaders. You’ll be in good hands from the planning phase all the way through your travels by utilizing her talents to help you.
Even if you feel like you waited too long to plan your winter destination wedding, there still may be some options for this winter if you are flexible and want to get it set up. Don’t wait! Contact Wanderland Escapes today to start planning!
