If you’re planning on having guests travel with you for your destination wedding, chances are you have been wondering about group discounts and perks and how to manage it all. Let’s take a closer look at group reservations and options.

GROUP RESERVATIONS

The average size destination wedding is about 50 guests, or 25 rooms. Wedding travel agents are very well versed in negotiating and navigating group contracts and terms. Read everything! It is easy to make inaccurate assumptions that can cause issues down the road. Make sure you understand what you’re signing.

Most group contracts require a 10-room minimum. This means if you fall below 10 rooms in your block, you will need to pay for the extra room/s to get you to 10, or your group will be considered a cancellation. If you can’t guarantee 10 rooms (your room + 9 others), don’t sign a group contract. Guests are still responsible for their own rooms and payments, but all the rooms in your group are yours. You own the group.

Group contracts have set booking and payment deadlines. These deadlines are set by the resorts and outline when penalties increase. Don’t expect to negotiate on these deadlines. They will actually help you by creating an incentive for guests to book early. After all, you can’t plan your wedding until you know how many guests are coming for sure, and the only way to know this is to have guests book.

INDIVIDUAL RESERVATIONS

Group contracts can be overwhelming, for sure. But, for wedding groups, a group block is definitely the way to go. If you just can’t or don’t want to sign a group contract, all rooms for guests will be booked like individual vacations. All guests will pay different prices, rates can change drastically, rooms and resorts can (and will) sell out so some guests may not be able to attend even if they want to, and there are no freebies for you to take advantage of.

Most Romance Travel Group couples (like 95% of them!) sign group block contracts. We find that the perks and benefits of having rooms blocked and rates locked in make it so much easier for guests to book. The freebies are nice, too!
​
Ready to set up your own destination wedding group block? We’d be happy to share our expertise and guidance with you. You plan a beautiful wedding… leave all the group details to us!

​Wondering what the difference is between these experts, and who you really need and why? You’re not alone. Keep reading to learn who you need on your side as you plan your destination wedding in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Wedding Coordinator

A wedding coordinator is a resort employee responsible for creating and managing all aspects of the wedding events taking place at the resort. Your wedding coordinator will help you schedule venues, entertainment and vendors. There is no cost for the services provided by wedding coordinators.

Wedding Planner

A wedding planner is an independent professional hired to organize your wedding, create the aesthetics and atmosphere for your day, and manage all vendors. A planner usually works with the resort wedding coordinator on your behalf. They are a liaison between the couple and the resort. Wedding planners can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the size and complexity of your wedding.

Destination Wedding Travel Agent

Let’s face it. For many, images of the old school travel agency of My Big Fat Greek Wedding come to mind when the words “travel agent” are tossed around. For years, agents have tried to break away from this dated title and instead use labels such as travel advisor, architect, engineer and designer. But at the end of the day, all are true. With today’s online technology, just about anyone can book a trip. But planning a destination wedding thousands of miles from home in a foreign country for 20-200 guests is way, WAY more complicated than just booking a trip. An experienced destination wedding travel agent is worth her weight in gold when it comes to keeping you organized, guests informed and everything moving seamlessly and smoothly. Your agent should:

• Show you specific resorts that fit your wants, needs and budget and help you choose the best option
• Ensure your wedding date is secured and connect you with the wedding team at the resort
• Confirm group rates, group amenities and manage your room block and deadlines
• Provide guests with details, answers and pre and during travel assistance
• Be your go-to, liaison and confidant every step of the way

Finding and hiring a destination wedding travel agent should be the first step in your planning process. Before diving into resort options, choosing a wedding date or even picking a destination, do yourself a huge favor and spend some time talking to a few potential destination wedding travel agents. As with any professional, you may need to pay a deposit or a retainer to secure their services. You may even be asked to pay for their advice and expertise. Would you expect anything less from an expert?

So what about the wedding coordinator and planner?

