Some key considerations to help you narrow down the when and where for your destination wedding:
 
Will children be invited? This a BIG question as some people won’t want to travel without their children, but others will enjoy the vibe that an adults-only property can bring. Some, hotels offer two spaces, one that is adults only and one that is for families, giving you the best of both worlds. But knowing whether or not you want children present helps your travel agent focus on the right property for you.
 
Budget?
This pertains both to your wedding costs as well as the overall cost of travel for your guests. Knowing what the family members who you really want at your wedding can afford is something to consider. There is a property for every price range, but the important thing is to find the best property for you first, and then your travel agent can negotiate the best rates and perks.
 
Number of people?
Most properties can handle weddings as small as 2 people to more than 200. It really just depends on what you are wanting. That said, there are fewer properties that can handle really large groups, so knowing size in advance is key.
 
Type of bride
A destination wedding can be difficult for brides who have a difficult time visualizing space or who want to be involved and control everything. However, a few hotels have developed ways to help even the pickiest of brides be more hands on, even from far away. One property will even let you visit for a weekend and set everything up for you so that you can see exactly how the smallest details will look on your special day.
 
With some properties, working long distance, and sometimes with a bit of a language barrier, can be trying. I work as your advocate with the property, making sure your big day is exactly what you dreamed. I also handle logistics such as flights, transfers and group dining taking those details off of your plate so that you can focus on the wedding details.
 
Time of year
Weather is always a concern with a destination wedding, so being aware of hurricane season and how that impacts your choice of destinations is key. If you do want to get married during hurricane season, a cruise ship wedding may be a great option.

​Catholic wedding ceremony  
If your heart is set on a church wedding, or specifically a catholic ceremony, there are definitely properties that can make this dream come true. The El Dorado Miroma and the Hard Rock Riveria Maya both have churches just for this purpose.  

Is a cruise ship wedding for you?
The beauty of a cruise ship wedding is that it really does give you many, many options for venues, budgets and styles. For instance, you can get married before the ship departs in a US port, simplifying marriage licenses, you can get married on the ship during a day at sea, or you can get married off ship at many of the ports of call. Check out my pinterest board for fun cruise ship wedding ideas.
 
The biggest recommendation I can make is to have an advocate, such as your travel agent, who has relationships with the properties and vendors and who can work on your behalf to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Agents can secure group flights and hotels, often with just a deposit and final payment a few months before the fun event, which gives your travelers time to plan and save. I also like to be onsite to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

Also, check out my 10 Tips to have a Destination wedding. 
 
If you’re thinking about a destination wedding, let’s talk. Email kim@hotpinktravel.com, or text 916.692.9550.

Last year about this time, I was taking two high school young ladies to Nicaragua. Our mission was to see a bit of the country and participate in a week of sea turtle rescue with SOSNicaragua.
 
We spent seven days in a remote part of the country called Padre Ramos Estuary, a few hours north of Leon.
We learned about the critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle, and this new population they discovered living in this mangrove estuary.  We weren’t alone, as the group included about 14 travelers, a biologist from Fremont, a young family from Berkeley, a turtle-lover from Hawaii. The young man, the organization’s CEO, who lived in humble circumstances to try to save this sea turtle, humbled me.
 
We were able to release little sea-turtle hatchlings into the ocean, surf down the side of an active volcano, eat street food, and basically enjoy a country that was poor and struggling, but peaceful and kind.

Today my friends in Nicaragua who I follow on Facebook are showing photos of people being killed in the streets of Leon and Granada by government soldiers who work under the directive of President Daniel Ortega. The citizens are mostly college students who are peacefully protesting Ortega’s efforts to increase taxes. One was a baby. The government is shooting young people who are peacefully protesting.
 

All of this reminds me of the fragility of peace. Today, instead of taking US students to learn about sea turtles and witness the work that a handful of humble biologists are doing to protect them, we have to wait until things calm down. Could be months, or maybe years. The organization relies on tourism to fund its future activities. Tourism helps them to buy things that make recovering and protecting the nests easier.  I worry about whether this will impact their efforts. I worry about their safety and I watch my Facebook feed with a sad heart.
 
Today, more than ever, I encourage all of you to travel and experience a different culture. Granted, go someplace without so much conflict, but meet other people. See how they live. Understand their country and lives so that when things like this occur, it’s not just a blip on the news, it’s something that we can view and respond to with context.  And pray for peace. Do whatever you can to ensure our world is safer in whatever small way you can.