Weddings in Dominican Republic: Your Planning Guide

Weddings in Dominican Republic: Your Planning Guide

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The Cook Islands Destination Wedding Planning Guide

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Located in the balmy South Pacific between Fiji and French Polynesia, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more exotic destination wedding location than the Cook Islands. This set of 15 tiny islands and atolls are about as relaxed as tropical islands come. There are no chain restaurants, no stoplights and no buildings taller than a palm tree in the entire country. Interestingly, Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens — a result of the country’s free association with its neighbour to the south — so everyone speaks English, making remote wedding planning quite simple.

Here we’ll give you all the facts you need to know about destination weddings in the Cook Islands, from the laws and customs to the best time to plan a wedding and the costs involved with doing so.

The best time to go: The Cook Islands are blessed with lovely weather year-round but high season occurs during the North American summer months when winter hits Australia and New Zealand so, conveniently, the best time to plan a destination wedding in the Cook Islands is in March when there are less travellers from the southern hemisphere and hotel rates are considerably lower. 

The flight: Air New Zealand currently offers one direct flight per week from Los Angeles to the capital city of Rarotonga (roughly a ten-hour journey), which departs each Sunday evening. Return flights on Air New Zealand from Rarotonga to Los Angeles depart each Saturday evening.

The legal paperwork: Plan to arrive in the Cook Islands at least three days before your wedding ceremony to obtain a marriage license from the Ministry of Justice. You will both need to present your passports and birth certificates and fill out a form declaring your intention to marry. You’ll be required to pay a fee of $45 and have your officiant sign your form then wait up to three business days for the Ministry of Justice to issue your marriage license. If one of you is divorced, legal proof of that divorce will be required. If one of you is a widow or widower, a death certificate for the previous spouse needs to be produced. If time is tight ask your wedding coordinator to apply on your behalf before you arrive.

The local customs: For a religious ceremony choose one of the Cook Islands’ famous coral and limestone churches or marry on the beach surrounded by tropical blooms. If taffeta and lace aren’t your style opt for a handmade wedding dress from Tav’s, a traditional Cook Islands clothing store in Rarotonga where beach-ready apparel is designed, hand-dyed and hand-painted onsite. After your wedding ceremony in the Cook Islands you’ll be offered the opportunity to plant a baby coconut palm, or uto, to seal your vows. The coconut palm is considered the “tree of life” in the South Pacific and it is used for everything from food to building materials. Many couples choose to return to the Cooks on their wedding anniversaries to reflect on their love and check up on their commemorative palms.

The budget and venue: Your wedding in the Cooks can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. For roughly $1,700 CDN you can celebrate your nuptials at the intimate Little Polynesian Resort, Weddingbells top pick for a luxurious stay in Rarotonga. This price includes your officiant, transport and assistance with your marriage license application, a ceremony spot on the beach decorated with tropical flowers, a personal wedding planner, champagne, a decorative archway and photography. Additional fees apply for a catered reception. If ultra remote “I dos” are more your speed consider a wedding package with Bishop’s Cruises off Rarotonga’s sister island, Aitutaki. This family-run cruise company will transport you and your betrothed to picture-perfect One Foot Island where you can say your vows on the sand in seclusion. For roughly $3,500 CDN you’ll get boat transfers to the island, an officiant, your marriage license, flowers, a local string band, champagne, local flower girls, a tropical archway, photography and a personal wedding planner to make sure your celebration is just as you had envisioned.

Cook Islands Honeymoon Guide

View more from our Cook Islands Honeymoon Guide ›

 

Beach Wedding Ideas: Draw Inspiration From These Seaside Celebrations

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Photography courtesy of Joee Wong

Have you always imagined yourself marrying barefoot in the sand at an intimate beach wedding? Then you’ll definitely have a lot in common with these couples who chose seaside destination weddings over more traditional celebrations at home. With the cold weather upon us, there could be no better time to look back at some of the lovely seaside celebrations we’ve featured over the past year. These couples prove that beach weddings can take on many forms and absolutely do not need to be cookie-cutter. Each of these couples incorporated their own signature styles into their weddings and also managed to pay homage to their chosen locales with the incorporation of local traditions, music and favours.

