What led you to choose a destination wedding? We chose a destination wedding because we had attended one in Mexico a little over a year before and had the time of our lives. All of the hanging out by the pool and beach gave their friends and families so much time to bond and make memories and we wanted the same for our guests when it was our turn! 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.
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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. Travel agents who specialize in destination wedding travel have the tips and knowledge you can’t find anywhere else. Here are 5 reasons you’ll want to use one today! We Live and Breathe Travel
As travel agents, we live and breathe travel all day long. We book several travel experiences for people every day. We give you our opinions and recommendations based on our first-hand travel experiences because we’ve been through it, we've been there. We help you save time, money and stress – sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? We’re Wedding Specialists While travel agents are fully-qualified to plan all your travel-related matters, it’s always smart to work with someone who specializes in what you’re looking for. Planning a destination wedding takes an extensive amount of research and planning – something only a true wedding travel expert could help you with. We’ll Do all The Heavy Lifting Don’t want to research a resort? No problem, we’ll do it for you. Not sure how to coordinate all your guests? We’ll handle it. As for the ceremony and décor? We’ve got the hookup on speed dial. The point is, hiring a destination wedding specialist benefits you in more ways than one – including doing all the heavy lifting for you. We Can Customize One of the greatest things about a destination wedding is that no two weddings are the same! In fact, we’re able to customize pretty much anything your heart desires to align with your budget and preferences. So that rooftop wedding you’ve been dreaming about? Yeah, we can make it happen! We’ll Work with You From the initial resort recommendations, to your guest accommodations, transfer services, and wedding day – we’ll be there for you every step of the way. Remember, we’re not a call center – we’re real people that are just as excited to plan your wedding as you are! Looking for a destination wedding specialist? Then, you’re in luck! Romance Travel Group helps thousands of couples plan the ultimate destination wedding each year. To get started, simply click here to connect with us today! On the destination wedding struggle bus? Well, not to worry – here’s the one thing that will solve all of that.  So… the one thing that will solve all your destination wedding woes, you ask? Why, it’s enlisting help from us – the destination wedding pros! Not sure why you should use a pro? Keep reading to find out!
One on One Attention We have planned hundreds of destination weddings for couples all over the United States and are recognized not just as travel agents, but travel advisors. We advocate for you, guide you and overall have your back and make sure you’re taken care of. In fact, we help you with everything from the booking process and travel arrangements, all the way to taking care of your guests and any issues that arise along the way. We also personalize our services to every couple – every wedding is unique. On-Location Experience As destination wedding specialists, we are on location at the resorts we recommend several times each year to ensure our couples get the best experience possible. Because of this, have connections with some of the top tourism companies in the world – which means you’ll get the best pricing, emergency support, and value-added amenities you can’t just find online. We Are Wedding Experts While travel agents are fully-qualified to plan all your travel-related matters, it’s always smart to work with someone who specializes in what you’re looking for. Would you rather have a family practitioner or a cardiologist to do open heart surgery? Cardiologist, of course! Don’t leave your wedding to just any travel agent. Planning a destination wedding takes an extensive amount of knowledge and planning, something only a true romance travel expert can help you with. We’ll help you with finding the perfect destination, venue, and travel arrangements, and even hook you up with the onsite wedding planner to help you with all the other details! Feeling relieved yet? Awesome, now let’s get started! Simply click here to fill out an inquiry form and a destination wedding specialist will be in touch with you shortly. We look forward to making your wedding dreams come true!
Let's face it. Who spends 8 hours a day, 5 days a week planning weddings? WE DO! Who gets to travel to all the resorts to test them out, making sure they are up to our standards for a wedding? US! Who knows the resort brands and can easily compare packages, promos and inclusions? RIGHT HERE!
So let us ask you... why wouldn't you want a destination wedding travel agent on your side? Don't skip this essential first step to planning your wedding. Stop typing "destination wedding" into the search box, and instead, type Romance Travel Group!  Shelli Nornes started Romance Travel Group after planning her own destination wedding in 1998. We had the opportunity to sit with Shelli and talk about travel and destination weddings and listened as she shared some very valuable advice.
