Wedding Date: August 20, 2023 ~ Resort: Royalton Negril ~ Photographer/Videographer: Tuson Photography ~ Beauty: Jeralyn Langford ~ Bridal Gown: Imperial Bride  ~ Tux Salon: Men's Warehouse

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?   
In August of 2021, one of our family members had a destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica. They used Romance Travel Group and we remembered how wonderful and stress free the process was in working with RTG for their wedding. We knew they were the perfect people to help us with our destination wedding.

What led you to choose a destination wedding?   
My husband and I both love to travel. We always take a big trip every year since we met. We knew in doing this we could not only celebrate our wedding, but also celebrate our honeymoon. Our family and friends could also make this a relaxing vacation for themselves, too.

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?   
Cedric and I both share birthdays in the month of August. Our birthdays are a week apart. Mine is August 17th and his is August 24th. We chose the middle date to tie it all together.

Tell us about your wedding attire – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your wedding attire?   
I found my wedding dress at the 3rd wedding dress shop I visited. I had my mom, my God-mom, and my best friend with me. We all knew we found the dress when we all got emotional. I ordered my shoes from Badgley Mischka. My reception dress came from Amazon and my performance dress came from Shein.

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?   
One of my biggest fears was leaving something at home and knowing I would not have any way of getting it before the big day! I handled this by having an amazing Bride Tribe that helped me to make sure I had a checklist and packed everything we needed!

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.   
I chose my bestfriend and my sister to stand by my side, because they have been my side through all the most important things in my life! I got them both bridal boxes with goodies inside as well as Bride Tribe bags with personalized gifts just for them. The reason I chose them is because they were not only supportive of me, but supportive of my relationship with my husband.

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?   
All of my guests were beyond happy with the resort being all-inclusive and having such a variety to choose from. Everyone loved the resort. They greeted by a breathtaking view right as you stepped into the lobby.

How easy/difficult was it to travel with your wedding attire? Did you carry-it on, where did you store it? Did you get a lot of comments at the airport?   
I was a big DIY bride, so I took a lot of decor from home, including charger plates and napkins. We took a large 46 inch duffel that carried all of the decor that we took. My mom and I used our carry-on item for my dress, bouquet, and wedding shoes. I did not want to let those items out of my sight. Of course all of the American Airline attendants made jokes about the size of the duffle bag, but once they knew we were having a destination wedding they understood!

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?   
Our wedding overall was traditional. We chose to do a first look and take photos prior to the ceremony. We did have a cocktail hour. And we had our first dance at the reception. To me the views and overall ambiance of the wedding due to having a destination made everything so beautiful. I knew doing a wedding at home would not give me the visuals of the Caribbean look that made our pictures look so gorgeous and exceptional.

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My favorite memory was doing the first look with my husband. The feeling of butterflies as I walked up behind him and just seeing his face and locking eyes. That was the best feeling in the universe.

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
RTG made the travel experience for us and our guest the easiest part of the trip. They were always available to answer any questions. They helped not just us personally, but were easily accessible to all of our guests in attendance. The website was easy to navigate and understand. The best part overall was how they are so personable, sweet, and always ON TOP OF IT!

What surprised you the most about having a destination wedding?
What surprised me most was how stress free everything was in comparison to a wedding in Alabama. The reception is what really surprised me, I was shocked at how it felt as if I was at a party at home. The DJ was superb! I thought I would want a wedding with 100+ people, but I truly enjoyed having the wedding group I had.

Congratulations to you, Alexandria and Cedric! Wishing you the very best always!

Wedding Date: July 8, 2023 ~ Resort: Dreams Macao, Punta Cana ~ Photographer/Videographer: Punta Cana Storytellers ~ Florist: Vlady Flowers ~ Bridal Gown: David's Bridal ~ Tux Salon: Macy's

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?  
We chose Romance Travel Group because they had really good reviews and while reading the reviews everyone mentioned how smooth they made their wedding planning and that they handled all the guests’ travel arrangements, which was exactly what we were looking for.  Not to mention, they also create a ‘Save the Date Website’ as well!  During our first phone call with, Shelli was very informative and I felt a sense of ease, like I was making the right decision to book with Romance Travel Group.
 
What led you to choose a destination wedding?  
We chose a destination wedding because I’ve always wanted to get married on the beach, near the ocean.  We also knew that we wanted an intimate wedding (30-40 guests) and thought it would be a great idea to have all of our family and close friends travel with us and make it a group vacation!
 
How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?  
We chose Dreams Macao Beach because, our first vacation was in Punta Cana and we wanted to take it back to where it all started.  Dreams Macao was fairly new at the time and we wanted a newer and more modern resort with a great beach.  Also, after reviewing their website and saw the different locations for weddings, I fell in love with the beach and rooftop options and of course the price point was also a deciding factor.

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
My wedding date is my sister’s birthday, who passed away in 2019.  We were extremely close and she was my biggest supporter in life.  So I wanted to get married on her birthday, so that she is forever celebrated! 

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
My experience working with the wedding coordinator was great. I understood from the beginning that response times would be delayed so I started my planning very early (1 year) because I had a lot of questions and I’m a planner and like to have things in order. Surprisingly, the wedding coordinator was very responsive.  Sometimes it would take a few day to a week to hear back from them, but I wasn’t concerned as I knew I had plenty of time to get things in order. The only challenge I would say I had was just waiting for the resort to get back to me with my questions, other than that I felt like everything else went well. 

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
The booking process for my guests was extremely easy.  My guests were very happy with ease of booking their rooms and the ability to make monthly payments was the icing on the cake!  I hardly received any questions from my guest, so that tells you they were able to navigate on their own, or reached out to Heather (who was amazing by the way) and she handled all of their questions / concerns.

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
My biggest fear as my wedding date drew near was how everything was going to turn out, as far as the decor.  It was a bit challenging to pick out decor, flowers just from pictures, however I did a lot of research on Pinterest, which helped me gather my ideas and create a vision.  Also to help with my anxiety, I joined a Dreams Macao Brides Facebook group.  After reading reviews from the other brides, it put my mind at ease and I just trusted the process.

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
Meeting the on-site wedding team was a wonderful experience!  I felt like I knew them since I’ve been communicating with them for over a year.  They welcomed us with open arms.  Franny (my assigned wedding coordinator) was the absolute best.  She had such a calm demeanor and that helped me feel at ease.  I put full trust in her to bring my vision to life. Franny was extremely patient and gave us suggestions when we couldn’t decide on certain things.  She was the absolute best and I’m so glad she was my wedding coordinator!

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
My guest were extremely happy with the resort.  They kept saying how beautiful it was and wowed by the all-inclusive concept.  They are excited to book another all-inclusive vacation and considering going back to Dreams Macao.

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?
Traveling with my dress was extremely easy as I didn’t have a big poofy dress so that made it easy to store it in my carry-on luggage.  I kept the dress in the garment bag it came in and just folded it and put it in the suitcase.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?  
The best part of having a destination wedding was have my family and close friends with us in paradise.  It truly felt like a family vacation with a wedding!  It was truly amazing and every time I think about it, I can’t help but smile!

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding? 
We would absolutely recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples considering a destination wedding!  Shelli and her team were great!  I had so many questions and they were very responsive.  They liaised  with the resort and make sure rooms were booked accordingly.  I had a few check-in calls with Shelli to make sure I was good and if I had any concerns / questions.  They really walk you through every step of this process, which was extremely important to me.

Congratulations and best wishes to you always, Stacey & Ben!!
 

​Wedding Date: April 27, 2023 ~ Resort: Dreams Natura ~ Photographer: Cineluk (Hector Yupit) ~ Videographer: Cineluk (Luis Paredes) ~ Bridal Salon: The Wedding Shoppe ~ Tux Salon: Express/Lululemon ~ Beauty:  Sara Tamargo Makeup and Hair

​Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We chose Romance Travel Group because while searching for destination wedding travel agents, we came across them and they had ALL good reviews. When we were going through the reviews, so many people mentioned how they made their wedding planning so much less stressful and that they handled all the guests’ travel arrangements, which was exactly what we were looking for. During our first phone call, Shelli was very informative, supportive, and accommodating to our wants and needs. On top of that, we were told that we would get our money back as soon as we arrived at our wedding destination. All of these things just made our decision to book with Romance Travel Group much easier.

