Villa Rentals - The New Destination Wedding Option

Heard the horror stories of drunk tourists crashing the wedding reception? What about the topless sunbather in the wedding photos or the couple that had their wedding reception amidst two other wedding parties in the same restaurant at the resort? The internet is full of brides and grooms with similar complaints about their destination wedding gone bad. Perhaps the more important question is how many sleepless nights have you had worrying that this could just as easily happen to you?

Your wedding day is too important to leave to chance! The resort wedding coordinators are excellent at handling the on-site details, but too often, the wedding ceremony and reception are all "cookie cutter" replicas of one another. To help create the unique wedding of your dreams, perhaps it is time to consider some different alternatives for your destination wedding, such as renting a luxury villa.

Rental villas are scattered through the world, with numerous options being available in the Caribbean. With as many as nine or ten bedrooms, villas can provide accomdations for up to 24 people. In many cases, some of the same amenities found in the upscale resorts are included in the villa price, such as tennis courts, games rooms, private bars, and a full-service staff to look after all of your needs. However, villas also offer the added bonus of a private pool, and in some cases, a secluded beach for your own personal pleasure. A number of villas also have an on-site chef that will look after all of your culinary needs during your stay for either a "per person per day" rate or for the cost of groceries. Whether you use the villa itself for your wedding, or an alternate location nearby, villas often provide the perfect PRIVATE setting that most couples are looking for.

Villas are perfect for small wedding parties of less than 20 guests, but what if your wedding group is a little larger, like 30 - 50 people? Alan at sunvillas.com was able to offer the perfect solution by suggesting a few neighbouring villas in the beautiful Montego Bay area. He was also able to recommend which villa was best to accommodate the couple's wedding, along with vendors that have been used in the past by other couples who married there. Using neighbouring villas allows everyone to stay in the same proximity of each other, but provides the opportunity for families to stay together, or maybe even accommodate wedding guests with different financial budgets.

Villas provide an intimate and romantic option not always available at some of the larger Caribbean resorts. They provide more versatility, allowing you to have the wedding you've always wanted. You won't be tied to the ceremony guidelines that the big resort set, and will be able to choose the vendors that will work best for you. Let your destination wedding specialist get started now in helping you find the perfect location for your special day and in making your wedding a dream come true!

For more information about villas rentals as a possible destination wedding location or travel destination, please contact us at www.creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

Cruising: A Destination Wedding Alternative!

Mayan Riviera? Jamaica? Dominican Republic? All of these are popular choices when newly engaged couples start planning a destination wedding, but what if you want to do something a little different? Or maybe you want to experience the Caribbean, but simply can’t decide on one location? Planning a cruise could be exactly the alternative you’re looking for.

Picture yourself for a moment, standing with the love of your life on the deck of a luxurious cruise ship. With a spectacular view of the harbour in the background, the two of you stand with your hands clasped together as you gaze into each other’s eyes and declare your love and commitment to each other. Close friends and family stand nearby to share this special moment with the two you. What could be more romantic?

Contrary to popular belief, most cruise ship weddings take place in port, either on the ship or at a separate nearby location. Princess Cruises is the exception, with their ships’ captains being able to marry couples in international waters while the ship is at sea. All other cruise lines are restricted to port weddings while the ship is docked. There are countless location options available to couples wanting to wed. They have to follow the legal requirements of the territory, but weddings can be arranged on board the ship, at breathtaking beaches, historical sites in town, or even at a white-washed chapel on one of the cruise line’s private islands. The options are endless. New ships launched by Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, and Carnival even feature dedicated wedding chapels, located on the top deck of their ships to allow sunlight to stream in during the day. Princess has taken the extra step of adding webcams in their chapels so that family and friends who were unable to attend can still tune for the ceremony using their home computer.

There are a number of advantages to making the decision to cruise. First of all, it’s the original all-inclusive vacation, with accommodation, gourmet meals, and a variety of entertainment and activities all part of the price. Especially when booked early, cruising offers great value to potential consumers, especially when compared to land only vacations.

Another big incentive for travellers is that cruises allow them to visit and explore various ports of call. With numerous stops during their vacation, cruisers can actually get a taste for an area with a variety of routes offered by the various cruise lines. While the most popular destinations are in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Alaska follow closely behind as other popular cruise destinations.

Perhaps one of the best advantages to cruising is the service that guests receive while on board. Whether it is the wait staff, the bartenders, or the cabin stewards, the cruise ship staff is there solely to cater to your needs and make your entire experience on board an enjoyable one. You truly feel pampered while on board!

When planning a destination wedding, it is important to note that most cruise lines outsource their wedding planning to an outside agency. Make sure you know which company they are going to use, or find a destination wedding specialist who can look after the details for you. One couple I worked with saved themselves over $3,000.00 by looking after the details themselves instead of going through the cruise lines to book their wedding. This left them with extra money they were able to use to upgrade their ceremony, extend their vacation, and take advantage of some of the spa treatments on board the ship.

For more information, contact us at Creative Weddings and Occasions to check out if a cruise ship destination wedding is right for you!