Please give a brief description of yourself and your business for the readers to know about you and what your agency has to offer. Travel is my passion!! I am president and CEO of Romance Travel Group, an award-winning travel company offering expert travel and destination wedding planning services to brides, grooms and guests. Our clients have the distinct advantage of our hands-on expertise. We're out there experiencing the resorts we recommend several times each year. We're travel agents... we travel! Planning weddings never feels like “work” to us. Several of our agents were also destination brides, so we understand all aspects of the planning process from start to finish. What type of destination weddings do you specialize in? We specialize in Mexico and Caribbean destination weddings. Over the years we’ve learned that the all-inclusive resorts offer the best value to our clients. Whether a couples’ destination wedding dream is sweet and simplistic or stylish and sophisticated, there is a resort out there that is just perfect for them, and our goal is to find it. We’ve planned weddings for 2, and weddings for 200. Every wedding, no matter the size of the guest list, deserves special attention. Why do you think having a destination wedding in Mexico or the Caribbean is the best decision to make for couples planning their wedding? These days, loved ones are often scattered throughout the country, staying connected by technology. Chances are, when you announce your wedding plans and begin making your guest list, you will notice a great number of family and friends who are going to have to travel for your wedding already. Why not have your guests come together at a fabulous resort where meals and drinks are all included, where you will be catered to, and your time can be spent with those you love. We hear over and over again, “Thank you! The time our loved ones spent together at our destination wedding is something we will cherish forever!” Destination weddings are
Are most couples happy they chose to have a destination wedding once they have experienced it? We have never had anyone say “I wish we wouldn’t have done that.” In fact, we hear the opposite from guests who have done a traditional wedding of their own. They tell us “if we could do it all over again….THIS is what we’d do!” The experience couples share with guests and the memories that are made last a lifetime. Many destination wedding groups begin traveling together year after year because they had such a great first experience. They want to go back again and again. That says a lot! One bride recently wrote to us and said “This whole experience was so great! A lot of my friends are considering having destination weddings now and have thanked me for opening up the doors to this idea.” What is one important tip for couples planning a destination wedding? The most important decision couples will make about their destination wedding is which travel agent to hire. Anyone can book a trip. Anyone can get you a deal. But this isn’t just a spring break trip you’re planning. You need to partner with a destination wedding travel specialist who can share her experience and expertise with you from the beginning. A destination wedding travel specialist is someone who has worked with more than a dozen couples already, who travels to the destinations she recommends, who personally knows the wedding team and management at the resorts, who understands the residency laws of each country and can guide you on locations, dates and budget logistics. A typical travel agent’s attention gets watered down by clients booking cruises, safaris, Disney, and escorted tours to Europe. A destination wedding travel specialist gives her full attention to weddings. It is a very focused specialty that you must have on your side. Your destination wedding travel specialist will be your best friend during the planning process. Why should couples go through you to plan their destination wedding? We have a team of true destination wedding travel specialists. We are industry recognized leaders in the art of destination wedding travel planning. After 20 years of wedding travel planning, we have dozens of awards and accolades on our shelf, and thousands of very happy brides, grooms and guests who have put their trust in us. Our team has a true passion for this industry. Seeing our couples and guests having the time of their lives is extremely rewarding. Anything else you want to say to brides? It’s ok to call us and say “I have no idea where to start!” If you are dreaming of a destination wedding, but have no idea how to get is started, let’s talk it through. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it can all come together and how smoothly everything can be planned. Don’t let the details scare you away. If you’re entire guest list can’t make it, that’s ok, too. Your wedding day is for YOU. It should be exactly how you want to start the rest of your lives together. Planning a destination wedding? Then no doubt you are looking for the best destination wedding travel agent to help you through the process. They are, after all, the ones with all the experience and who will be your best friend throughout the process. Here are 6 important questions to ask when you are interviewing your potential destination wedding travel agent:
What is your experience with destination weddings? This is the first question you should ask a potential destination wedding travel agent. As a bride and groom, it’ll put your mind at ease knowing your go-to person has years of experience in the field. Have you been to the destinations and resorts I’m interested in? Everyone always likes a recommendation, so be sure you ask the wedding travel agent you’re interviewing if they’ve been to the resorts you have your eye on. That way, they can provide additional insight on things like service, food, entertainment, wedding décor, venues, key staff, and more. How do you work with guests and keep everything organized? Fair question! The sound of transporting 60+ people from point A to point B can sound very daunting, but to a highly trained travel expert, it’s just another day. Be sure to ask them for examples of how they’ve managed group bookings for rooms, transfers, group excursions, etc. What kind of fees do you charge for your services? Because every wedding has a budget! Be sure to ask your potential wedding travel agent how much it is to utilize their services. You’ll be surprised! Services can run from $0 on up to $5000 or more. Be sure to ask! Do you have a team of assistants to help, or is it just you? It’s always great to know if your destination wedding travel agent has an assistant or second point of contact in case they’ve fallen ill, are traveling, etc. That way you can rest easy knowing your questions and concerns will be responded to in a timely manner! What are the next steps in this process? Once you’ve gotten a good feeling about your potential wedding travel agent, the last thing you’ll want to know are next steps. The right candidate will have a straightforward game plan for you ahead, so no guessing games along the way! Interested in chatting with us about our destination wedding planning services? We’ll be able to answer these questions for you and then some! Simply click here to get started. We look forward to chatting with you soon! Melissa & James were married at Hard Rock Vallarta! Photo credits go to Nick Vaquerano @NickVaquerano on Instagram Wedding Gown from Chantilly Place in Chelmsford, MA Travel coordination provided by Romance Travel Group  Why did you choose Romance Travel Group? To be perfectly honest, we had no idea where to start when we started planning this. I googled “destination wedding planners” and came up to another wedding planner. I started off by saying I knew NOTHING about this but this is what I had in mind. They were super condescending and after that first call, to this moment almost two years later, still never received their quote. I didn’t need to though, I knew I didn’t want to hear back from them. Romance Travel Group was a website I had stumbled on while looking for resorts so I looked into my history to find them. That’s when I reached out and scheduled a call with Shelli. Again, I told her I knew absolutely nothing about wedding planning or destination planning and she said “that’s okay! Tell me what you want to know.” I knew then that I’d be working with her through this process. Were there any objections from your wedding guests about your decision to have a destination wedding? If so, how did you handle overcome those? Yeah, definitely. No one really *said* anything about it directly, just dealt with more “it’s so expensive” remarks. Shelli set up our website super early (August 2018 to be exact) and so when guests came to our engagement party (we invited the same people we were going to invite to our wedding) we had this whole set up talking about where to go to book. One of the biggest things I guess I didn’t realize was such a big deal until like yesterday when I went to book my cousin’s wedding was that Romance Travel Group offers you the ability to pay the wedding off slowly. From the date of our engagement party to the final payment due date, there was exactly 12 months. That was plenty of time for people to make payments. So we let everyone know that they could book online, pay a small deposit and then make monthly payments. For our loved ones that still couldn’t swing it, we just told them we totally understand and would miss them there. At the end of the day, it’s our special day and we were doing it our own special way. How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it? I honestly never thought I would choose a wedding date so close to Valentine’s Day- the 14th and my birthday- the 17th. But when we started talking about dates, James brought up that his late father’s birthday was February 15. We looked at the calendar and realized it was on a Saturday. I swear it just felt like it NEEDED to be on that day. It’ll be a little hectic for James every year around that week but I’m sure we’ll always find a way to make it special. Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges? The coordinator at the resort was actually fantastic. Edmundo was swift, incredibly helpful, personable and just overall a pleasure to work with. I had no challenges with him. However, I did have a challenge with the person that comes before Edmundo. I don’t want to name any names so we won’t do that but there was someone who worked offsite (the first person related to the Hotel company itself that you’ll talk to.) As part of the contract with Hard Rock, we were able to use “number of room nights booked” as a benefit towards the wedding; for example: 40 room nights booked gets you a two-hour reception and then you pay for the additional hours. Well, after weeks of not hearing from the coordinator and final payment date having come and gone, I reached out to try to get the last minute details ironed out and get a total. Well, for months she quoted me that I could use 1 of my hours towards cocktail and 1 towards reception and then pay for additional hours of reception. Fantastic, right?! Not so fast- that day, she tells me she can’t honor what had been told to me for months (by her.) She ends her emails for the day saying I would have to pay out of pocket for the cocktail hour ($800) and there was nothing else she could do. Anybody who is planning a wedding knows they are counting every dollar! I was shocked! Fortunately, after pushing it up to Shelli, she escalated it to Hard Rock and they were luckily able to honor it. That whole ordeal was super super stressful so my advice to anyone doing a destination wedding and looking to take advantage of the perks: don’t delete emails. Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress? Ah, my favorite subject! I found my dress at Chantilly Place in Chelmsford, MA. I went in with a whole different perspective of what I wanted than what I actually got. But when I put that dress on, words honestly cannot describe it. I went with my maid of honor, my mom and my aunt/godmother My mom is probably the least emotional person in the world but when I saw her crying I knew I found the one. It’s beautiful. It flowed. It held me in where I wanted to look snatched. I felt like an angel in that dress. I actually bought extra lace and “designed” a special dress for my daughter to wear too. I don’t know that anyone even noticed it was made of the same material, but I knew and I loved it. Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate? It was actually really easy through the website Shelli set up for us. I mentioned this a little before and I will again now - having it go through Romance Travel Group was so much easier than the other ways we’ve seen it (having to do it directly through the hotel’s website with a block code.) Trips are a big deal and they take financial planning. Being able to make monthly payments towards it (even for the bride and groom) is so much more convenient for your pockets than having to pay it all upfront. 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 think honestly my biggest fear was that the wedding was going to be too simple. We opted to go pretty simple with the decorations because it was an outdoor wedding and really what’s more beautiful than being able to see the beach and the mountains in the same view? We didn’t go crazy with the tables - white linens, white chairs and a flower centerpiece to match the colors of the bridal party. I have to say, I’m so glad I was wrong about my concerns. As simple as it was, it was absolutely perfect. The color changing columns were awesome as it got dark out. Hard Rock did an amazing job making simple look so elegant. Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort. It was pretty simple. Edmundo met us when checking in and introduced himself. We set up an appointment to meet the following day to check out the sites. The following day, we met as planned. He took us to the sites (the gazebo.. just wow.) and to the salon. He explained to us how everything would work, what time he’d come get us, our guests, and so on. It was actually pretty cut and dry. No stress there, at all. Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival? Every single person who went for our event commented about how incredible of a resort it was. The food was FANTASTIC. That’s honestly not something either one of us can really say for any other resort we’ve been to. We were impressed with every single meal we had. Every restaurant was included, they didn’t try to upsell you on food when you got in which was impressive. The lobby was amazing. The memorabilia was breath-taking, the staff was so helpful. At the end of it, every person said they wanted to come back. In fact, I’m pretty sure my sister-in-law and two aunts pre-booked their next trips through the staff there. We got comments the whole next day about how fun the wedding was. Overall just so happy with the experience. 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 actually easier than I thought. We carried it on. Once we got into the airplane, I asked the attendant at the front if I could store my dress in the closet. All four flights (two there, two home) I was told I could. So many people asked if it was our wedding and congratulated us, I loved that part. What was the best part of having a destination wedding? If I’m being honest, I think the best part of the destination wedding was the whole vacation with everyone you love. At one point the day after the wedding, everyone we love was sitting around the pool party all interacting although many of them hadn’t met until that weekend. James’ best friend was hanging out with my aunts, my childhood best friend was back around my family like time hadn’t skipped a beat. It was enjoyable to see. What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience? Honestly all of it. I’ve gone to so many weddings and one thing I’m always told is to enjoy it because it’s gone in the blink of an eye so I did just that. At points, I sat back and watched my family dance. I also danced the night away. I watched my bridal party get ready, we popped champagne, we took pictures, we laughed and all around celebrated. I feel like I took so much of that day in that I could replay it all. In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you? Many ways. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: guests. will. appreciate. payment. plans. But besides that, having someone to escalate issues like the one I had with the Hard Rock planner was a huge help. And I think without even trying to, Shelli helped me save like $800. She sent out what I would assume was a mass email about photographers that are willing to travel to do weddings. I had no idea that was an option, I thought we had to hire the one at the resort. Because of that email, we were able to contract someone James actually knew and saved a lot in doing so. Plus, they’re my favorite pictures ever. What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process? I don’t know that I would do anything differently, but I definitely have some advice:
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding? Way ahead of you, I already have and will keep saying nothing but good things about you guys forever more. Is there anything Romance Travel Group could have done to make the experience even better? Not at all. You were so helpful throughout the entire process. Not a single regret. Congratulations, Melissa & James!! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Why did you choose Romance Travel Group? Romance Travel Group was recommended to me by a friend who also had a great experience. Having a team local to MN was super helpful as well! How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors? My (now) husband and I always knew we wanted a destination wedding so picking the resort was the hard part! We asked Shelli for recommendations of places she or her team stayed at…as we picked our resort sight unseen! Crazy, I know. Our deciding factors were being a middle-of-the-road price point for our guests, family friendly and a good location. We read a TON of reviews. The Riu Palace Cabo hit all of those notes after lots of back and forth. What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding? Some of my biggest fears relate to the earlier question…when you plan a destination wedding you HAVE to accept from the get-go that not everyone is going to make it. We talked to those we knew we needed there first (my grandparents, the Maids of Honor, Best Men, immediate family etc…) and once they were on board, we went full steam ahead! There were of course a few people important to us that couldn’t make it and we knew early on we had to be good with that. If you don’t visit your resort first (like us) there was a huge nervous factor of what if we hate it…but we still went with it. I also brought my own stylist. I was TOO nervous to put my hair/makeup in the hands of someone I have never met. I also have very difficult hair and don’t wear a ton of makeup so I needed to make sure my hair/makeup and I would be on the same page on one of the best days of my life! Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges? The wedding coordinator was INCREDIBLY responsive. For our particular resort the wedding coordinator only answers a ton of your details 6 months ahead of time. I am a big planner/organizer so that was hard for me. However, you can ask a certain amount of questions per month before that. I can honestly say I have ZERO complaints about our wedding coordinator at the resort. Lupita was amazing. She also helped advise on certain questions I had and changed our location based on our number of guests. They don’t tell you what you need to be doing every step of the way though. You do need to be a proactive person to make it through this phase. If you are someone who is waiting for everything to come to you first, that will not happen. Just reach out to them and they will help with everything. Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress? Well this is such a fun and at times frustrating part I think! I chose a dress that was (in my opinion) incredible for a destination wedding. I would not have chosen the same dress if I was doing a church wedding in Minnesota. One thing you HAVE to think about is a travel-friendly dress! I went multiple times of course. The first time I just brought my mom and sister…then I brought 4 of my best girlfriends and then the final time was my mom, sister, future sister in law and mother in law (after I narrowed it down)! I had 2 final choices and then selected my final with my family. Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate? I think it was pretty simple! I know Shelli reinforces this to BOOK EARLY but for some reason we had to reiterate this many times…so that part I put on my guests, no one else. aving Shelli send you everything in one form, arrange the transportation to and from the airport etc…was amazing. Knowing we could go to her with any issues was amazing. We were married in Cabo where the resorts are a bit of a drive from the airport so the transportation was extra helpful. Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort. It was great! We met with everyone the day after we arrived in the lobby. We went through all of our selections, changes etc…one amazing thing about our resort was that you could change pretty much anything once you arrived. After you see things in person it might change a few selections (other than flowers). They were able to show us any changes they thought should be made, etc…turns out they’ve done a wedding or two so they have great insight…and they do it without you feeling any pressure. The biggest thing is I felt like we had someone the entire time…I knew I could ask for my coordinator and I would get a response, but they also reminded you and allowed you to have a great/relaxing time. I should note although I’m a type A planner I was pretty laid back for my wedding, that is how I wanted it though. 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? My dress was very easy to travel with. I had an extra large garment bag from my friend who had her destination wedding a few months before. On the way down I was allowed to hang it up and on the way back they didn’t have a hanging area but they let me put it up in first class carry on that wasn’t full. I would say telling people it was my wedding dress definitely helped. 