Step Three Planning | Destination Wedding Travel Agent

S T E P T H R E E

Setting The Date!

The who, what, where and why have all been answered, so that leaves us with the final question... WHEN?
There are definitely some things to consider when choosing your wedding date. Not only do we have personal calendars and schedules to take into account, but we also have to consider the resort's calendar, weather and seasons and and price changes. We'll explore all this together.

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Give yourself (and your guests) enough time

We recommend scheduling your wedding at least 12 months out. Ideally, we like to send evites 14-16 months before the wedding. Final payments are often due 4 months before travel. You'll want to give guests time to make travel plans and save to pay for their trip. Planning a wedding with 12 months add extra stress to you and your guests. It can be done, but allowing yourself some time makes a better experience for everyone.

Room rates are based on travel season

The Best Months for Your Destination Wedding:

Mid-Season

Mid-season runs from Easter though August and again in early January for a week or two. You can expect pretty average rates and decent weather, making it a safe option for your destination wedding. The summer months are busy with family travel since kids are out of school. Weather is hot and sunny, but the ocean breezes cool things down in the evenings.

Low Season

Low season runs from September through November and early December. Historically, low season always meant low prices, empty resorts, but the perks and value of low season have caught on and resorts sell out during this time of year as much as they do during peak seasons. Low season coincides with hurricane season, which runs June through October. Don’t let this scare you! The risk of being affected by a hurricane on your date, in your location, is actually very low.

In consideration of guest calendars and budgets, most couple try to avoid high priced and busy seasons:

Holiday Season

Yep, you guessed it! Room rates are at their highest during the holidays and resorts are often sold out months before travel. Major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter are all included, of course, but also holidays like President’s Day and MLK Day… anytime state offices and banks are closed. In addition to high prices, most resorts have “black out” periods around these holidays and offer no group rates or perks. Even travel insurance can cost more over the holidays.

Peak Season

Peak season starts in mid-January and runs through Easter. This is the time of year when everyone is looking for a vacation and the resorts are full. Elementary schools through colleges have spring breaks, so a lot of group and family travel happens in peak season. Room prices are at their highest, and inventory is limited. Many resorts limit group perks during peak seasons since they know their rooms will already be sold out.

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Wanna know our favorite time for a wedding?

Memorial weekend

Because this is a US holiday, resort rates are not often affected by this long weekend.

October

Low resort occupancy and rates makes this a great option

December

Guests will be booked and paid in full 3-4 months before travel, so they just need to pack and enjoy! Weather is usually spectacular during this time of year. And, guests will have a sun-kissed glow for the holidays. Holiday rates won't start until the week before Christmas, so early December is perfect.

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Day of the week

Let's think outside the box a bit here. We are so accustomed to the typical Saturday wedding that the perks of the other six days of the week often get overlooked. Don't be so quick to discard them, though!

There is always a high demand for Saturday weddings. Instead of fighting the crowd, go around them. Resorts are packed with travelers over the weekends. Restaurants will be busier, available pool chairs will be fewer, and you'll have more onlookers around. Many resorts now will limit your group benefits or raise their package prices if you choose a Saturday or a weekend wedding date. Consider a Friday or Sunday, or even a Thursday or a Monday. You'll likely have more venue options available to you.

Guests are going to need a minimum of 2-3 days off work no matter what. Sundays are generally the most expensive day to fly home. Why not have your wedding on a Sunday, and help guests get a lower priced flight? We understand wanting to be respectful of guests' time, but what if they can get an extra night of vacation for the same price or lower? There are definitely some perks to this!

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Special dates

07/07/07. 10/10/10. 2/22/22.
We all know these dates. And that's the problem. Everyone wants one, but there are not enough to go around. If you have your heart set on a special date like this, be prepared to book a full 2 years in advance to even get a chance of confirming it.