Today’s post is all about customized destination wedding packages at Sandals Resorts, and I’m very excited to welcome, Jennifer Docsecz, President of VIP Vacations, to share her expertise. VIP Vacations is one of our verified vendor guide members, and the recipient of over 200 awards, including Top Selling Agency for Sandals Resorts 3 years in a row! Jennifer is here to break down all the reasons why you should consider having a destination wedding at Sandals Resorts.
10 Reasons to Have a Destination Wedding at Sandals Resorts!
(Written by Jennifer Docsecz)
Ah, sweet, sweet engaged bliss! You’ve got that sparkling ring on your finger, the person of your dreams by your side, and you’re already daydreaming about your tropical nuptials surrounded by your closest friends and family. What else do you need? Well, since you asked (or even if you didn’t), the first thing you’re going to need is a destination wedding package customized just for you! With a myriad of destinations, hotels, and all-inclusive resorts to choose from, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. And that’s where Sandals comes in!
If you’re unfamiliar with Sandals, here’s a brief run-down: Sandals is a 5-Star, adults-only, luxury, all-inclusive beach resort brand located throughout the Caribbean. With a portfolio of 15 resorts on 6 islands, each property has its own style and atmosphere to experience without sacrificing the great service and delicious food that Sandals is known for.
As someone whose ten-person travel agency does over 100 weddings & group trips each year, I can tell you firsthand that Sandals knows how to do weddings. Whether you want to have a small elopement or you’re inviting more family than you knew you had, Sandals Resorts and their amazing wedding team has got you covered!
Don’t believe me? Here are 10 reasons Sandals destination wedding packages are great options!
1. You can get a FREE destination wedding package!
Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! If you stay 3 nights or more at a Sandals resort, they will give you a wedding for free! Their free destination wedding packages include: one of their free ceremony locations, a bouquet for the bride & boutonniere for the groom, complimentary two-tiered wedding cake, a cocktail reception, and more! The Free Wedding is a great place to start for all wedding couples, whether you are looking for a simple, easy affair or a big blow out event.
2. Staying Longer? You’ll get even more!
For any couple making a longer trip out of their destination wedding (or as Sandals Resorts like to call them, their “WeddingMoon”) by staying 7 or more nights, you’ll get even more free perks! These perks can help cover the costs of your wedding license (which varies per island), offset the cost of that room upgrade you wanted (go for the Butler Service – you won’t regret it!), and even pay towards a romantic candlelight dinner with your new spouse.
3. Location, Location, Location!
As one of the top resort brands in the Caribbean, you can be sure that each of Sandals’ 15 resorts is located in beautiful destinations on stunning beaches with unique wedding venues! It’s hard enough deciding which of the 6 islands you want to get married in (Sandals has resorts in Antigua, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia), but now you have to decide: Do you want to have a barefoot, beachfront ceremony? What about vows exchanged in a one-of-a-kind Over the Water Chapel? Is a tropical garden more your style? Or do you want to wear your favorite pair of Jimmy Choo’s and get married on a rooftop sky terrace overlooking the ocean? The options are (almost) endless!
4. Affordable Food & Beverage Options
Planning a wedding at home can easily cost a couple $80, $100, or even $200 per head just on food & beverage alone. Thinking about those costs is enough to make anyone want to elope! But at Sandals, you can have a full reception dinner for as little as $14 per person – and that includes alcohol! Plus, Sandals has a variety of menu options to choose from! So if you want to have an Italian themed Welcome Dinner, a more traditional four-course Reception Dinner, and then a Post-Wedding Brunch (mimosas included!), you can and you won’t have to worry about robbing a bank after.
5. Group Perks that Can’t be Beat
Bringing down the friends & family? Sandals has you covered! By booking a group with Sandals, you’ll get even MORE perks (as if all the freebies you’re getting already aren’t enough)! Sandals group perks are based on how many rooms you bring down with you, and the more rooms that book into your block, the more you receive! Their group perks range from a free Sangria Bar to a free Welcome Cocktail Party to a free Reception Dinner or even a free room upgrade.
Unsure about where to start getting information for bringing a group down for your wedding? I recommend reaching out to an experienced Destination Wedding Travel Agency like VIP Vacations! A good travel agency will be able to help you figure out which Sandals resort is best for you, as well as work with your guests to book their travel. That way, you are off the hook and won’t need to explain to Aunt Mary for the fifth time which hotel she should book at – let your travel agent do that!
6. Easy-to-Navigate Wedding Planning Tools
As any bride/groom knows, one of the skill sets you develop while planning your wedding is patience. You are constantly waiting to hear back from someone – your florist, the reception venue, your second cousin’s new girlfriend. Sandals Resorts is one of the only hotel brands I know of where they have pricing clearly listed online for floral & décor items. What does this mean for brides? It means that you don’t need to wait 2-3 business days to find out how much that centerpiece, bouquet, or plate charger costs. Complete game changer! With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can have your wedding planned and don’t need to hear back from anyone! (Except maybe your second cousin’s new girlfriend – someone teach that girl how to mail back an RSVP!)
7. Experienced Wedding Planners
Whether you’re the type of bride who wants to have everything planned out 6 months from your big day or if you’re more comfortable planning a little bit here and a little bit there, Sandals is here to support you with their experienced (and free!) wedding planners! Whether you work best by email, phone, or even video chat, Sandals has you covered! Your Sandals Wedding Planner knows all the ins and outs of planning a wedding at one of their resorts and will make sure that nothing is forgotten for your big day!
8. Virtual Wedding Planning Sessions
Are you someone who needs to see something before you can make a decision? Aren’t sure how the Wood Grain Charger plants will look with the Ivory Lace Table Runner? No worries – Sandals can help with that! With their Virtual Wedding Planning Sessions, you’ll be able to video chat with your wedding planner while they show you what your ceremony & reception décor will look like. And if something doesn’t look right or you really like that geometric candle holder you spot on the shelf? Your wedding planner can adjust the design in real-time with you! As someone who has been working with Sandals couples for over 20 years, there are only two words that properly describe this feature: LIFE CHANGING.
9. Give them a Test Drive!
Still not sure Sandals is the right fit for you? Test it out! With Sandals’ Test Drive Your Weddingmoon program, you can stay for up to 3 nights at one of their resorts for as low as $250 per couple per night! During your stay you’ll get to experience first-hand the amenities Sandals has to offer, as well as meet with the on-site wedding team to tour the resort, view the ceremony locations, go over catering menus & décor options, and answer any questions you might have. Then after you’ve booked your Sandals destination wedding package, you can enjoy up to $1050 in credit to use towards the cost of your wedding. (Another free perk? Yes indeed!).
10. Destination Wedding Packages are Customized to fit YOU
Even though Sandals offers all these amazing perks, they don’t mean anything if your big day doesn’t reflect you and the love you and your fiancé have for each other. That’s why at Sandals Resorts, you won’t be pigeon-holed into picking from pre-set destination wedding packages that don’t fit your vibe. Your experience will be tailored to fit what you are looking for, so no two weddings are alike. Whether you and your guests want to have a weekend filled with cocktails, catamaran cruises, and Caribbean calypso bands or a more laid back weekend of relaxing on the beach, rum runners, and romance (or something in between), Sandals is here to customize your wedding experience to fit YOU.
A Gorgeous Sunset Beach Wedding in Roatan Bay Island
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