You definitely will want the assistance of the resort’s wedding coordinator. She knows the ins and outs of the resort itself and is able to bring your wedding vision into reality. We suggest finding several inspiration photos (Pinterest is great for this!) to share with her, along with your budget. She will help you create the vibe you’re going for and offer suggestions and tips along the way.

For most destination weddings, a wedding planner is not necessary. Your travel expert and wedding coordinator should be able to handle everything for you. However, if you are planning a very large or lavish wedding with a lot of details and events to manage, a wedding planner is a good investment. As the saying goes, it sometimes takes a village!

The expert wedding travel agents at Romance Travel Group do one thing and we do it well… we plan destination weddings! After nearly 25 years, our expertise, connections, processes and experience are unrivalled. We are consistently named “best” and “top” agency in the wedding and travel industry. One peek at the hundreds of 5-star reviews is proof of the attention and care that goes into each wedding we take on. We know it is a big step, but we promise that your nerves will turn to excitement after just one 30-minute call with our team. What are you waiting for? Sign up to talk to one of our wedding experts 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! 

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!

Do…book early
We recommend you reaching out to a destination wedding specialist and booking your resort between16 and 18 months in advance.
 
But don’t… invite guests too early
It’s best to extend the invites no more than14 months in advance – after your resort has been booked.
 
And don’t… require an RSVP
For a destination wedding, the guest’s room deposit serves as their RSVP. Easy-peasy! If you ask for a traditional RSVP, you will end up with a lot of “yes!” that can’t actually attend. Just let the room deposit be the RSVP.
 
But do… set a “book by” date
To encourage guests to book early, you can have a recommended  “book by” date on your website. This allows your guests plenty of time to plan accordingly.
 
Definitely don’t…worry when your wedding coordinator takes a while
In the destination wedding industry, it’s not unusual for your wedding coordinator to take a week or more to get back to you. *Deep breaths* We promise, this is normal. They are busy making magic happen behind-the-scenes!
 
Oh, and do…trust your travel agent and wedding coordinator
Remember, your destination wedding specialist and wedding coordinator are your advocates and have your best interest at heart.
 
Also, don’t…stress out over the little details
They say, “hindsight is 20/20,” and this couldn’t ring truer. Everything always falls into place beautifully, and you’ll eventually realize that stressing out over your music playlist was pointless.
 
Lastly, please do …commit yourself to slowing down
While you can easily get caught up in the moment of wedding planning, it’s important to slow down and take things in stride. After all, you only get one wedding countdown – so it’s best to make it count!
 
Ready to plan the wedding of your dreams? Then, click here to connect with a destination wedding specialist , today. We look forward to working with you! 

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

1. Less expensive – the typical destination wedding easily costs under $10,000 for air, room, meals and drinks for 7 nights, plus the wedding ceremony and dinner reception for approximately 40-50 guests.
2. Less drama – everyone can relax and enjoy themselves with no pressure.
3. Less work – you make the basic decisions and let the wedding coordinators orchestrate it all for you. Enjoy a morning at the spa while the resort handles all of the details.
4. More time – imagine a fun, 3-day event with your loved ones. Your wedding doesn’t have to go by in the blink of an eye. Cherish the time and make lots of memories. Your guests will be talking about your wedding for years to come.
5. More intimate – you actually know every guest at your destination wedding. There are no long receiving lines greeting guests you’ve never met before.
6. More beautiful – white sand beaches, clear blue water, swaying palm trees, glowing sunsets. Destination weddings are a feast for the senses.
7. More enjoyable – no stress! Just show up, enjoy the vibe and have fun. 

 
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! 

Fourteenth Annual Best of Weddings Awards Honor the Top Wedding Vendors Across America

Romance Travel Group pleased to announce that we have once again been selected as a 2020 winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, an accolade representing the highest and top-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, a leading wedding planning brand and app.
 
For 2020, only five percent of hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals listed on The Knot received this distinguished award. In its fourteenth annual year, The Knot continues its longstanding tradition of supporting local wedding vendors with The Knot Best of Weddings 2020, an annual by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed its millions of user reviews across various vendor categories, including venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more, to find the highest rated vendors of the year. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that engaged couples should consider booking for their own unique wedding.
 
