Real Wedding: Jenna & Christopher at Generations Riviera Maya

Wedding Date: December 3, 2023 ~ Resort: El Dorado Royale / Generations ~ Photographer: Off The Rail Photography ~ Videographer: Lux Like Art ~ Bridal Gown: Bel Fiore Bridal  ~ Tux Salon: Men's Warehouse

Why did you choose Romance Travel Group?
We chose Romance Travel after we did some research on travel companies for destination weddings and had a discussion with Shelli, we knew we needed to work with them. Shelli was straightforward and really helpful in giving the overall view of how the process works and the relief they take off of the bride when it comes to planning and talking with the resorts. 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?
We ultimately chose a destination wedding because we felt we were getting more bang for our buck in getting a whole weekend experience for ourselves and our guests. This also gave an opportunity for our guests to make a vacation out of it as well.

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We selected our resort based off of the options the Shelli gave us. We chose our resort due to the location and the perks that came along with our wedding package. We also chose based on the size of the resort because we knew we would have a pretty big wedding for a destination and we were going to have a few kids in our wedding and Generations was the perfect fit for that.

Were there any objections from your wedding guests about your decision to have a destination wedding? If so, how did you handle overcome those?
We honestly had no objections from our guests about our decision for a destination wedding. They were all actually super excited and couldn't wait to book. They are already talking about having a yearly trip to go back. 

What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
There weren't too many fears because Shelli and her crew were able to alleviate any fears we had and answer any questions we had. I guess really my only fear or worry was making sure everyone made it safe and that we didn't forget anything in the states.

How did you come to decide on your wedding date? Is there meaning behind it?
There wasn't any significance to our wedding date. We were just trying to pick a time that would give people enough time to plan if they wanted to attend the wedding and that's how we landed on our date. 

Did you invite guests in a unique way, like a themed save the date or announcement party?
We sent them a themed save the date with information of how and when to book for the trip. So it was a save the date and invitation all in one. 

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
The wedding planner we were assigned to at the resort was very helpful through the process. There were times that there was a lag in communication and I had to send some follow up emails, but I also kept in mind that they are working on multiple weddings at a time and do these things every day, so I needed to be patient with some of it. Our planner was also very good at making sure to answer all questions when I sent multiple emails at a time before receiving an answer.

Tell us about your wedding attire – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your wedding attire?
I found my dress at a little boutique in Georgia with my mom, sister and a couple of friends. It was probably the 8th dress that I tried on and just knew it was the one when I put it on. I felt very comfortable and the dress was light, which is what I wanted.

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
I felt my guests had a pretty easy time with the booking process. They did ask me some questions along the way when it came to the payment plan, but if they had more specific questions, I guided them to our group manager, Heather, and she responded within 24 hours to ensure they had the proper information to make payments or get quotes on their bookings.

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?
I was worried about the amount of cash that I was bringing for some outside vendors that we had and I needed to pay them the day of the wedding and I didn't want to have all that cash on me, but I was in a Facebook group of people who have already had their wedding at our resort and they helped to relieve my worries. I was also a little nervous about all of my luggage getting there (6 bags) but all of it made it without any issues. 

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.
I played softball my whole life so my bridal party consisted of all of my friends from softball growing up and in college. I also had my sister as my matron of honor. I asked all of them by giving them a themed gift box for my wedding theme and colors and I was able to give it to them individually and get all of their reactions. 

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
I did have a site visit a few months before the wedding so that I could meet my wedding planner and onsite planner to see the resort and talk in person with everyone, so if this is something you can do, I highly suggest doing it. As for the meeting when we arrived, we had it the day we got to the resort (per our request) and we ran through everything that we wanted for the wedding and our entire detail sheet. We went step by step from the ceremony, to the reception, to the music and everything in between. The meeting was about 2 hours or so, but it really allowed us the time we needed to ensure we had all the important details taken care of. 

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
Our guest's biggest comment about the resort was how big it was. They could not get over it and loved the beauty of it. They also enjoyed the access to the beach and they are still talking about it. As far as I know I have not heard any negatives about it. 

How easy/difficult was it to travel with your wedding attire? Did you carry-it on, where did you store it? Did you get a lot of comments at the airport?
It was honestly really easy traveling with our wedding attire. My husband and I both carried on our outfits for the day of the wedding and we asked once we got on the plane if we could hang them up and they allowed us to do so, but if they don't, then they will allow you to lay it across bags in the overhead bin. We also did not get any comments as we walked through the airport.

Tell us about your wedding – did you have a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception and dance? What was different about a destination wedding compared to a wedding at home?
We did have a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception and dance. We knew with the guests we had attending, they just wanted to have a good time and celebrate so we made sure to accommodate that aspect. The difference about a destination wedding compared to a wedding at home was the expense, it was a lot more affordable and a better investment for our guests. We were able to allow them a whole experience and full weekend of fun for everyone, instead of just one day.  

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The best part of having a destination wedding is that you truly get to experience this time with the family and friends that mean the most to you and have a truly intimate wedding.

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
My most favorite moment of the wedding experience was obviously marrying my husband, but other than that I would say just really getting this time to spend with family and friends in another country was truly such a blessing to us.

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?
Romance Travel Group made the planning less stressful because they handled everything with the resort. They did all of the negotiations, bookings for our guests, transfers to and from the resort to the airport and handled any issues that came up with the resort. They really eased the most important part of the planning so that we were able to just focus on how we wanted our wedding to be and look.

What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
I don't know if I would do anything differently. I feel everything went as it should have. The biggest piece of advice I would give is to trust the process. There are times you will feel like you aren't doing anything, but really there aren't things to be doing. The folks at the resort will really start getting down to the nitty gritty about 3 months out from your wedding date, but do not stress over it. It will all turn out better than you could expect.

What surprised you the most about having a destination wedding?
The thing that surprised me the most about having a destination wedding was how much easier it is to plan when you use a travel agency (Romance Travel Group) because they already have a relationship with the resorts and can help with the biggest part of planning your wedding. They are integral. I was also very surprised with how well the resort pulled the wedding off and truly hit every important detail that we wanted. They really know what they are doing at the resort and it was beautiful.  

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
I would 100% recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples considering a destination wedding and have already given the thought to a few other couples we know that are starting to plan their weddings. We also heard from a few of our friends that they are using Romance Travel Group for other trips/vacations they are looking to take. 

Is there anything Romance Travel Group could have done to make the experience even better?
I have no complaints about Romance Travel Group. They truly were amazing to work with and invest in you and your group to ensure the best experience possible. I would recommend them to anyone!

Congratulations, Jenna & Chris! It was a pleasure to help with your wedding plans!