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
We chose to do a destination wedding because we looked at wedding venues around the city we live in, and we could not fathom how much JUST the venue itself cost. We wanted to spend our money on something that we absolutely loved and we couldn’t find that around us. We always thought it would be cool to get married on the beach near the ocean but we didn’t think we would actually do it. After doing some research about destination weddings, we were sold on the fact that the resort pretty much does everything for you. The beach and ocean are obviously beautiful and that being apart of our venue made us feel at ease that we were going to love it even without seeing it before hand.

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We chose Dreams Natura Resort and Spa because we loved the infinity pool glass platform for the wedding ceremony and we didn’t see that any other resorts had this. We thought it was so unique as the ocean was still in the background, so it was absolutely perfect. Some of the deciding factors of choosing this resort was that they had 7 different restaurant options, it was family friendly, it was within our price budget, and it was only about 15 minutes away from the airport. 

Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
I went wedding dress shopping with my mom and two sisters. We went to three different wedding stores. The wedding dress I found was not what I expected myself to wear, in fact it was the opposite. I initially wanted a flowy beachy dress with straps. Once I tried on these types of dresses, I realized I did not like the straps as they dug into my shoulders (I have broad shoulders), and I didn’t like how plain the dresses were. So, I decided to try on strapless dresses that had more detail and sparkles. I ended up with one of the most sparkly dresses that The Wedding Shoppe had. The sparkles made me feel like a princess and I knew that once the Mexican sun would hit the sparkles on the dress, that it was going to look even more beautiful. 

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
The booking process for our guests was SO easy. We didn’t get asked one question about the booking process and none of our guests complained about anything being confusing or difficult. If our guests had any questions, they went straight to our travel agent. We started a Facebook group with our wedding guests to keep them updated about payment deadlines and travel information. 

What were some of the biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
Some of our biggest fears and worries we had as our wedding date drew near were not knowing what everything was going to look like, how the food was going to taste, and how we were going to pack all our wedding stuff. There was a slight communication barrier between us and our wedding coordinator, so we weren’t 100% sure if she understood everything correctly. One thing that helped us tremendously was the Dreams Natura Resort & Spa Weddings Facebook group. Brides who just got married at the resort post their review about their wedding day and anyone could ask questions. It was nice to see pictures of decorations, flowers, food, and the resort. We felt way more at ease knowing that other wedding couples had the same concerns as us and their advice was to trust the process as the wedding coordinators know what they are doing and will make your wedding day special. So, we trusted the process, and everything turned out perfectly. As far as packing our wedding stuff, we put all of our important wedding day attire and décor in our carry-ons as we did not want to risk our checked bags getting lost with our wedding stuff. It was a little difficult to sort what needed to be in our carry-ons as the bags are obviously smaller so we had to pick and choose what was most important to us.

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
The meeting we had with our wedding coordinator was definitely needed. We had some questions that we felt were easier to ask and discuss in person rather than over email. We wanted to make sure our budget excel sheet was correct before paying as we felt there were a lot of hidden fees. She not only talked to us about our wedding day, but she also wanted to make sure we and our guests were well taken care of and had no issues. We told her that there were a few hiccups with our guests’ rooms, and she called a few people right away to help figure out those issues. She also wanted to accommodate those inconveniences, so she upgraded our reception lights at no additional cost. 
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guests absolutely loved the resort. In fact, a lot of guests had never been to an all-inclusive resort before, so they were excited to experience it. The staff at the resort was wonderful and everyone was so friendly. There was never a wait at any of the restaurants, even when we would go in a large group. 

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 did not get a foldable garment bag for my wedding dress as I read mixed reviews about it. Obviously, the handles of the foldable garment bags are a convenience, but some said that folding their dress made it way more wrinkly. So, I decided to just carry my dress in the wedding dress bag it came in. It was awkward to carry around but it was only for a little bit, so I did not mind. We had many people come up to us and say congratulations which was really sweet. Once we got on the plane, I hung it in the closet. On the way back, I shoved my dress in my carry-on as it didn't matter if it got more wrinkly at that point.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part of having a destination wedding was getting to make a vacation out of it with friends and family. It was like a weeklong wedding party which was so fun. We didn’t know if family and friends were going to go off and do their own thing or if we were going to stay together as a group for most of the trip. We ended up staying together as a group and it was a blast. We had so much fun that there is talk about having a big family reunion vacation in the future. We also loved that no one in our family had to help set up decorations or make sure everything was going smoothly, they just had to show up and have fun. 

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Romance Travel Group did everything to make our planning less stressful. They were like the middle-man between us and the resort. I have heard from other brides that it is nearly impossible to get ahold of the resort and book your wedding without having a travel agent. Romance Travel Group answered any and all questions that our guests had (I don’t think we had one guest ask us a question), they made the transportation process seamless, and they sent emails reminding our guests about final payments and everything they should know about traveling to Mexico. As soon as we landed in Mexico, Shelli called us to make sure our flight was good and that getting through customs went smoothly. Any issues that arose with transportation or the resort, they were on it right away. We would have been completely lost and so stressed out if we didn’t have Romance Travel Group.

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
Absolutely! We have already recommended a wedding couple to Romance Travel Group (who have already started their destination wedding planning. We highly recommend Romance Travel Group!

​Congratulations Megan & Justin! It was great to meet you in Mexico!  Best wishes to you always!

Wedding Date: May 5, 2023 ~ Resort: Breathless Riviera Cancun ~ Photographer: Ambar + Alejandro Photography ~ Bridal Gown: BHLDN ~ Tux Salon: Black Tux ~ Beauty: Backstage Hair & Makeup

​How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
Selecting a resort initially felt daunting. There are SO many in the Cancun area. RTG was a huge help, even on ultra specific things like “which resorts have a brown wooden gazebo by the ocean?” We ultimately chose our resort for its reputation for being lively, its on-site club open until 1am, and the aesthetics of the wedding venues available (including our gazebo!)

Were there any objections from your wedding guests about your decision to have a destination wedding? If so, how did you handle overcome those?
We definitely had some nerves and even a touch of guilt about having a destination wedding. It felt like a big ask of our family and friends to take 3-4 days off of work and invest in the trip. The reality couldn't have been more different, though. We got more RSVPs than we expected and most of our friends and family were enthusiastic about the much needed vacation. We chose an adults only resort, so there were naturally some objections from our immediate family about kids not being present. We heard everyone out on this, but also helped them understand how the logistics of having kids presented detracted from the quality time that we were hoping to have with them as adults. We also made sure all of the grandmas and grandpas that stepped up to babysit felt special and appreciated!

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
Since Rick and his family are Mexican, part of the reason we chose a destination wedding in Mexico was for the opportunity to celebrate the food and culture. We figured we might as well go all-in and have it on Cinco de Mayo! Even though it’s a very Americanized holiday, it made for a fun theme and gave us an anniversary that will always be easy to remember.

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
We were initially surprised that the planning process with the on-site coordinator didn’t start until 3-4 months before the wedding. In retrospect, however, we now realize that these resorts host tons of weddings and have it down to a science. They can bring any vision to life in just a few weeks and months. We would advise other destination wedding couples to just trust the process and avoid being antsy when you’re 4+ months out and want to get started (we know the feeling.) Once we kicked off the process, our coordinator was always very responsive and we worked out all the details in a large planning document. It worked really well to keep everything organized and trackable in writing.