“Our teams works extremely hard to be helpful, kind, fun and supportive with all of our wedding and honeymoon couples, so it is exciting to receive this recognition to share with everyone!” says Shelli Nornes, President and CEO of Romance Travel Group. “It is definitely a team effort, and I can’t wait to share this with them!”
 
The Knot has inspired 25 million couples (and counting!) to plan a wedding that’s uniquely theirs. With a rich history of providing high-quality content and inspiration, The Knot makes it easy for couples to connect with and book the right wedding professionals to create their perfect wedding day. On The Knot Marketplace, couples can get connected to any of the hundreds of thousands of local wedding professionals across the country. The Knot Best of Weddings gives couples the confidence to find and book the best local vendors to bring their wedding visions to life. In combination with years of trusted content, The Knot’s innovative technology makes planning one’s wedding celebrations easier and more enjoyable.
 
Wedding professionals who win The Knot Best of Weddings are members of WeddingPro, the leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 13 million visitors per month who are planning weddings on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry. Through its online marketplaces, educational programs and community-building events, WeddingPro is dedicated to helping wedding professionals build relationships with couples and pros that grow their businesses.
 
For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, please visit https://www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings.
 
About Romance Travel Group
Romance Travel Group is your key to a successful destination wedding, honeymoon or vacation getaway. As industry recognized leaders in the art of destination wedding and travel planning, our team of agents has dozens of awards and accolades, and thousands of very happy brides, grooms, couples and guests. Our specialists are seasoned pros who want the best for you. We can’t wait to help you plan the perfect wedding day, honeymoon or tropical vacation! Call us today to start planning the trip of a lifetime! 507-237-6133
 

With so many great locations, Riu Resorts have so much to offer couples who are wanting to plan a destination wedding.  From Aruba to Cabo, Riu has stunning resorts on gorgeous beaches, just perfect for wedding groups. Enjoy all the style and perks while being considerate of guest costs. Isn't that what every bride wants? We spent time chatting with some of the Riu wedding planners and asked them to share their insider knowledge with us. Keep reading to hear what they have to say!

What are a few of the most commonly asked questions you get from couples starting the destination wedding planning process?
 
The most common questions are usually regarding:
 
Wedding set up pricing
Wedding locations
How much will they be spending overall
What is included in the wedding package
What decorations and events are included
 
Couples want to have the complete picture of their expected expenses. Other questions we are often asked are about wedding locations availability, what happens in case of rain, where are the back-up locations. At RIU Hotels & Resorts, we have different packages that can fit to all kinds of wedding couples and groups, so we can customize everything depending on what the couple desires.
 
We know that couples today love to customize their wedding experience. What are some of the unique ways you see couples customizing their wedding events?
 
Couples love to bring their own wedding favors for their guests, things that are meaningful and personal to them. The color theme is very important, and we know brides want to have flowers, fabrics and decorations match perfectly.  Many couples plan activities with their wedding guests throughout their stay. They participate in things like excursions or special activities happening around the resort. Everyone has a ton of fun together at our Riu Party or in the Pacha Club! 
 
Are there any trends you’ve been seeing for 2020 weddings?
 
Our most popular destinations are Jamaica, Los Cabos Mexico, Costa Mujeres Mexico & Aruba. A really popular trend for wedding set up decoration is the Boho Chic style, including a lot of tropical elements such pineapples and green leaf foliage.
 
Cost is always a factor. Are there certain items couples can omit or change that help keep their budget in check?
 
The cost is very important for the couples! Some couples have asked guests to take snapshots and candids of the ceremony and the events instead of hiring a photographer for everything. Other ways to save include having semi-private events (instead of private events) and using the natural tropical surroundings as the backdrop instead of investing in additional decor.  
 
Are couples doing legal ceremonies, or symbolic? What do couples need to know to help them decide?
 
