Wedding date: December 18, 2021 ~ Resort: Azul Beach Negril ~ Photographer: Rebel Rabbit Photography ~ Bridal Salon: Our Shop Bridal ~ Gown Designer: Mikaella Bridal

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We chose Romance Travel Group after reaching out to a few different travel agencies and RTG was the first group that was very communicative and also helped guide us so that it seemed like everything was what we wanted but also that we didn't have to lift a finger. It just felt right as soon as we started talking to our agent.
 
What led you to choose a destination wedding?
We chose a destination wedding because wanted our celebration to be more intimate. We wanted it to be very special with just our favorite people there and it was exactly what we wanted.
 
How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We selected the resort because we wanted a family-friendly resort with beautiful views and gourmet food. Azul Beach was exactly that. It was everything we could have asked for. 
 
Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
I had an idea of what I wanted my wedding dress to be but I ended up going with a different one that felt way more flattering on my body. You never really know what you want until you see it on yourself! I went with my mom, my mother-in-law, and three of my bridesmaids. It was the greatest experience to go with all of my favorite people. 
 
Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
The booking process was very easy to navigate! Due to COVID our rates actually went down through the resort but our agent coordinated all of that with our guests and gave them refunds or informed those that hadn't paid in full. It was a very easy process during a very difficult time!
 
What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
Our biggest fears were that we weren't going to be able to go due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we did end up missing a couple of guests, we just stayed as positive as we could. We planned our wedding in February of 2020 before we knew what the world would look like and we had to postpone for a year. We weren't going to postpone again as long as everyone took the proper precautions and felt comfortable. 
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guests loved the all-inclusive resort! They've talked about making it a yearly occurrence. It was exactly what everyone needed during this difficult time.
 
How easy/difficult was it to travel with your wedding dress? Did you carry-it on, where did you store it? Did you get a lot of comments at the airport?
I bought a garment bag off amazon and took my dress and my groom's suit in the bag as my carry on. It wasn't difficult whatsoever, and no one questioned it. I would definitely recommend every bride to buy a garment bag and carry it on so you don't have to worry about it arriving!

Tell us about your wedding – did you have a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception and dance? What was different about a destination wedding compared to a wedding at home?
We had a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception, and dance. However, this was a symbolic ceremony. We got legally married in the United States on our dating anniversary about 1 month before our wedding day in Negril. That took off a lot of pressure on the day of.
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part of having a destination wedding was the lack of stress! I felt minimal stress throughout the entire process because between RTG and Azul Beach they did it all! It was such a great experience for a wedding.
 
What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My favorite memory of my wedding experience was being able to bring all of our favorite people together for more than just a night to celebrate our love. We were able to celebrate our marriage for multiple days in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It doesn't get any better than that.
 
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
I would and have recommended Romance Travel Group to anyone who is considering a destination wedding!

Choose your destination - Choosing the right destination is the hardest, but most exciting part! Couples can spend months browsing through travel magazines and websites in search of the perfect destination. Budget often plays a major role as couples consider the cost and convenience of air travel to their destination options. Marriage laws and residency requirements for certain destinations also come into play. With so much to consider, couples often struggle with this initial decision. We understand this, and hope that you'll let our expertise be your guide.

Select your resort - This is another fun step! Often, couples will fall in love with a resort that they've read about and choose it, regardless of its location. There are many things to consider when selecting the resort: Do you want it to be for adults only, or family friendly? Do you want it to be all-inclusive (highly recommended!) or close to the airport? You can be confident in our resort recommendations, knowing that we will only offer resorts with proven track records. Remember, we’ve been to most of these resorts and destinations and you can rely on our experience.

Confirm your wedding date with the resort - Destination weddings take place every day of the week, so finding an available date is not usually a problem if you have some flexibility. The more set you are on a particular date, the earlier you should begin planning. As soon as you have the resort chosen, we will contact the wedding coordinator to secure your date.

Make your room reservation – Soon after we confirm your wedding date with the resort, we will need to book your room. This seals your plans, giving you the assurance that you in fact are going to have a destination wedding! You can take a deep breath and relax knowing that the major decision making is done.

Send Save-The-Date invitations - Usually couples will send a Save-The-Date invitation as soon as their wedding date and location are confirmed. Since we expect to take on the task of travel planning for all of your guests, you'll want to include your personalized website address and our contact information on everything you send out so your guests know who to call to make their room reservations. We will customize each guests' travel arrangements to fit their specific needs. We have some RSVP tricks for you, too!
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With the resort chosen, your room booked and invites sent, the only thing left to do is plan your wedding day! We will be working directly with the wedding coordinator at the resort to plan the details of your day. Don’t worry! We will introduce you to her. We will continue to oversee the entire planning process, but we will also be assisting guests with their travel plans. We are here for you every step of the way to ensure the most spectacular destination wedding.

Ready to get started? Get in touch with us, below!

If I had a nickel for every time I was asked “do you think airfares will go down,” I’d be a millionaire. We spend hours upon hours looking for the best airfares. We wait weeks just to see if airfares will drop. Sometimes someone will get lucky. But more often, we end up booking an airfare pretty close to the airfare we originally found before we invested our time and energy into trying to beat the rate. So, what’s the secret to getting the best airfares when you’re traveling to Mexico and the Caribbean?

The major airlines (Delta, American, United) release their flight schedules 331 days in advance of travel. This means you can start looking for airfares 331 days prior to your flight home. However, some smaller airlines (Southwest, Jet Blue, Sun Country) only release their flight schedules within 6 months of travel. So, for about 5 months, the major players have less competition, and airfares tend to be higher. We always recommend looking, and of course if you see something good, book it. But if airfares are high, wait until all of the airlines have their schedules released, then get serious about booking.

If you’ve already passed the 6 month mark and airfares are still high, pay closer attention to doing your price checks on Mondays and Tuesdays. We tend to see airfares climb as the week goes on, then drop off after the weekend as Monday rolls around again.

If you’ve been diligent about watching and airfares still are not budging, there is a very good chance that they just won’t. If you are 2-3 months before travel and still haven’t booked, just book it! It is costing you more in time and effort at this point, and any potential savings more than likely won’t make up for your time investment. If you’re 2 months from travel, do yourself a favor… book your flight, and move on to planning the FUN parts of your trip!

Need a little help from the experts? Then, click the button below to inquire with us, today!

[Originally published on  01-01-17]
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​P.S. Be sure to pin this post so you can refer to it later!

The average size destination wedding is about 50 guests... but, who says you have to keep it at that? We say, the more the merrier - and here's why!

1. More rooms means more group perks, aka "freebies" for you!
2. We make sure you get the best value for the  rewards
3. PLUS, more friends and family = more fun!