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
RTG set up a unique booking page for us with all of the info that our guests needed to book travel. Our travel agent, Heather, helped with payment reminders, travel info, and questions throughout the process. RTG did a great job giving our guests a smooth booking process, but we found it helpful to also be proactive with our guests alongside RTG by sending our own text messages and emails to our guests reinforcing deadlines and FAQ. There is no such thing as too many reminders! :)

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
Having a destination wedding is a total trust fall. We were naturally anxious to be placing so much trust in our resort and our coordinator without meeting the vendors that they sourced on our behalf, seeing our florals ahead of time, meeting our DJ/MC, etc. It was helpful to keep reminding ourselves that we were getting married in paradise and that everyone would be in vacation mode and full of tequila. Nothing can go that wrong in that kind of magical setting, right?  Sure enough, it was a total dream. Trust your coordinator and the process :)
 
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
Leading up to the wedding, we worked with our coordinator in a detailed planning document that reached 30 pages! It gave us peace of mind that everything was in writing and so well organized. During our one hour on-site meeting, we went through the document and timeline together item by item to make sure we were on the same page. Everything was so well planned before that meeting, there were really no surprises. We also brought all of the items that we transported to the resort ourselves like cake topper, guest book, etc. to that meeting in a suitcase and handed them off to our coordinator.

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Yes! It was especially fun to hear the reactions from our guests that had never done an all-inclusive, or at least one as nice as Breathless. One of our guests told us that they felt like there was a resort employee handing them a glass of champagne at all times from the moment they stepped on the property, which made us laugh. It really was true though - our guests were offered drinks in the shuttle to the resort, at check-in, at the start of each of our private events, and the moment we walked out from our wedding ceremony. You truly want for nothing at an all-inclusive and it was so fun to watch our guests feel pampered, surprised and delighted the whole weekend.

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?
The fun part of a destination wedding is that it lasts multiple days. We hosted a private welcome dinner on the beach the day everyone arrived (included in our Beyond Memorable wedding package) that felt like a whole other wedding on its own. Then the day of the wedding we hosted our ceremony, a cocktail hour, and a 4-hour reception. We used a separate venue on the resort property for each event which allowed us to create different vibes throughout the day from beachy and casual cocktails to an elegant rooftop reception.

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
Guests just behave differently at destination weddings. They are in vacation mode and their inhibitions are totally down. We felt like the energy level at our reception was off the charts, and there are so many little moments that encapsulate that. One was when our crowd engagement package from Drums in Paradise arrived, giving our guests the opportunity to bang on “water drums,” which are exactly what they sound like - drums that are full of water that shoots everywhere when you bang on them. People were drenched and cracking up and smiling ear to ear. One guest walked up to me and told me that it was “therapy.” The moments when we got to see our guests really let loose were absolutely our favorite.

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
RTG added value from the very beginning in helping us avoid overwhelm when choosing a resort. They can answer any question you have about resort selection down to the tiniest detail. We feel like we ended up at our perfect match of a resort with their help. They also took the stress off our plate related to travel entirely - we knew with confidence that when guests came to us with questions or needs we could redirect them to our RTG agent and they would be in great hands.

What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
We really don’t have regrets about the process. The final outcome was beyond our wildest dreams and will live on as one of the best weekends ever. Any changes I would make are minor - one suggestion is that I forgot until I got down there how useful tumblers are at all-inclusives. We put a coozie in our welcome bags, but I wish I had gifted tumblers instead so that guests could use them at the swim up bars vs. the standard  little plastic cups. Our only other regret was not investing in a videographer. I realize in retrospect that destination weddings tend to be a bit more lively / experiential than traditional ones. Our photos also capture that, but video would have been worth a thousand words. Luckily much was captured via phones :)

Congratulations, Cheryl & Rick!! Wishing you the best always!

​Are you ready to start planning your own destination wedding?

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We knew we wanted to do a destination wedding and as I was searching on the internet, I kept seeing Romance Travel Group pop up! I got advice from friends who did a destination wedding to go with a travel agent. But when I kept finding this company I did a little more digging and what sold it for me was seeing it featured on The Knot! I knew, Yup I am using these people!

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
More bang for your buck! My husband and I were adamant about not going into debt to our wedding and choosing things that were important to us and not everyone else. I had been given suggestions from a few friends that your money goes a little further doing a destination wedding. We also loved, loved the idea of going on a big vacation with our friends and family. The other bonus was that we got to put our money more towards food, drinks and entertainment so our guests had a great time. Being that we were in a beautiful place we paid little money or worry on the decor. 

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
Our engagement date was 12.11.21, which if you write it backwards is still 12.11.21 (it's called palindromic I think). Well I wanted to do the same for our wedding or find something unique for our wedding date. I originally wanted 11.11.22 but my military brother was deployed during that time and we wanted to make sure he could attend so we were shooting for March 2023. I chose 3.2.23 and 3.22.23 but my now husband said picking a date during the week made it harder for people to take time off and travel, he suggested picking a date for a Friday. The two dates available were 3.17.23 and 3.30.23, I let him choose between the two and he picked 3.17.23. Only months later did I realize that 17 was a significant number because 2017 was the year we started dating. So without even trying our date became extra special! It is also St. Patrick’s Day so we'll never forget it!

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?Working with the wedding coordinator overall was great! There was some language barrier but we were able to get the details figured out. I emailed her a lot and I thought she handled all the changes really well. Unfortunately though there were a list of things missed. My suggestion is try to email intentionally! Of course feel free to change your mind as often as you want (I did) but be mindful what and when to send these updates/changes to the coordinator. The lady really had great customer service and was as sweetheart, also at the most difficult times she became my therapist. She also made up for the things that were missed which we were really appreciative of. We absolutely loved our resort and would give it a 5 out of 5 but for weddings specifically we give it a 3 out of 5. She was handling out entire wedding alone. They have more staff in the bridal part of the resort but she was the only one handling ours, she should have been given help so that things weren't missed. Just be clear on what you want and what you send/request! 

Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
I originally only had one appointment set for the day but last minute I got a call from a second boutique that a friend recommended and it wasn't far from the first so I booked there as well. I only took my mom because I didn't want to many opinions, more so just help deciding. The first place I found "THE DRESS", I didn't even want to go to the next appointment. My mom suggested just to go since it was nearby anyway. So I went but all I wanted to do was to go back to the first dress. We're speaking with the consultant who was very sweet and she brought in four dresses each a different style of what I was interested in. I saw one that was a corset top and ALL glitter. I immediately said "that one, let's try on that one!" I put that beauty on and I freaking knew! I cried, I felt amazing, it felt like me, it was perfect! I tried on the other three and there was one other that I really loved! The consultant then advised for me to put the first one back on and she so geniusly asked me several questions to help me decide between the two. 1.) It's the day of your wedding, both dresses are there and you let your BFF choose your wedding dress. Which one will you be disappointed about if she doesn't choose it? 2.) You're at the end of the isle, your dad is standing next to you, you're ready to walk down to the love of your life, you look down and what dress are you wearing? There were two other questions that I can't remember but I was in tears standing in my dress beyond reassured about my decision! 

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
The biggest fears was how I was going to get my wedding dress and some wedding accessories to Mexico! For my dress, I read from other brides they had no problem hanging their dress on the plane so they could see it. We were flying out the Tijuana airport and the airline (Volaris) was very strict on carry on sizes. I asked if I could hang mine in front of me and they said only if it was in the carry on size parameters (it wasn't, it’s a wedding dress). My next idea was to put it in a carry on suitcase and place in the storage above me, I didn't want that thing to leave my side. I then found out this airline sometimes puts those nags below if it gets too full on the plane. I was too nervous to have it put under the plane so I had my aunt/MOH who was flying from the Ontario CA airport take it with her because I knew she would be more likely to have it by her side the entire time. It made it Mexico in one piece and the resort steamed it for me. Wedding accessories- I wanted to mail some items to the resort (glow sticks, money guns, photo album for photo booth and my guest book), but it was going to cost a lot of money and the coordinator at the resort stated that brides have had issues of items not making it in time for the wedding. I had to include these items in my luggage and I was worried for space! I was also worried they would find my items and tax me (yes that happens as well). But I got it all there and all of it was a hit! Worth it!  

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
The meeting with the wedding team occurred the second day we were there and it was great. I brought over all my wedding goodies, wedding dress and my husband's tuxedo! We also met with the photographer/videographer to go over timeline, people to help assist, family photo list and first touch moment. It was thorough, quick and efficient. I took one of my bridesmaids with me and she was also the one that helped the photographer/videographer with the family photo list. 