Symbolic is the most requested ceremony. After the couple finds out about all the paperwork needed to have a civil ceremony, and the steps to legalize the wedding certificate in their country, most choose to have a symbolic wedding. A symbolic ceremony is less expensive and less complicated.
 
What are your most popular ceremony locations?
 
The most requested wedding ceremony location is the beach, of course! Couples love our amazing Caribbean Sea views and our Pacific sunsets. Some brides choose to have their ceremony on one of our ocean view terraces, which are stunning. Riu proudly has hotels in the best locations! In Los Cabos we are in front of the famous Arch. In Cancun, we have a gorgeous ocean front garden. In Jamaica we have gazebos facing the ocean. Every hotel has stunning locations available to make every wedding truly one in a kind!

​Pretty impressive!! Are you dreaming of Aruba now? Or perhaps Cabo? Not sure which location is best? Let us help! Our team of destination wedding experts are here to help you choose the location, resort and wedding date, and organize the entire experience for you and your guests. Ready to start planning?

Ah, Royalton weddings. They are so amazing! But why? We recently sat down with Randi Reshef, Senior Wedding Consultant with Royalton Resorts, to chat about planning destination weddings. Read below and learn from the experts on planning your Royalton destination wedding.

​We understand the importance of partnering with wedding vendors that value service and quality as much as we do here at Romance Travel Group. We take the time to go meet the teams at each resort, video conference with the planning office, and continuously work on building partnerships with what we think are the best destination wedding resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. We recently sat down with Randi Reshef, Senior Wedding Consultant with Royalton Resorts, to chat about planning destination weddings. Randi has been with Royalton 3.5 years with a focus on our St Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua and Costa Rica resorts. Randi loves bringing out the creative side of her wedding couples and working with them on creating the perfect, customized wedding. Her clients speak highly to her ability to ease their stress and come up with unique personal touches that they can incorporate into their destination wedding.             
 
What are a few of the most commonly asked questions you get from couples starting the destination wedding planning process?
 
“Our wedding couples are so excited about getting engaged and to be in the process of planning, that the most commonly asked questions we get are pertaining to floral and décor. Most of the time, wedding couples will have a general vision for their wedding day and are looking for cost on those items so that they can budget appropriately. In addition, couples love to know about services that we offer such as entertainment or food & beverage options.”

We know that couples today love to customize their wedding experience. What are some of the unique ways you see couples customizing their wedding events?  

“We know that every wedding couples’ vision is different and we love that Royalton weddings allow our couples to completely customize their experience. To name a few unique customizations, we have seen a pizza tower instead of wedding cake for a foodie couple, we have seen a completely sapphire themed wedding to replicate a brides engagement ring, we have seen an “On the Run” tour Beyoncé & Jay-Z themed wedding, and even a couple who sang themselves down the aisle. Anything is possible!”

Are there any trends you’ve been seeing for 2020 weddings?
 
“We have been seeing a lot of requests for Pampas Grass, which is perfect for a beachy Bohemian wedding. We have also seen a lot of couples bringing custom neon signs to hang above their head table. 2020 will also bring monochromatic bouquets, and couples who are looking into sustainable weddings. For example, clients are looking into sustainable travel, reducing food waste, and anything that will help impact the environmental aspect of their wedding.”

Cost is always a factor. Are there certain items couples can omit or change that help keep their budget in check?  

“I have always considered a dance floor a “luxury” purchase. If it’s within the budget, that’s great! If not, I think it’s something that can be skipped. Most of our couples who choose to have a destination wedding have always dreamed of dancing in the sand, and the other half of our couples are hosting their reception at a location that has tiled flooring. Dancefloors tend to run anywhere from $600-$1,500 USD (depending on size and type of dance floor), so that can be a big chunk of savings if they don’t rent this item!”

Are couples doing legal ceremonies, or symbolic? What do couples need to know to help them decide?  