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 semi-traditional wedding. We had our wedding on the beach and dinner reception and dance. I’ve never had a wedding at home vs. destination so I can’t imagine the differences. So much of it is that there is a ton out of your control…you don’t know exactly how things will look, exactly how the food will taste, exactly how the flowers will be etc…and I was great with that. I was so excited to spend multiple days with the people that meant the most to me in an incredible location. If you aren’t okay with some ambiguity, I would not recommend it. Everything went amazing for us though. Our dinner was great, decorations, our DJ was great…I enjoyed every second but it did go too fast! I think everyone says that though. What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience? The entire planning and actual wedding trip! You get stressed in the moments, want things “to be done” and before you know it, it is all done. This is another reason I recommend a destination wedding – you might be busy but you get to spend 2,3,4,5,6 etc…days with your guests. In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you? Oh my in so many ways – having resort recommendations, insider info, having everyone’s travel docs and booking ready to go….basic travel questions, their email reminders, their payment choices, their final travel docs all being in one place, transportation info etc… What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process? The ONLY thing I would do differently (and remember I was a super laid back bride) is bringing your own photographer. Romance Travel Group started a partnership like this after we were married but that would be my only change. Different countries have a different idea/styles of pictures, and by having someone you know you can see their pics beforehand…and can understand if your styles are similar or not. Oh yes and as I did – definitely bring your own hair/makeup or do it yourselves. Invite all of these people to your wedding so you don’t get the “outside vendor” fee. Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding? Yes I would recommend them for sure. Despite what you tell them or what Romance Travel Group tells them, guests will still contact the bride/groom for travel questions. We directed them back to the Romance Travel Group as much as we could..I think there was only 1 case where I had to “get involved” and it was more so for my guest to feel support even though I knew Romance Travel were doing all they could. Congratulations, Lindsey & Scott!! We are so happy for you! With over 25% of weddings now taking place away from home, destination weddings have evolved into a cost-effective, meaningful and unique way for couples to share their wedding experience with their guests. Planning a wedding from a thousand miles away can still feel a bit daunting at first, but it is impossible to ignore the gorgeous beach wedding photos on Pinterest and Instagram, right? If you feel the little spark of hope in your heart as you scroll through destination wedding ideas, don’t ignore it! Don’t be afraid of it! Planning a destination wedding has come a long way and is now actually easier to plan - and MUCH cheaper - than a wedding at home. Here are a few questions you may be asking yourself: 1. How will I ever decide on a location and resort? This is often the most difficult part of planning a destination wedding. Our best advice here is to find a travel agent that specializes in planning destination weddings. Anyone can book a trip. But planning a destination wedding for 20, 40 or 100 guests takes a completely different set of skills. Need a recommendation? Reach out to one of the award-winning agents at Romance Travel Group. Destination weddings are our passion! 2. What will my guests think? Most of your guests will be thrilled at the idea of a vacation with you! Some will be concerned about cost or safety. Your agent will communicate with your guests, answering all their questions and making sure they know everything they need for their trip. Trust us… your guests will RAVE about your wedding. Many destination wedding groups start traveling together every year because they had such a great time at the wedding. They will have a great time, and they will thank you for nudging them outside of their comfort zone a bit. 3. How much will all this cost? Legit question! We often say that the couple can expect to pay under $10,000 for the trip, ceremony and reception. This can vary, of course, but it is a good estimate. Your guests can expect to pay about $1100 for a 3 night/4 day all-inclusive experience in Mexico or the Caribbean. 4. How can I be sure my wedding will be what I want? Most resorts have wedding departments with a team of coordinators on-site that will execute your vision. You can send them photos, Pinterest boards, spreadsheets, etc, and they will recreate the wedding of your dreams. Just about anything you see at local weddings can also be done in destination. 5. Who is going to help with all the travel plans? Remember that destination wedding travel expert we mentioned? She will work with each guest to create the trip that works best for them. Some guests will make a week-long vacation out of their trip, while others will only be able to sneak away from 3 nights. No problem! Your agent will handle all the details so you don’t have to. 6. How will I know what needs to be done? Your travel expert and the resort’s wedding coordinator will ensure everything has been considered and your big day is executed perfectly. Together, they’ll help you through all the steps and decisions that need to happen. You’ll be amazed at how seamlessly everything comes together. Did we answer some of the questions you no-doubt have about planning a destination wedding? We hope so! We know how overwhelming it can seem at first, but once you find your travel expert, everything will fall into place quickly. You can do this!! Need an expert to help? Call Shelli today!