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Yes! Several guests had never been to Mexico or an all-inclusive resort so this concept was new to a lot of them and they loved it. The convenience, the variety of options and quality of everything was so, so great! They first thought the resort was gorgeous and didn't know where to start! It has a huge open concept so you could easily see the ocean from almost anywhere! For the group that my husband and I arrived with we were starving when we got there so right after checking in we went to the buffet and got food as well as ordered tequila shots. The waiter was our kind of guy and brought us more shots before we even needed to ask. Again, the customer service here was unreal! 

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?
Yes, our wedding would probably be considered traditional! We had the ceremony that was less than 30 minutes that lead straight to cocktail hour, three course dinner reception and dancing afterward. The naturally beautiful venue! When doing destination really be decisive on actually doing decor. We had everything on the beach so the natural setting was all we really needed! Also price! Again, what I appreciated was how much more we got for what we spent!  
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The big vacation with all of our friends and family! Nothing really compares then to the week we had with everyone we loved! Weddings can go by very fast and you sometimes miss seeing everyone. We got to socialize, have dinner, mingle and hangout with all of guests more than just the day of! 

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
Honestly, our first touch! My husband didn't want to see each other before the wedding so we did a "first touch" where we took a shot together and prayed together. It was really special to have that moment. I remember I could smell his cologne from where I was standing but I didn't see him, it was comforting, special and sweet. Everyone has their own taste and preference but I highly recommend doing this! 

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Romance Travel Group did all the hard work! We knew we wanted a destination wedding before finding RTG, so once I connected with them they asked for all of our requests and sent us a list we got to pick from! It made it easy to compare each resort to one another and see what we liked best. Also the shuttle set up! People can feel uncomfortable traveling out of the country so the fact that our travel agent also set up the pickup and drop off with the airport was really nice! They were also very supportive! Answered any and all questions and made us feel confident and comfortable in everything we were doing! Would highly, highly recommend RTG! They're also very thoughtful! 

Congratulations Christina and Evan!! Wishing you the best always!

Wedding Date: February 6, 2023 ~ Resort: Riu Palace Jamaica ~ Photographer:  Andrea Dobbs Photography ~ Bridal Salon: David's Bridal ~ Tux Salon: Men's Warehouse

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We chose Romance Travel Group because we had friends (Luke included in that group) use them previously for a destination wedding and had nothing but great things to say about their experience!

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
When things started to get serious in our relationship we would have conversations about how a destination wedding was what we wanted, it was the only option ever discussed. Neither of us are people that really love being in the spotlight so we knew that a destination wedding would offer a more intimate setting and allow us actual one on one time to spend with our guests that could make the trip.

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
Shelli really helped us with this one because we came to her with NO idea where to start. She asked us where we would want to go on vacation and she sent us a ton of resort options, from there we narrowed it down to Jamaica, a place Luke knew he enjoyed and wanted to return to and a place Kari had never been. Then based off of price per person and ease of travel from the airport, we found our resort.

Were there any objections from your wedding guests about your decision to have a destination wedding? If so, how did you handle overcome those?
There were no real objections, at least none that we heard about directly. But due to the price per person for the resort and the insanely high flight prices at the time, even with us giving approximately 1 year to plan, a lot of our guests who had originally said yes to coming, told us they were unable to make the trip. We knew a lot of our loved ones wouldn’t be able to come so we made sure they were aware that they would be missed but we would be having a stateside reception and we would love for them to join the celebration at that point.

What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
Our biggest fears were that we were spending a lot of money to stay at and host a wedding at a resort that we had never been to previously. We weren’t 100% sure of what to expect when we arrived or what exactly we were getting for our money because at that point, everything was selected out of a pamphlet essentially.

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
There wasn’t anything too sentimental about the specific date we picked but it was close to the anniversary of our first date 5 years ago. Also, the time of year would be ideal for our guests to get out of the Minnesota/Wisconsin winter but not too close to peak spring break travel time/prices.

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
The biggest challenge was waiting until a couple months out from travel/wedding date to really get down into the planning. Also, not knowing truly what anything would look like until the day of was difficult. The wedding coordinator at the resort was very direct and didn’t initially offer a lot of additional information surrounding questions I had asked. However, I figured out her response style and was able to write lists of questions and she gave answers to the questions which worked out well enough us. It all turned out beautifully.

Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
I am not the type of girl that was looking forward to dress shopping honestly, I set appointments at 2 bridal shops for a Saturday, invited my Matron of Honor, Mother and Future Mother in Law to join me and within an hour of the 1st appointment, I found the dress! I was pretty easy going about it, willing to try on anything and everything and even had them pull dresses they thought we would like.  I loved wearing the dress, it was the style I imaged I would get, it was flowy, comfortable, not super flashy and the selling point was it had pockets!

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 fear was what the day of would look like, would the weather cooperate for us? Will our guests enjoy themselves and the resort? Will we get what we paid for when it comes to day of decorations/food/entertainment. Once we arrived and started having fun with our guests as they arrived we realized that whatever happened, we were getting married and the day would be whatever we made of it! Everything fell into place perfectly.

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.
We chose our bridal party based off of our closest friends and siblings. While Luke took the approach of straight forward asking his friends, brothers and my brother to be a part of our day, I made a little gift bag of lotions, face masks and mini champagne with a card asking if they would stand by my side.

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
We met with Christina the day after we arrived and prior to all of our guests arriving to finalize the details. Her and I had majority of the decisions made prior to that so it was as easy as confirming those decisions, picking out bouquet flowers and handing over the DJ music for the special dances and reception music.

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guests truly enjoyed the resort. Some of them had never left the country let alone experienced an all inclusive resort so they were pleasantly surprised about the look of the resort, the rooms, the food and entertainment

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?
Traveling with my dress was so simple. I purchased a trifold garment bag prior to departure that fit my dress, a couple other dresses, Luke’s wedding attire and shoes. The morning before leaving we decided to put the garment bag in a carry on suit case for extra safe keeping and ease of travel. We stored it in the overhead bin on the plane and had zero issues with anyone saying anything to us about it.

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 did a traditional ceremony on the beach, that lasted approximately 8 minutes! That was followed by a group photo of everyone while we had them in one place and then a cocktail hour for the guests with a saxophone player that was included in the wedding package we picked. He was phenomenal! After the cocktail hour we moved to a different area of the beach for dinner and reception/dance. We had a buffet set up on the beach with a menu we were able to personally pick and everyone raved about how it was the best food they had so far. I think the difference in the destination wedding compared to a wedding at home was how intimate it was. We actually got to enjoy the festivities with our guests, drink, laugh and dance without feeling like we had to walk around and greet everyone individually since we had all been together the days before and would be the days after.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part was being on vacation at the beach with the people we love. How often do people get 45 of their nearest and dearest friends and family at a single location at the same time?

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
Aside from finally being married, spending time with everyone and then hearing people talk about how awesome their trip was, how they wish they didn’t have to leave. Also, watching everyone share their pictures from the trip, it has been so much fun reliving those memories.

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
From helping us pick a location to taking on all of the questions our guests had was the biggest help! It was so nice to not have to worry about setting up transportation in an unfamiliar place too was so wonderful. Having a meeting with Shelli a few days before departure put a lot of my anxieties at ease as well, her telling me to make sure we stop and take a moment to look around and enjoy it all brought tears to my eyes because, holy cow our year long count down was up!

What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I am not sure I would do anything different. In our eyes, everything exceeded our expectations. My advice would be, throughout all of this planning surrounding a single special day, remember that it is about you two as a couple. Things very likely will not go exactly as planned and important people will not be able to come and it is so sad but this is about celebrating your love. It does not mean you can’t be disappointed but the people that are there…whether its 5 or 100, they are there to celebrate your love so make sure to enjoy and appreciate that as much as possible.

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
I would 100% recommend Romance Travel Group to anyone looking to have a destination wedding.

Ready to start planning your own destination wedding?

Wedding Date: November 11, 2022 ~ Resort: Royalton Riviera Cancun ~ Photographer: Quetzal Wedding Photo ~ Videographer: About Time Wedding Films ~ Bridal Salon: White Traditions Bridal Boutique ~ Tux Salon: Carl's

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
A friend suggested a travel agent since we were doing a destination wedding and I found them on Pinterest. 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
We love to travel and wanted to share that experience with our families. 