A Posh Beach Wedding in Spain (real wedding)
A traditional ceremony wasn’t Kelly and William’s style, and neither was a typical location. “We wanted to be by the sea,” Kelly explains, “but somewhere like the Dominican Republic just wasn’t for us.” After much research, they decided on a destination wedding in Spain. Marbella to be exact. “We were looking for a place with a prominent local culture and different food and music. In the end, Spain completely won us over.”

A Stunning Beach Wedding In Mexico (real wedding)
With a chic purple colour palette and a fun details like maraca favours, which paid homage to their destination of choice, Melissa and Tom’s marriage celebration in Mexico was anything but ordinary.

A Pretty Beach Wedding In Jamaica (real wedding)
To ensure their 35 guests had an authentic Jamaican experience at their celebration Erin and Matthew hired a local mento band. “The band was great,” explains Matthew. “Reggae music is timeless. The older people enjoyed sitting around and watching them play and the younger people got up and danced. Everyone knows Bob Marley songs so the whole crowd could enjoy the music.”

A Lovely Beach Wedding In Cyprus (real wedding)
Agnes and Richard, who met while on spring break in Cancun back in 2005, chose to have their wedding in a place that has been referred to as “the Cancun of Europe” — Ayia Napa, Cyprus. They both agree that the best part of their celebration was that they got to spend an entire week relaxing with their 50 wedding guests before and after the big day.

A Refined Beach Wedding In Costa Rica (real wedding)
After getting engaged on a trip to Mexico, it came as no surprise when adventurers Jennifer and Josh decided to return to paradise for their wedding. With just 26 guests in tow, the pair exchanged vows in Costa Rica, surrounded by rugged beach and billowing palm trees. “Our goal was to allow the natural beauty of Costa Rica and our love serve as the décor,” says Jennifer.

A Beach Wedding in Hawaii (real wedding)
Wendy and Phil soaked up the sun during their breathtaking Hawaiian destination wedding. The couple incorporated several traditions native to the islands into their celebration, including a conch blower that announced the bride and a lei exchange between the bride and groom’s families.

Destination Wedding Logistics: The Nitty-Gritty Details of Marrying Abroad

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Photo courtesy iStockphoto.

Planning a destination wedding in Cuba, France, or even Kenya? Before you and your guests enjoy the wonders of the world, there are administrative details and restrictions to look into. Here are a few pointers to consider before saying “I do” at your dream destination.

1. How long do I have to wait to get married when I arrive?

Certain countries require couples to spend a designated number of days in that country before getting married. Rules differ from country to country so make sure to thoroughly research your chosen destination.

  •  Las Vegas, Jamaica, Caymen Islands, St. Lucia, Costa Rica or Dominican Republic: You may get married upon arrival.
  • China: At least one spouse must reside in the country.
  • Cuba: You must be on the island for at least 72 hours.
  • France: At least once member of the couple must be in the the country for 40 days.
  • Mexico: You both must be in the country for at least four business days, plus take a blood test upon arrival.
  • St. Maarten: You both must be in the country for at least ten days. Divorced women may not marry until 306 days have passed since getting their divorce finalized.

If you don’t want to wait days or weeks, you can perform a symbolic destination wedding. You can legally marry in Canada and have a ceremony in the exotic locale of your choice to avoid the hassle.

2. When should I book my destination wedding?

In some destinations, you must sign appropriate legal papers before getting married. For example, if you want to get married in Australia, you must get a notice of Intended Marriage form from the Australian embassy or consulate and it must be signed by an Australian Consular Official or an Australian Diplomatic Officer, and filed with your officiant a minimum of one month before your wedding. Typically, you should book your destination wedding a year ahead of your desired ceremony date. This gives you, your guests and the staff at your venue of choice ample time to get organized.

3. How do I figure out marriage contracts and what papers to bring?

Marriage laws differ all over the world but countries that allow you to marry upon arrival will likely require the least amount of paperwork. That said, be mindful of the fine print. Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic require translation of legal documents into Spanish, which can be a hassle. If you want to wed in Cuba and you haven’t been married before, you need your birth certificate, passport and a tourist card (which you can get through your travel agent of airline). If you were divorced, you must also produce a divorce certificate. If widowed, you must produce a Certificate of Marriage and a Certificate of Spouse’s Death.

Before you go, make sure to check with your chosen destination’s tourism board to see if any paperwork requirements have changed. Make inquiries about marriage laws with your travel agent before you book and get friendly with your venue’s onsite wedding coordinator to make sure all of the annoying details have been handled well ahead of time so your wedding abroad is completely stress-free.

