We have put together this list because we've realized that in the beginning stages of destination wedding planning, most of our brides and grooms have very similar questions.

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As always, We love to talk - so text, call or email us at anytime to discuss these or any other questions that you might have - this list is a continuation, so check back frequently for updates :)

What are some of the benefits of having a destination wedding versus a domestic traditional wedding?

1. Just Book It Travel can serve as your Wedding Consultant and Travel Consultant. We will walk you through every step of the process, from recommending a resort to negotiating wedding packages, to negotiating terms and setting up your room block to ensuring that the resort is held accountable for all of their commitments.

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2. Just Book It Travel will design a complementary travel website for each couple to share with guests. The site will incorporate any themes, hashtags, weekend itineraries, dress code, RSVP date, and pictures.  We will incorporate all of your preferences into a FAQ page for your guests or into the main travel page. Ask us to show you an example wedding website.

3. Just Book It Travel will keep you and your guests informed and up-to-date on any wedding updates. As people RSVP, we'll send you a tracking sheet so that you're aware of who has made their deposit and also, who has reached out, but not formally RSVP'd as of yet. 

4. Just Book It Travel will ensure that both you and your guests obtain very competitive pricing and flexible payment plans on travel arrangements. The ability to make payment plans is HUGE, because it makes travel in general affordable for you and your guests. (Payment plans are optional, you'll have other guests that prefer to pay their balances in full, and that's totally ok.)

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5. Just Book It Travel is very attentive. If there's ever anything that you can think of that we should add to our list of commitments, we are happy to explore the idea. Ultimately, we want to continue to be a market leader in concierge-level service on destination weddings and international group travel. 

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6. Just Book It Travel's dedication to brides, grooms, and their respective guests is our pride and joy. Retaining the best travel coordinator and wedding coordinator is the most essential thing that every couple planning a destination wedding should take into consideration.  Additionally, we are very proud of our Price Match Guarantee. You'll always pay less by booking with Just Book It Travel.

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7. Just Book It Travel charges a one-time non-refundable service fee for travel planning and/or wedding coordination services. This will be discussed during your free consultation. Some destination weddings that are more complex will require a larger up-front retainer.

How far in advance should I plan my wedding (venue, rooms, wedding planning etc)

Just Book It Travel recommends researching venues (resorts and their wedding locations) about 1-1,5 years prior to the wedding date or as early as you have chosen a wedding date. If you are set on a certain date, the earlier the better - Saturdays and Sundays and especially afternoon weddings are most popular and certain dates can be taken as early as 2-2,5 years in advance. If you are flexible with your dates, 1 - 1,5 years in advance will most likely work out well :)

Most hotels will allow a courtesy hold of 1-2 weeks on a wedding date. Once your desired wedding date is on hold, it is best to also reserve the room block. Due to Covid, many hotels/countries are limited to 50-60% of their room inventory - so the earlier you block the amount of rooms you're estimated to need, the better (Just Book It Travel will guide you through this process and help!).

For the actual wedding planning, we recommend gathering your ideas at any time. We highly recommend hiring a wedding planner to help start the whole process about 1-1,5 years out (for availability reasons), the actual detailed wedding planning can start around 6 months prior to the wedding. Resorts will most likely not reach out until 2-3 months prior and their response times are still delayed (due to Covid/ minimum staff) - so if you care about details, don't skip on the wedding planner.

This is a MAJOR advantage of having a destination wedding. I, Shonte, was able to invite nearly 300 people to my wedding. When you're having a destination wedding, naturally, some people may not be able to make it. But you have to accept this. Some of my friends/family were not able to make it. Since the price per guest tends to be lower with destination weddings, we knew that we could afford up to 100 guests. Before sending out formal announcements to the larger group, we allowed our closest family friends to confirm their spots first. After that, we invited cousins, friends, close coworkers, and extended family members.

At the end of the day, those that REALLY want to be there will generally make a way, especially if you make it affordable and give people Just Book It Travel's flexible payment plan options. For those that couldn't make it, we celebrated with them prior to the wedding via bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc.

We are newbies to the world of destination wedding planning. What should we NOT do or what should we be careful of?

Do. Retain a reputable squad - There are tons of travel agencies around, but not all specialize in destination weddings. And some may say that they do and don't, so be careful. Retaining an amazing travel agency is crucial and it will save you time, money, and efforts down the line. Destination Weddings are a specialty niche area of travel coordination that requires expertise, relationships, and most importantly - passion! (Not all travel agencies are created equal in this regard). 

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Do. Consider also retaining an independent wedding coordinator. This person will have the ability to start wedding planning and helping to arrange your intimate details immediately. Most resorts on-site coordinators do not proactively start wedding planning with couples until 90 days prior to the wedding. Your independent coordinator can serve as the middle man between you and the resort, get answers for you quickly, and they can be there for GAME DAY to ensure that everything that you'd planned and dreamed of for the past year or so comes to life! They will work side by side with the resort's on-site coordinators on your wedding day! :)

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Do. Set a realistic budget and ask your travel agent or wedding coordinator the question - "Realistically, how much wedding can I have on $XYZ budget?". We love Pinterest, but be careful! :) Remember, we can plan weddings on any budget! 

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Do. Be kind and be patient :) And remember that there are not many REAL emergencies when planning a destination wedding. Your wedding is not tomorrow and not next month, and with destination wedding planning - your every dream can come through as long as its in the plan at least a month prior to your wedding. So have a sip of your favorite cocktail and allow us to do the heavy lifting. We got you!

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Do. Choose your date and location before jumping to plan out the actual wedding. Deciding on a date and location is the biggest decision you'll have to make!