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
A big reason was I have been to a Royalton before and it was wonderful. We picked this one mainly due to the beautiful Gazebo. I knew I wanted to get married in it!

Were there any objections from your wedding guests about your decision to have a destination wedding? If so, how did you handle overcome those?
Some where just afraid of the unknown because a lot of our guests have never traveled out of the country. Also money...they were a little worried it was going to cost a lot. 

What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
The weather! LOL! More than anything, I wanted to get married in the Gazebo. I would have been so sad if it rained. I also worried that they would not capture the theme I was going with. :-)
 
How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
I thought that 11/11 was such a magical number also 11+11=22 so I knew I wanted 11/11/22.

Did you invite guests in a unique way, like a themed save the date or announcement party?
We did a themed save the date it looked like a boarding pass. They loved it. 
 
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
We had the best wedding coordinator. She answered all my questions and even covered details I didn’t even think of. She covered it all. I think the only challenge is the waiting process and unknowing until meeting her the day before.

Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
We went to White Traditions in St Charles MO. I had all my bridesmaids and my mom come with me. I knew I wanted boho themed. I felt amazing wearing it. It was light weight and perfect for the beach. 

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
They did find it extremely easy to book. No one had any complaints. 

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
I was just worried my guest would not have fun. Or they suddenly would not be able to make it. 

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.
My bridesmaids were my best friends and my fiancé’s sister and Ryan had his best friends. 
 
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
It was good. She went over all the details and what to expect. It calmed all my nerves. 

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
They were definitely wowed. Most of them have never been to an all inclusive before. They were amazing at everything. 

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 that folds up. It was super easy to travel with my dress was a material that doesn’t wrinkle so it was super easy to travel with. It was my carry on. Ryan traveled with his suits in a garment bag as his travel on bag. No issues at all.

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 did have a traditional wedding. With a cocktail hour and full reception on the beach. It was just our closest friends and family. If we did a wedding back home we would have had a lot more people and not as intimate. 
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
It was like a vacation and party with the closest friend and family. 

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My wedding ceremony getting to say I do to my soul mate. 

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
They made booking so easy and answered any questions my guests had they made the whole process super easy. 

What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I would have probably have reserved more rooms on the adults only side for my wedding party but they all had a wonderful time anyway. I would also recommend staying a few days after the ceremony because days leading up we had a few meetings and weren’t able to really relax till after the wedding so staying 7 days was amazing. 

What surprised you the most about having a destination wedding?
Just the amount of support everyone was so willing to help. 

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
YES!! I would definitely. I actually wrote a wedding review on a Royalton Brides Facebook page saying how this group has made it so much easier for us. And helped so much with the booking process. 

Is there anything Romance Travel Group could have done to make the experience even better?
No. It was amazing I appreciate the help so much. I could not have done it without this group!

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
After speaking with many other travel agents, Romance Travel Group stood out. Shelli and her team were very responsive and professional throughout the initial consultation and booking process. All information was organized and everyone was so knowledgeable about what different resorts had to offer while keeping our wish list and budget in mind. 

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We chose Generations Resort in Riviera Maya because we were looking for a high end resort that was affordable for our guests, within a short driving distance to the airport, family friendly and within our budget. Generations checked off all those boxes and more. What made the resort even better was their countless beautiful wedding venue options and that they had 2 other adult only properties next door that we had access to if we wanted to take a break from the activities on the family side.

What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding? 
It is very hard to plan an event at a location that you have never been to before. We had visited Cancun in the past but never saw Generations in person prior to arriving a few days before the wedding. We were fearful that the pictures and reviews made the resort look much better than it actually was. It was also a little nerve-wracking selecting and booking vendors using email/Facebook to communicate and sending deposits via wire transfers and Paypal but luckily everything worked out perfectly! 

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
Working with the wedding coordinator at the resort was pretty easy as we got closer to the wedding date. Things started off slow and response time was up to a week but, around 6 months out, the response time became shorter and more details were confirmed. The details we were most worried about were the wedding date and venue choices but RTG confirmed those when we signed our wedding contract so we did not have to worry. At times, there was a bit of miscommunication with different languages and translation but our wedding coordinator was quick to fix mistakes and clarify details as needed.

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
Guests received invitations about a year in advance with our custom wedding website link that Romance Travel Group made for us. The website had all room, travel, and booking information available to guests with RTG contact info for and questions or concerns. Guests were given a deadline to put their deposit down on a room and the booking process seemed to be easy to navigate and use and if questions arose, guests were able to get quick answers from RTG. 

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.
Choosing our bridal party was easy. We both had a childhood friend who we wanted to be a part of our special day. We also had other friends who were unsure if they would be able to attend a destination wedding. We decided to only have a maid of honor and best man so that we did not have to worry about people bailing or being unable to attend the wedding or creating additional stress. We gave the maid of honor and best man a box early in the planning stages with a tumbler and other small items when we asked them to be a part of our special day. 

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
We arrived at the resort on a Thursday and our on site wedding coordinator met us in reception as we were checking in. She gave us a card with our meeting information for Friday and told us to go enjoy the rest of our day. On Friday we met her in the wedding office and went over every detail for the day of our wedding. We gave her all of our decorations and showed pictures so the onsite team could set them up for us. We could tell the resort is very comfortable with weddings because every question and detail was discussed and it all turned out perfect. 

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?
Traveling with my dress was super easy. I bought a trifold garment bag that i fit my dress, my husbands suit and a few other dresses in and brought it as a carry on. We were able to lay the bag on top of suitcases in the overhead compartment on the plane with no issues at all! 

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 symbolic ceremony which only lasted about 10-15 minutes, a cocktail hour and a reception. Our cocktail hour was a little different as we had a donkey carrying cold cervezas!

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part about having a destination wedding was seeing all of our guests having a great time that lasted more than 1 or 2 days like a typical wedding. Most of our family does not travel and rarely goes on vacation so giving them a reason to enjoy themselves for a few days and celebrate with us was the best part. 

What surprised you the most about having a destination wedding?
The most surprising thing about having a destination was how easy it was to plan everything. Although we were a little skeptical about planning a wedding from a different country, the wedding team at Generations was amazing and took care of so many small details that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. This took the stress out of the planning process and made it so much easier to enjoy the day!

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
Yes! Romance Travel Group made our destination wedding experience perfect! From the first phone call we had to getting home from Mexico, RTG was available and responded quickly. They found us the perfect location and resort which checked all the boxes on our wish list within budget. I would 100% recommend RTG to other couples planning a destination wedding!

Wedding Date: March 3, 2022 ~ Resort:  The Fives Beach ~ Photographer: Timeless Photography ~ Bridal Salon: Posh

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
After doing some research around how to start planning a destination wedding in Mexico, I came across RTG in a Google search. I chose RTG after having a kick-off call with Shelli. She made me feel very comfortable with the way she explained how her company works, their process, and how they care about each unique wedding; it made me excited to want to move forward with even doing a destination wedding. She is SO friendly! 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
My husband and I knew we didn’t want to get married in Minnesota (where we live). After exploring destination weddings in other states (Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina), I realized how complex and expensive it’d be to do a “destination” wedding elsewhere in the US. Then, someone asked if I had thought about doing it in Mexico. I was hesitant at first, but after doing some research online, I read that destination weddings at all inclusive resorts in Mexico are so much more affordable! We probably saved ourselves $10-$15k just by doing it in Mexico. 

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
I explained my budget, resort must-haves, and style I was looking for to Shelli. I was excited about all of the unique areas around the resort that would be awesome for pictures and it was family friendly which was important to us since there would be kids traveling.

What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
Planning a wedding sight unseen. But, it ended up exceeding my expectations once I saw how everything was curated and set up for each event. 

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
The wedding coordinator was very friendly, patient, flexible, and listened to my budget concerns…helping to give me ideas and options that would fit into what I wanted to spend. The biggest challenge was getting timely responses from them. At one point, I hadn’t heard from them for 3 months and we were 1-2 months away from the wedding without having finalized all selections! Once back in touch with them, finalizing planning went well and they were really responsive. 