Gone are the days of travel agents. Travel professionals (advisors, consultants or specialists) possess insider tips and knowledge you can’t find anywhere else. Here are 3 reasons you’ll want to use a travel professional to help plan your next get-away:  1. We Are Not "Agents"
As the travel industry has evolved, so has its professionals. Gone are the days of the "travel agent." These are the days when hands-on experience and real expertise matter most. Travel professionals don’t take orders, nor do they work at a call center where your inquiry is just a number. Professional travel advisors require collaboration, provide one-on-one attention, and possess travel industry knowledge you won't find anywhere else. 2. We Live and Breathe Travel Not sure what it’s like in Thailand? We do. Don’t know what to do if your flight is cancelled? Been there. Curious how much a destination wedding costs? We have the answer. As travel professionals, we live and breathe travel all day long. We book amazing travel experiences for our clients every single day. We give you our opinions and recommendations based on our first-hand travel experiences because we’ve either been there, or know someone who has. We help you save time, money and stress. We advise. 3. We Are Specialists While travel professionals are fully-qualified to plan all your travel-related matters, it’s always smart to work with someone who truly specializes in what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re interested in planning a destination wedding, don’t seek help from a travel pro who specializes in Disney travel (unless of course, you want Mickey to attend your wedding)! Planning a destination wedding takes an extensive amount of research and planning – something only a true romance travel expert can help you with. There are millions of destinations out there to explore. We're sure you'll find travel advisor specializing in each one. Do your homework and we guarantee you’ll find your travel “bestie” in no time! We hope this article has shed some light on how a professional can take your travel experience to the next level. Looking for a destination wedding specialist? If so, you’ve already got yourself a perfect match! Romance Travel Group helps hundreds of couples plan the ultimate destination wedding each year. To get started, simply click here to connect with us today!
What type of destination weddings do you specialize in?
I specialize in Mexico and Caribbean destination weddings. Over the years I’ve learned that the all-inclusive resorts offer the best value to my clients. Whether a couples’ destination wedding dream is sweet and simplistic or stylish and sophisticated, there is a resort out there that is just perfect for them, and my goal is to find it. I’ve planned weddings for 2, and weddings for 200. Every wedding, no matter the size of the guest list, deserves special attention. Why do you think having a destination wedding in Mexico or the Caribbean is the best decision to make for couples planning their wedding? These days, loved ones are often scattered throughout the country, staying connected by technology. Chances are, when you announce your wedding plans and begin making your guest list, you will notice a great number of family and friends who are going to have to travel for your wedding already. Why not have your guests come together at a fabulous resort where meals and drinks are all included, where you will be catered to, and your time can be spent with those you love. I hear over and over again, “Thank you! The time our loved ones spent together at our destination wedding is something we will cherish forever!” Destination weddings are
Are most couples happy they chose to have a destination wedding once they have experienced it? I have never had anyone say “I wish we wouldn’t have done that.” In fact, I hear the opposite from guests who have done a traditional wedding of their own. They tell me “if we could do it all over again….THIS is what we’d do!” The experience couples share with guests and the memories that are made last a lifetime. Many destination wedding groups begin traveling together year after year because they had such a great first experience. They want to go back again and again. That says a lot! One bride recently wrote to me and said “This whole experience was so great! A lot of my friends are considering having destination weddings now and have thanked me for opening up the doors to this idea.” What is one important tip for couples planning a destination wedding? The most important decision couples will make about their destination wedding is which travel agent to hire. Anyone can book a trip. Anyone can get you a deal. But this isn’t just a spring break trip you’re planning. You need to partner with a destination wedding travel specialist who can share her experience and expertise with you from the beginning. A destination wedding travel specialist is someone who has worked with more than a dozen couples already, who travels to the destinations she recommends, who personally knows the wedding team and management at the resorts, who understands the residency laws of each country and can guide you on locations, dates and budget logistics. A travel agent’s attention gets watered down by clients booking cruises, safaris, and escorted tours to Europe. A destination wedding travel specialist gives her full attention to weddings. It is a very focused specialty that you must have on your side. Your destination wedding travel specialist will be your best friend during the planning process. Why should couples go through you to plan their destination wedding? Well, I AM a true destination wedding travel specialist. I am an industry recognized leader in the art of destination wedding travel planning. I have over 20 years of wedding travel experience, dozens of awards and accolades on my shelf, and thousands of very happy brides, grooms and guests who have put their trust in me. I have a true passion for this industry. The favorite part of my job is seeing wedding photos pop up on Facebook and fill my inbox sometimes within hours of a ceremony. Seeing my couples and guests having the time of their lives is extremely rewarding. Anything else you want to say to brides? It’s ok to call me and say “I have no idea where to start!” If you are dreaming of a destination wedding, but have no idea how to get is started, let’s talk it through. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it can all come together and how smoothly everything can be planned. Don’t let the details scare you away. If you’re entire guest list can’t make it, that’s ok, too. Your wedding day is for YOU. It should be exactly how you want to start the rest of your lives together. Shelli can be reached at 507-237-6133 or Shelli@RomanceTravelGroup.com. |
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