What can anyone tell me about their experiences with wedding coordinators when planning a destination wedding at a resort. I'm not having much luck with my coordinator in Cuba, it's basically "we'll see when you get here". Any information would be appreciated.
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edited by TWQadmin on Feb 22, 2006, 7:40 PM)
Whenever possible, it is wise to make at least one visit to a wedding destination site before actually settling on it, or work closely with a travel agent for recommendations. What you are experiencing, unfortunately, does happen occasionally when working with some, although not all, destination wedding coordinators/planners.
If you can't visit the venue before hand, or don't have a travel agent, then the best recommendation I have is to try and arrive one week in advance to ensure everything you are planning long distance is in place. But let me say that if you wait until you get to the place right before your wedding, in my opinion, that is taking a huge risk.
Another alternative is to check with other destinations sites and find someone else who is more helpful.
I'm not sure what kind of destination wedding you are talking about but it certainly doesn't sound like our plans. I can't imagine anyone going to Cuba ahead of time and then later returning a week before the wedding to make sure everything goes well. This is not a high maintenance, high head count wedding. It's low-key and was supposed to be made easier by planning with just a few e-mails between the coordinator and myself. At least the research I did before starting these plans indicated that's how it was supposed to work. Are there any brides out there who can help me who were married in Cuba or the Dominican Republic? Thankyou for your advice, maybe it will help someone else searching this website.
I feel that I must clarify that it was not stated that you had to make one visit before the wedding and arrive one week early. I said that it is wise to make at least one trip to the venue site before you actually decide to use it, and if you could not do that, or can't use a travel agent to help you, then my recommendation would be to try to arrive at least one week before the wedding to ensure your wedding plans are as desired. When you are planning a destination wedding, there may be extra steps necessary to ensure you have the wedding envisioned.
As a professional wedding planner, I put together destination weddings on a regular basis, and when it comes to them, their success doesn't lie in whether the wedding is 'large' or 'low key'. It lies in the communication about the wedding between all parties involved. If there is a break in the communication, or lack of interest/see you when you get here type of thing, then there could quite easily be a problem. Hence, my recommendation to work closely with a travel agent, etc.
I'm sure you will find great support and wonderful stories of others who have not had a problem with their destination weddings. However, given what you have said here, consider talking with one of the professionals that I mentioned in your area who has experience in resolving the dynamic challenges associated with destination weddings.
Thankyou again for your response. In your experience, do the people planning their wedding get to speak with the wedding coordinator at the resort beforehand to see what the coordinator's response is like? Because I haven't found that to be the case in our situation after having visited several travel agents. It doesn't seem to be until after you've booked your "vacation" that you are given contact information in order to work things out with the resort. As for arriving a week ahead of time, I guess that depends on the time and money available - not just a commodity to most people. Thankyou for your help.
FYI - please do not ask other brides for advice since we do not allow brides to respond on this forum. This is a forum for expert advice, not a bridal chat forum. Thanks! Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
It depends on the destination location. Some will gladly talk with you to discuss the possibilities of your destination wedding with no commitment. Others want you to secure a date first.
Destination Wedding Coordinator