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
Yes! We received many compliments from our guests around how easy, communicative, and professional RTG was to book with. 

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
Getting all details finalized with the wedding coordinator. It was indicated that we had to make final selections and payment 1 month before the wedding but I hadn’t heard from them in 3 months. But they ended up letting me finalize and make selections even up to the wedding day! 

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
The meeting I had with the onsite coordinator when we arrived went very well! We went over every single detail. She gave me her whats app phone number to communicate with her leading up to the wedding day which was great for last minute questions. She was a really hard worker.

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?
It was easy to travel with the dress for the most part. I did carry it on and was able to store it in the first class closet on the way down to MX, but on the way back, I had to lay it down in an overhead bin. I did get some comments at the airport on the way down! 

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 welcome reception the evening before the wedding (drinks and apps). The day of the wedding was the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception (+ DJ and dancing!). It was just easy for everyone to be in one place the day before and the day of the wedding. Easy to navigate around from event to event and it just felt more intimate! And each area around the resort that we held the events at were beautiful and unique in their own way.

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
The reception! It was just so memorable and fun to have all of our favorite people together to celebrate with us. The music, ambiance, and staff made the evening even more special! 

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Being able to book our guests' travel and answering any questions they had!

What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I wouldn’t do anything differently. Only advice is to be patient with the planning coordinator as you plan with them leading up to traveling. As mentioned, you may not hear from them for a while but it will ALL come together! Also, think about decor that you can bring down on your own to save $$ (they charge A LOT for decor). We brought down our own string lights, votives + candles, table numbers, and other decor.  

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
Absolutely! 100%.

Wedding Date: February 2, 2022 ~ Resort:  Azul Beach Negril ~ Photographer: Caribe Photo ~ Bridal Salon: David's Bridal ~ Seamstress: Anniseau

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We chose RTG because when we were looking for travel agents, they never would get back to us and never seemed like they were truly wanting to help us.  Booking with RTG, they were quick to respond and helped us and our guests every step of the way.  They helped us narrow down resorts in the area we wanted and worked with the resort that we chose. Any question or concern, they would answer.
 
What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
Our biggest fears were Covid-19.  When we booked late 2020, we hoped most of the pandemic would be over by 2022.
 
How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
We didn’t pick 2-22-2022 for any specific reason at the time other than we didn’t want to go to Jamaica in the middle of their summer/hurricane season. It turned out it was an awesome date, because we got to get married 2 times, as we legally got married in the U.S. on 2/2/2022 and symbolically on 2/22/2022 on a Twosday.
 
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
Our wedding manager, SueAnn, was amazing. She knew what she was doing and most definitely would not let anything go wrong on our day. Working with the wedding planner, Carla, before we arrived in Jamaica was more difficult. The wedding department did not seem to know we were coming on 2/16/22 but thought we were going to be arriving 2/18/2022.  
 
Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
I found my wedding dress on a website for $109, brand new with tags from David’s Bridal.  It was a few sizes too small and had lace up around the neck.  I took it to a shop in Amery, WI called Anniseau.  She customized the dress for me and made it fit perfectly!
 
What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
We were very worried, what if someone doesn’t make it? What if one of us can go and the other can’t?  We decided, if one of us couldn’t go, the other was still going and we would’ve had to do a Facetime wedding. Us and 28 guests made it safely to and from Jamaica.
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Everyone loved the resort we chose. The beach, the staff, and the food were amazing. The staff was amazing and made it a more memorable because they got to know us and they were so nice and fun!
 
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 wanted to keep our wedding small and memorable and after a long 2 years of the pandemic, we wanted our guests to have fun and have their own vacation.  We had a dinner for all 30 of us the night before the wedding, as a thank you/welcome dinner.  After the wedding we had told everyone we hadn’t planned a reception but to go eat dinner and we would all meet down on the beach somewhere, and have our “own” party.  Fortunately, by the time we got down to the bonfire event the resort was holding, all our family was sitting on the beach waiting for the bonfire to be lit.  The resort staff asked us if we would like to light the bonfire, so we did together. And they had music entertainment and we got to have our first dance next to the bonfire on the beach with all our family.
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
Getting to spend a whole week with our family and friends in paradise.
 
What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My favorite memory is having my mom walk me down the aisle to my best friend in front of everyone that loves and supports us and the sunshine rays shining through the clouds down on us during our ceremony.
 
In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Knowing that all information that was needed for them to get to Jamaica was sent and we didn’t have to do anything.
 
What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I wouldn’t do anything different. Don’t worry about who will and won’t come, invited everyone.  If they want to come, they will make it happen.  We were surprised by the ones that did make it and the ones that didn’t.
 
What surprised you the most about having a destination wedding?
How many people booked and came with us to Jamaica. We had 28 guests.
 
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
Yes, I would definitely recommend!

Wedding Date: December 4, 2020 ~ Resort: The Fives Beach Resort ~ Photographer: Meek Monster Media ~ Bridal Salon: Blue Bridal Boutique

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We ultimately chose Romance Travel Group after our initial conversation with Lisa Ruchti. We were referred by a good friend who had nothing but positive things to say about her experience with Lisa and RTG. I knew immediately that Lisa was our person, and felt confident she would take great care of us and help guide us in our journey of choosing a destination wedding (and this was before the COVID-19 pandemic was even a thought!). 
 
How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We ultimately chose The Fives Beach because we wanted to make sure our guests were met with unparalleled service. We also needed a family-friendly resort but still wanted our adult guests to feel like they were able to escape and let loose. The numerous amenities, special events, and resort service were really what drew us to The Fives. 
 
What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
Initially, I had no reservations or fears about a destination wedding. My husband and I had discussed what we wanted at length and included our family in our decision-making process. And then, the COVID-19 pandemic happened and we were already over 8 months into planning, with another 7 months to go. Understandable, we were a little stressed and uncertain about what this would mean for our December 2020 wedding. Lisa and our resort wedding coordinators kept us reassured throughout the planning process leading up to our wedding. Despite lingering uncertainties out of our control, Lisa and The Fives staff took great care of us and our guests and really made it a seamless process despite being in the midst of a global pandemic.
 
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
Our wedding coordinators were wonderful. They began communicating with me very early on about the planning process and provided explicit deadlines to ensure we received what we wanted. They also made sure to go through every detail with us when we arrived at the resort. They were always checking in with us throughout our stay and really made everything easy on the day of our wedding. The only challenge we encountered was having separate rooms available in time on our wedding day so that me and my husband could get ready separately. This seemed to be more of an issue with the resort blocking another room, rather than lack of attention with our coordinators. 
 
Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?
When searching for a wedding dress I had two mandatory requirements - I wanted a low, open back AND it must be made for a long night of dancing. My mom went dress shopping with me and we went to five different boutiques in one weekend. Realistically, I found this dress at the third boutique we went to and I think both my mom and I knew it was "the one". Unfortunately, we had appointments at two other locations that would charge cancellation fees for our appointment, but it reassured me that my dream dress was back at Blue Bridal Boutique. The dress, and the staff, made me feel like a queen and I was so excited to order the dress. It was comfortable, and perfect for dancing - I even had it altered to wear at our one-year anniversary celebration.
 
Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
Most of our guests enjoyed the simplicity of the booking process. Lisa was also very attuned to our guests' needs and always made sure she was readily available for questions. This helped take so much pressure off me and my husband. Lisa and the resort were also very willing to adjust room rates for our guests as prices fluctuated following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guests absolutely loved the resort! Most of them were not expecting it to be such a big place! The wildlife (monkeys and a pig!) on-site was one of the coolest aspects that our guests raved about. They also enjoyed the poolside drink and food service which never disappointed! The variety of restaurants was another highly talked about amenity. Everyone really enjoyed their room accommodations, and we only had a few delays with some of our guests not having their room ready upon arrival.
 
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?
Travelling with my wedding dress was honestly very easy! I carried it as one of my carry-ons and the flight staff even stored it upfront for me in a small closet! I feel like travelling with a wedding dress turns you into a "VIP" passenger and people were very congratulatory to me and my husband while traveling. My wedding dress was slim-fitting which probably helped make it easy to carry around. 
 
