The Made in SK Wedding Show

 In this episode we talk about some tips that might help you out if you’re planning a destination wedding at a sunny resort.  Most of the tips pertain to our experiences in the Mayan Riviera area of Mexico.

 Here’s our show notes:

• We went in April 2008 to a destination wedding in the Mayan Riviera.
• Choose your resort based on the destination you want, but keep in mind the price point that the guests you want to attend will be able to afford
• Be sure to get your invitations out well in advance so people have time to save
• Work with your travel agent to get all the resort details to include in the invites
• Have people make their arrangements through the travel agent – they can alert you as to who is coming.  Keep tabs yourself as well to make sure both lists seem to jive.
• Spread your extra wedding luggage throughout your family/friends/wedding party so you can get it all on the flight without paying extra
• You have to be in Mexico for a certain number of days before you can be married, so take that into account and let your guests know in advance if you have to move the date.
• You’ll probably have to get blood work done to prove you aren’t related, so be prepared for that.
• If people are staying at other resorts make sure you can reserve guest passes for them at your resort.
• Make sure to use your sunscreen and recommend that to your wedding party as well so no one is a lobster for pictures (or peeling)
• Wear sensible shoes – heels and sand don’t mix
• Find out if you can get staff to maintain a perimeter around your wedding so you don’t have random guests of the resort in your pictures or interfering with your ceremony
• Check with the spa and get prices to see if you can get your hair and makeup done there or if you have to do it yourself.
• It tends to be windy on the beach, so if the guys are wearing ties make sure they have tie tacks, pins, or something to keep them from blowing around.
• If you’re wearing a strapless dress and don’t want tan lines, wear a strapless bathing suit in the days before the wedding.
• Consider taking something along to give to your guests as a memento or wedding favour such as a photo album or beach themed item.
• Make sure all your guests know where on the resort your wedding is taking place and have someone available to let them know about the location of the reception.
• Find out what your options are if the weather doesn’t cooperate.  Can you move it to another day or do you have to move it inside?

Links mentioned in this video:

“Beach Memories” Guest Photo Album Favors

Extreme Weddings – Mount Haleakala

Skydiving Wedding, In Vegas

Underwater Weddings – Island Preacha in Nassau, Bahamas

Destination Theme Weddings - Hotel de Glace

Update: Hotel de Glace Wedding Video & Pictures

Here’s the Cole’s notes from the video:

Our experience with our friend’s wedding:

• Destination wedding was great because it got a bunch of friends together for a week long holiday and celebration
• Turns the wedding into a week long event where no one has to worry about working
• Ceremony on the beach was beautiful
• Pictures could be held close on the beach
• Resort made a lounge available exclusively for wedding guests between ceremony and reception
• Gets everyone an extra a la carte meal during the week, which was a nice change from the buffet (although we missed the beach bbq, but that wasn’t an issue for anyone).
• The couple stayed for an extra week, which we would recommend for sure because they spent the first week visiting with everyone and trying to get everything in place for the wedding.