“I would say this is a 60/40 split, with symbolic weddings being the more popular of the two ceremony types. Symbolic weddings are generally more flexible. For example, you can have your own officiant, customize the vows, and determine the overall feel of the ceremony. On the down side, a lot of couples do want their official wedding anniversary to be on the day that they host their ceremony. If you’re legally married before your symbolic ceremony, then technically your wedding anniversary would be on a different date. In some countries, you have to be legally married before hosting a symbolic ceremony, so the couple would need to be okay with being legally married at least two months before the wedding. With legal weddings, there will be paperwork involved. If a couple is already feeling stressed about planning, that extra step of getting their legal documents notarized might be a deal breaker. In addition, there is an added cost for hosting legal weddings which varies depending on the resort, and some countries to require bloodwork upon arrival in order to have a legal wedding.”

What are your most popular ceremony locations?  
​
“Hands down, the most popular ceremony location that we have is the Sky Terrace! We don’t have the Sky Terrace at all of our Royalton properties, however the Royalton resorts that do have this private rooftop location are always booked first. Not only does the Sky Terrace offer additional privacy for wedding couples, they also have incredible unobstructed views of the ocean and a beautiful stone structure, so no additional décor is needed. There is an additional fee to host a ceremony on the Sky Terrace, but it’s well worth it for the views, privacy, and the included décor. For properties that don’t have a Sky Terrace, we still see a lot of Beach ceremonies. Many of our couples have always envisioned being married toes in the sand, and nothing can change their minds. Beach ceremonies allow for a lot of customization in terms of structures or chuppah’s, seating, and aisle décor!”
 
Like what you see? Romance Travel Group and Royalton Resorts are committed to planning the most incredible destination wedding with you. Ready to get started? Fill out our simple contact form and we will have one of our experience destination wedding specialists reach out right away. We can’t wait to work with you!

For years, Romance Travel Group has partnered with the wedding designers at Karisma Resorts and Lomas Travel to create the most incredible and memorable destination wedding experiences for our couples. The consistent quality, both with resorts and planning services, launches Karisma to the top of our preferred partner list. We recently took time to chat with our friends at Karisma about what planning a destination wedding with them is like. They answered many of the most common questions asked by brides, and gave us their insider tips. Keep reading to learn more!

What are a few of the most commonly asked questions you get from couples starting the destination wedding planning process?
“The number one question is “Can I customize wedding my wedding?” The answer is absolutely YES! Here is a presentation that goes over the most frequently asked questions.”

We know that couples today love to customize their wedding experience. What are some of the unique ways you see couples customizing their wedding events?
​“Each couple has their own wedding vision, and with the help of our wedding designers, amazing destination weddings have come to life! Just look at these images!”

Are there any trends you’ve been seeing for 2020 weddings?
“Brides are choosing big floral arrangements with lot of greenery and white flowers. For the reception, everything is a bit more rustic, like long wooden tables and again a lot of greenery and white with an occasional touch of blush pink.”

Cost is always a factor. Are there certain items couples can omit or change that help keep their budget in check?
“Sure! Everything depends on what the couple wants and the size of the group. The most important  things not to skimp on are private dinner receptions, photographers, and DJ.”

What are your most popular ceremony locations?
“The Sky Deck and the Pier at Generations Riviera Maya are by far our most popular locations. They are just stunning and everyone loves them!”

​Because Romance Travel Group and Karisma have such a great relationship, we have worked together to bring you a special offer! Book your wedding with us and as a thank you, you can select one of the following:

​Semi Private Group Brunch Reservation ($500 USD value) 
Includes Bloody Mary bar and Mimosas 
Restaurant and maximum group size vary by resort 
Set menu determined by resort 

Caribe Photo Package Credit ($200 USD value) 
Valid on Piña Package or higher 
www.caribephoto.com

Sky Wedding Package - 50% Discount ($900 USD value) 
Receive a 50% discount off the Sky Wedding Package at all resorts
Location must be reserved and confirmed at time of booking 
Valid for groups of 30 people or more
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Like what you see? Romance Travel Group and Karisma Resorts are committed to planning the most incredible destination wedding with you. Ready to start planning your destination wedding?  We are! Click the button below to start planning today!
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