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 reception followed by the reception and dancing one hour later. We opted not to do a cocktail hour since it was an all-inclusive resort and we had a short time period between the wedding and reception. It also gave our guests time to freshen up or change clothes if they wanted to. Having a destination wedding made it easy for people to feel at home. Everything was in one place, and if a guest forgot something, it was easy for them to run to their room quickly. The resort had some amenities that we likely wouldn't have been able to find back in Texas (like having an on-site cigar roller!). Because the resort had a few on-site bars that were open late, we were able to keep the party going with our guests even after the wedding ended! Having our guests close to us during our wedding week was the big bonus - we were able to hang out with everyone much longer than just the 5-6 hours our wedding celebrations.
  
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
Not having to worry about a lot of the little things! With very busy work schedules, me and my husband wanted something that was streamlined. Having a destination wedding really allowed us both to take a back-seat to most of the planning knowing that our coordinators were taking care of all the logistics. We were really able to enjoy our time with each other, as well as our family and guests, with minimal stress.
 
What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
Both me and my husband do not have family close to us. Having all of our guests at the same resort where we could spend quality time before and after the wedding, was truly our greatest memory. The wedding day itself was everything we wanted - great weather, a meaningful ceremony (they were totally willing to do a customized script that we wanted), delicious food (our guests raved about the food), and literally danced all night long until they turned the lights on.
 
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding? 
Absolutely! I do not think we would have had such a great experience had it not been for Lisa and RTG. From the planning, to the travel, and everything in between - I always knew we had someone in our corner who was making things happen. It was also reassuring knowing that RTG travels to all the resorts they recommend to their clients, so they are able to provide an insider's point of view. While the relationships between RTG and the resorts are mutually beneficial, we never felt like we were being persuaded in a direction that was not aligned with our goals and needs.

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!

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We selected our resort in particular because it was a newer build and we had stayed at a different location of the Dreams resort chain in the past. We never actually saw our venue until we got there for the wedding weekend, so it was somewhat of a gamble, but we trusted that the service and food would be great just like we had seen at the other Dreams location. Lastly, we found that the prices they were offering for our guests’ nightly stays were reasonable for all that was included, and the resort threw in some extras for things like rehearsal dinner and additional rooms when a certain amount of people booked.
 
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
Our wedding coordinator at the resort, Jennyfer, is a miracle worker!!! She was so polished, kind, and amazing at putting together our dream wedding. We were truly blown away. She cranks out weddings with her team almost nightly, sleeps very little because of that, and you would barely be able to tell. She is so attentive to detail and passionate about making everything look and feel great, including the bride on the big day.
 
Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
The booking process was online and very easy for our guests to navigate. From what I’ve been told, when any of our friends and families had a specific question they wanted Shelli or Heather’s help with, they were always quick to respond and offer their assistance.
 
What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
Most of my big fears were Covid related - specifically that the resort would have to shut down, there would be border closures, or that we would have to last minute postpone and throw everything off. I was also worried about forgetting important items at home. I eased my worries, though, by realizing that nothing productive really ever comes from anxiety and by creating an extensive and detailed packing list that I stuck to while we prepared the week before leaving.
 
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
The wedding we had with the Dreams Team once we arrived was very extensive - probably lasting about an hour and a half long! While it was tiring to go through it all and I was bummed we were missing time with our guests, I knew it was necessary and I really appreciated their willingness to work out and confirm all of the little details with us!
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guests seemed to love the all-inclusivity and general charm of the resort. We kept getting comments during and after the weekend about how much fun everyone had just being able to relax and not worry about the cost once they got out there.
 
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 ceremony with cocktail hour, then a plated meal, speeches and dancing. I loved the set-up of that and I would say a difference between what we were able to do and what we would have had at home was that we had a long cocktail hour where people were told they could even go up to their rooms and freshen up if they needed to, and that at the end of the night, everyone could just go right up to their suites and not worry about Uber’s/driving. There was also no driving to different venues for the ceremony versus reception as everything was just a short walk apart.
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part of having a destination wedding was how close all of our friends and family members were able to get because of time spent together just hanging out before the big day. Everyone seemed to just make a vacation out of it, which is exactly what we wanted. It’s also so nice as the bride and groom to be able to mingle with guests over the course of a few days and not have to worry about fitting it in all in one evening during a reception!
 
What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My most favorite memory of the wedding is hard to choose, but I would have to say it was either walking down the aisle towards my best friend or the end of the reception where after what was supposed to be our “last song” (New York, New York by Sinatra), our friends started singing (screaming, really) the words to Mr. Brightside until the DJ finally caved and just turned the song on. Next thing we knew, my new husband and I were hoisted onto shoulders in the air, and it was so much fun. I know it was after our reception’s time was “up,” but I could never thank the resort enough for allowing that moment to happen.
 
In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Shelli and Heather made the planning so much less stressful for me by handling just about all the logistics of our guests flying in and out plus their lodging at the resort. I’m sure it is a HUGE undertaking to have to handle the flight schedules, airline issues, billing with the resort, etc. so it was amazing to have that off of our shoulders and to have a resource that we could point our guests to when they asked us questions.

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
We decided that a destination wedding would be more appealing during winter months so our friends and family could escape a very cold Chicago. December 5th happened to be the day we first met (in 2012), and we loved that we could make it our official anniversary and celebrate with sunshine.
 
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
We booked our wedding without seeing the resort in person, which was a huge leap of faith!  Because of this, we leaned heavily on the wedding coordinators based in Miami to give guidance and advice from previous Hard Rock weddings. The only challenges we faced were due to the changes put in place due to Covid-19.  We had originally wanted a buffet meal at the reception, but for safety we had to choose plated.  It actually made a lot of decisions easier because we only had 1 option instead of many (I suffer from analysis paralysis). A month before the wedding, the Miami coordinator transitioned us over to the wedding coordinators onsite in Cabo to finalize it all before our arrival.

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
We sent our save the dates with information about our wedding website about 11 months prior to our wedding to encourage early booking and direct guests to the FAQ page.  Having all the information online (with our catchy domain/website name) made it so seamless to book, or at least bookmark the page until they were ready to book.
 
What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
As our wedding date began to approach, the US was seeing rises in Covid-19 cases.  We had already lost a good number of guests because of the uncertainty of travel, and we wanted to ensure that it was indeed safe to travel while communicating to our guests that we were continuing on with our wedding as planned. The key to getting through it was continuing to email our guests our intentions, any research or data we had come across to highlight the safety protocols taken by airlines and the hotel and assure them we understood if they needed to cancel.  Luckily, we ended up with a solid group of 48 people!
 
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
No detail was overlooked in the wedding process, and I was confident our onsite meeting would be seamless – and it was!  We arrived later in the evening, so our wedding coordinator planned a morning meeting with us the day after we checked in. They put up a picture and welcome note to us on their huge lobby projector when we showed up for the meeting. It was so thoughtful! 

We showed the coordinator all of the décor we brought from home: table numbers, placecards, frames, and other items for the reception.  I hadn’t had room for a gift/card box and they told me they could bring one for me – a relief! Then we ran through every detail with timing for our welcome party, ceremony, and reception. This gave us an accurate timeline to reflect back to our wedding party. Finally, we walked through each venue booked for welcome party, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.  Although I’d been curious enough to go check out the venues the evening we arrived, it was nice to walk through with the coordinator to know where the tables would be situated, which angle our ceremony would face in the garden, and that the grass would be watered and maintained before wedding day.
 
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
We had a mix of guests who had either never been to a Hard Rock resort (us included!) or an all-inclusive resort in general, so we were excited and a little anxious to hear everyone’s experience – especially knowing there were some restrictions in place due to Covid.  Every single guest raved about the resort. The food was delicious (and plentiful! Portions were not small). There were several restaurants at the resort plus unlimited in-room dining.  The swim up bars were closed at the pools but this didn’t affect anyone’s experience.  Masked and gloved servers everywhere taking your order and bringing to you directly in the pool.
 