Weddings in Costa Rica: Your Planning Guide

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Photo courtesy Alma del Pacifico

There are few places more beautiful than Costa Rica with its endless miles of flawless beaches fringed by mountains and tropical rainforests. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that destination weddings in Costa Rica are becoming a popular trend among Canadian couples looking to escape the cold. Costa Rica is home to numerous small resorts perfect for intimate wedding celebrations and English is widely spoken, making remote wedding planning a breeze. Weddings in Costa Rica can also be quite cost-effective (roughly $5,000 compared to the $30,000+ you could end up spending at home), providing you and your hubby-to-be are the type of couple who prefer a laidback celebration on the sand to an elaborate affair for 300.

Here we’ll give you all the facts you need to know about destination weddings in Costa Rica, from the laws and customs to the best time to plan a wedding and the costs involved with doing so.

The best time to go: For the best weather and prices, book your wedding in April or May. This is the beginning of low season so hotel rates and flight costs will drop significantly but you’ll still have the benefit of great weather for all of those sunset wedding photos on the beach.

The flight: The capital city of San Jose is roughly six hours from Toronto and Montreal and about nine hours from Vancouver and Calgary.

The legal paperwork: Getting married in Costa Rica is relatively straightforward. Prior to your ceremony, you and your betrothed will need to visit a notary and present your passports and a certificate of marital status. Two witnesses will also need to be on hand to confirm that you are both single and legally able to marry. A wedding information questionnaire must also be completed prior to the ceremony. You do not need to apply for a marriage license from your home country or in Costa Rica before your ceremony, none of your documentation needs to be translated into Spanish and it is not necessary to visit or reside in Costa Rica for any period of time before getting married — you can get married the same day you arrive if you wish.

The local customs: A popular wedding custom in Costa Rica is the incorporation of “las arras” — an old Spanish tradition, which involves the exchange of the thirteen coins. The coins are presented to the bride by the groom (he can either give them to her one by one or pour them through her hands) and represent the groom’s promise to provide for his new wife and her family.

The budget (for 50 guests): $5000 is a good starting budget and would cover your venue, drinks, dinner for 50 guests, music, the officiant, flowers and a cake.

The venue: Our pick for a fabulous beachfront location just two hours from San Jose is Alma del Pacifico (pictured above). This luxurious resort on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is just a short drive from the one of the country’s top attractions, Manuel Antonio National Park, and boasts 20 spacious rooms, each with a large private terrace with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean or Alma’s lush tropical gardens. Several of the rooms also feature private plunge pools on the terrace perfect for stargazing. Choose to host your wedding on the beach at Alma del Pacifico and you and your guests can have full reign of the resort including its seaside spa, thatched-roof beach bar and open-air restaurant with sweeping views of the ocean. An added bonus? The hotel will comp your wedding night as a thank-you gift!

 

Destination Wedding Planning: 4 Things to Consider Before You Book

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If you’re recently engaged you’re likely in the throes of deciding exactly what kind of celebration you want and where. Destination weddings are one of the fastest growing types of celebrations and they can be especially intimate, memorable and cost-effective (yes really!), but they also require a lot of research beforehand. Before you say ‘I do’ to a sunset destination wedding in Jamaica or foodie-centric soiree in Italy we encourage you to do some serious thinking.

Remember: You’re planning a party away from home — this could be either be a blessing or a curse, depending on the type of bride you are. If you are a micro-manager or want to have a lot of DIY elements included in your celebration this likely is not the type of wedding for you. If, however, you are a little less wrapped up in the all the details, you will likely find dealing with a good long-distance planning team a dream because they will literally look after everything for you. With so many amazing properties now offering offering destination wedding packages, there are no shortage of venues to choose from. And the best part? You won’t be in competition with all of the other recently-engaged couples in Canada vying for the coveted summer weekend bookings!

Read on to see what we think are the four most important things to consider before planning a destination wedding.

A DIY Project For Your Destination Wedding

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Planning a wedding getaway in a tropical location? Wedding craft guru and stationery designer Debra Norton from Vintage Paper Parade dreamed up the perfect DIY project for your destination wedding. These personalized fans made using craft supplies and vintage maps are a fun project you can put together and pack for your big day in the sun. And the best part? There are only five simple steps to creating them! You can source vintage maps from Goodwill or Etsy and Michaels is a good source for the ribbon and paper punch you’ll need for this DIY destination wedding project. On the big day hand these pretty handmade items out at your ceremony to keep your guests cool while you say your “I dos” or use them as favours on your reception tables. Either way your guests are sure to adore these handy travel-themed gifts.

