Even on an island like Anguilla, where it hardly ever rains, you’ve got to have a Plan B
Jay Johnson, president of Coastline Travel Advisors, the crackerjack agency we recommend to all of our Destination: W visitors, probably understands more about the logistics of planning a destination wedding than any guy we know. So we got him to share the five questions you must ask any hotel you’re interviewing.
1. What’s the Plan B?
We always see those photos of brides and grooms staring into one each others eyes, sand under their toes, a stunning Caribbean sunset in the background. And while everyone loves the idea of embracing the natural beauty of your destination, keep in mind that not even the most perfectly run hotel can control the elements. While your travel agent can estimate the best times of year to travel to particular destinations, Mother Nature can be finicky. Check with the hotel to see what the backup plan is should you need to move things around last minute.
2. How private will the ceremony be?
It sounds like a no-brainer, but confirm that your party will be held in an exclusive area of the hotel, or if the staff can restrict access while the wedding is in session. If the ceremony is held in a hotel’s courtyard, you probably don’t want other vacationers strolling through in their flip flops and beach towels. Many unsuspecting bride and grooms have been surprised by these unwanted guests. Avoid the situation by asking up front.
3. Is there a wedding coordinator on property?
A specifically designated coordinator can work with you directly or collaborate with your own personal wedding planner to ensure everything on-site runs smoothly. That includes making sure welcome bags are distributed, coordinating with all your vendors, and seeing that a golf carts delivers you to the ceremony site on time. You can tell a hotel property is truly dedicated to weddings when they have a professional hired to help you. Just check first to see if there is a fee.
4. Will you and your guests get a preferred rate?
Don’t be shy; group bookings are great business for a hotel, so ask if you’ll receive a discounted rate. In addition, you may be given a complimentary room if you book a certain number of accommodations.
5. Will there be other weddings on property that day?
Hotels and resorts host weddings constantly, so confirm that your celebration isn’t sandwiched between two others; you don’t want to be standing in line behind another wedding party, tapping your toes as you wait your turn. An equally effective mood killer is being ushered out of your venue so the next party can get in. Make sure the hotel guarantees there won’t be another wedding booked on the same day as yours, or that they will be well spaced far apart, in both time and distance.
Destination wedding specialist Jay Johnson, president of Coastline Travel Advisors