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?
A friend of mine who had a destination wedding asked me how I planned to tote my dress to the wedding.  I hadn’t thought of it prior and just planned to bring the dress in the bag it came with, but she assured me I wanted something sturdier and let me borrow her dress bag. It folded up and was able to fit atop the carry-on bags in the overhead compartment on the plane, and I carried it like a duffel through the airport.  Since the bag was pretty inconspicuous, I actually didn’t garner any comments or attention at the airport – which I preferred!
 
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 chose a destination wedding for it to be a little less traditional than a wedding we’d host at home, but we still ended up with a pretty standard cadence of events on our wedding day.  Our ceremony was officiated by my husband’s father, lasted no more than 15-20 minutes, and we used music from Spotify for it all (low key!). After the reception, our guests were led up to our reception location for a cocktail hour with light appetizers. After that, the bridal party entered, we cut our cake, and were served dinner with speeches in between each course. Our wedding coordinator was insistent that we wait until sunset to start our first dance, so the dinner portion felt like it lasted quite a while but as soon as the dancing started – it never stopped!  We had no formal events or activities as soon as dancing started (no bouquet toss, garter toss, etc), but ended the night with a whole-group karaoke session which was the most memorable part of our whole wedding.
 
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
This is a big question! Our original hopes for a destination wedding would be that it provided a vacation/relaxed feel for our friends any family.  Because so many people hadn’t traveled in 2020, it was even more appreciated, celebrated, and relaxed! The only real requirements for our guests were to attend our welcome party and reception, but the rest of their trip was completely up to how they wanted to spend time in Cabo!
 
In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
All of the travel details!  I used to manage travel for consultants at work and I know the tedious nature of collecting information, sending updates, and orchestrating all the fine details.  Shelli and Heather were incredible through the whole process from information gathering, sharing pictures and videos of resorts, communicating with our guests, and even troubleshooting flight discrepancies while we were all at the resort.  They mail every guest a packet of travel documents before the trip with advice for packing, tipping, etc.  It was wildly helpful and really helped everyone focus on having FUN!
 
What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I wouldn’t change a single decision!  Both Romance Travel Group and our wedding coordinators through the hotel made the selection process easy.  We didn’t have to “shop around” for vendors and negotiate contracts, nor did we have to spend time on a bunch of calls with separate vendors.  If you want a chill/lowkey wedding, this is the way to go.  And if you want an extravagant wedding, this is also the way to go!  The options are endless and it’ll always be beautifully handled no matter what you choose.

Why Romance Travel Group? Our original wedding date was set for June 11, 2020. We had been planning our destination wedding since November 2019 with another travel agency. We had a terrible experience and I had felt as though I was basically planning the travel on my own. When we had to cancel the first date due to COVID, I knew I wanted to go another direction with my travel agent. When we began to replan for our second date, I researched online for a travel agent that would be suited for us. I came across Romance Travel Group on the wedding website theknot.com and it was clear they would be the perfect fit! I received quick responses from them and was set up with my amazing travel agent, Ashley Jackson.
 
Why a destination wedding? Steven and I had talked about what wedding we wanted before we even got engaged. We both disliked that with traditional weddings, the focus is mostly on the guests and worrying with what they want. For us, it was especially important that our big day was about what he and I wanted every step of the way. So, we decided a destination wedding with our closest friends and family was perfect! 
 
Biggest fears about a destination wedding? Steven and I had never flown internationally so our biggest concern was the logistics. Will our wedding be legal in the US, can I transport my wedding dress and decor safely, will we find a resort we feel safe at, etc. Then COVID happened and everything changed. Countries began implementing travel restrictions and had requirements of paperwork to do before traveling. Jamaica was no exception! The process was stressful but thanks to Ashley, we were able to enter the country safely and have the wedding of our dreams! 
 
Wedding coordinator at the resort? For anyone planning a destination wedding I absolutely recommend Sandals resorts. I worked with a wedding planner remotely leading up to the wedding where I was able to detail exactly what I was looking for. Once we arrived on site with met with our wedding coordinator who was a dream come true! She walked us to our locations, discussed all our concerns, and went through every detail of wedding day. On the day of the wedding she was there the entire day, from starting our hair and makeup at 10am until after the reception ended at 8pm. She was there to pour us mimosas during our spa time and even helped carry my wedding dress train to the ceremony and reception areas (which were a bit of a walk between). She handled every detail of our big day flawlessly and I can’t say enough how thankful I was to have her! There were a few hiccups, but I never knew about them because she handled it all with ease.
 
Booking process for guests? Firstly, I would like to say that thanks to my travel agent, Ashley, I was able to have the wedding of my dreams! Without her this would not have been possible. She helped Steven and I, and our ten guests book their rooms and flights with ease. She provided charts with room options and pricing so each person could choose a room that fit their needs. She also kept me updated on who had booked and who she was still waiting to hear from. Everyone was appreciative for her prompt responses, as we were all rebooking this trip due to COVID and it was exceedingly difficult for everyone to get ahold of our previous travel agent even before COVID. Ashley gave everyone tremendous customer service and made each person feel like they were her only client. Not only this, but Ashley was able to get everyone room upgrades because we had to change resorts three weeks before the wedding due to COVID as well. I can’t speak highly enough of her!
 
Biggest fears as wedding date drew near? All my fears were COVID related, as the date drew nearer Jamaica began requiring new documentation and approval to enter the country. Each person had to be COVID tested within a certain amount of days before arrival and an online travel authorization form filled out. Once that was received, Jamaica would approve each person to enter the country. This was the most stressful part of the experience, as I felt responsible for all 12 people in my party. Once again, Ashley went above and beyond to relieve my fears. She spent countless hours on the phone with the Jamaican board of travel, even having multiple calls the day before our arrival to ensure our groups paperwork was all clear. I can’t say enough that without Ashley this wedding trip would not have been possible!
 
Guests wowed by all inclusive? I can speak for my husband and I, as well as each of my guests when I say Sandals Montego Bay absolutely wowed us! For most this was a first all-inclusive vacation, and it went above and beyond expectations. We were catered to from the moment we arrived to our transport back to the airport. Not only was the all-inclusive perfect for our guests, it really made our wedding day top notch. For our guests who had previously been to an all-inclusive they said confidently those other resorts did not compare to the service, food, and amenities that Sandals offered!
 
Easy/difficult traveling with wedding dress? I fell in love with an A-line gown that had a lot of volume and a long train. As such, I knew this wouldn’t be an easy gown to travel with. I couldn’t put it in a soft garment bag because the dimensions were too big so instead, I chose to fold it and place it in a carry-on. I was terrified to check my wedding dress so for me, a carry-on was the easiest way! The airline ended up making me check the bag at the gate because the dimensions were too big, but I informed them it was my dress, and they ensured it stayed safe.
 
Did you plan traditional wedding elements? We had a traditional wedding that would have been like one at home. Our ceremony was at an over the water chapel, followed by a cocktail hour at our reception area overlooking the ocean. After cocktail hour we had a sit-down dinner followed by drinks and dancing. The entire day was an absolute dream!
 
Best part of destination wedding? I loved that our wedding experience wasn’t just one day, it was for a week! Our guests also had an amazing all-inclusive vacation along with attending our wedding! We created memories with friends and family that will last with us for a lifetime. If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a single thing, this destination wedding was perfect!
 
How did Romance Travel Group make everything less stressful? Romance Travel Group, and specifically my agent Ashley made the entire experience less stressful. She was always kind and prompt with responding to me, even when my anxiety was getting the best of me. I am so thankful I chose this travel agency to plan my destination wedding as they made my perfect day possible! She handled every detail with Jamaica’s COVID travel requirements, booking my guests rooms and flights, and ensuring we had all proper documentation for travel. She did a million other things that helped take the stress off me so I could look forward to the wedding of my dreams!
 
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group? I will ALWAYS recommend Romance Travel Group to anyone planning a destination wedding. I can’t say enough how great of an experience I had, especially in comparison to when I originally planned with another travel agent. Ashley was with me each step of the way, and even in the middle of a pandemic I had full confidence she would make our big day happen. For any brides planning a wedding during COVID, the best decision you could make is to have Romance Travel Group by your side to make your dream wedding happen! 

Congratulations, Whitley & Steven!!!