Destination Wedding Must-Haves

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Planning a destination wedding? Consider your location when choosing your attire, accents, theme and colour. Not sure where to start? Take a look at these 10 ideas to inspire your planning and get you ready for your wedding away from home.

A New Destination Wedding Tool To Help You Plan The Perfect Getaway

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An innovative new program from Sandals is allowing brides to completely customize their destination weddings online.

Instead of a traditional package, the WeddingMoons online tool literally lets you click and pick from over 1000 wedding ideas. To start, pick your destination, choose your own colour palette (you can mix and match up to three shades) and decide on your wedding elements. From linens to bouquets to ceremony decorations, Sandals’ curated gallery gives you a plethora of décor options to help personalize your day. Another bonus? The price is included with every item and automatically tallies up the cost of each piece you pick–a great way to see if you’re on track with your wedding budget. From classic centrepieces to tropical canopies, we picked 15 of our favourite destination ideas from Sandals’ WeddingMoons gallery to inspire you for your celebration.

All images courtesy Sandals.

Considering Grand Cayman for a Honeymoon or Destination Wedding? It’s a DO!

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All Photos: Cayman Island Tourism Department.

Incredibly clean, safe and populated by some of the friendliest people on the planet, Grand Cayman is certainly one of the most beautiful and memorable islands in the Caribbean. I just spent five days on island at Engage! 11, a luxury wedding summit, which featured some talks and VIP sessions with some of the wedding industries elite including celebrity planners Mindy Weiss, Marcy Blum, Ceci Johnson and Randy Fenoli from TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress (he’ll actually be in Vancouver January 23 at Isabelle’s Bridal).

Engage! 11 was a phenomenal event where I learned what’s haute in the bridal biz, and in my downtime was able to explore the glorious Grand Cayman area. Miles of beach, endless sunshine, plush hotels, natural beauty and some of the world’s best diving and coral reefs—Grand Cayman has it all. Just a 1.5-hour flight from Miami (and 3.5 hour direct flight from Toronto), Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands (Little Cayman and Cayman Brac complete the trinity). The island is perfect for a gorgeous destination wedding and honeymoon…here’s four things I particularly loved about it.

1. It’s Luxe. Grand Cayman has some great properties including The Caribbean Club, a boutique residence hotel located on a prime stretch of Seven Mile Beach; and The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman where I stayed. Also built on the shores of Seven Mile Beach, The Ritz is everything you want your romantic escape hotel to be—luxurious, and brimming with gorgeous little extras that only a property of this stature can deliver.

2. It’s a Natural Wonder. Stingrays, sea turtles, schools of tropical fish and rare blue iguanas are just a few of the wildlife wonders in Grand Cayman. The island is known as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean. Today there are more than 40 dive operators and 200 dive sites. Warm, calm waters and great visibility make this one of the best places to dive. Snorkeling also offers a spectacular snapshot of marine life. The best place to explore is Stingray City, where you can touch and feed stingrays—there are as many as two dozen human-friendly ones here.

3. It’s a Perfect Place to Pamper Yourself. How does every girl love to indulge herself? Shop and spa, of course! The absolute best thing about shopping in Grand Cayman? It’s loaded with bling (hello Harry Winston, Cartier and Tiffany) and all shopping here is tax-free. Check out the new Caymana Bay shops and restos, which is now the premiere shopping area on island. Post-shopping, keep up the “me” day by taking it back to The Ritz and floating into the heavenly Silver Rain La Prairie Spa. Modern and sensual, Silver Rain features all white and silver decor complete with lush chenille shag carpets, the plush Silver Haven lounge, and 17 treatment rooms, all of which are calm, serene and sensual. Our treatment pick: the 90-minute La Prairie Signature Facial. BLISS!

5. It’s a Dream Place to Plan A Destination Wedding. With so much sand and surf, the locations to have a wedding in Grand Cayman are vast. What you probably don’t know is that Grand Cayman is actually home to on one of the world’s premiere wedding planning companies, Celebrations. In business for 18 years, owner Joanne Brown and her staff of 50+ can do anything and everything for you (they have an in-house floral business and Celebrations warehouse of props is unparalleled). Earlier this year Celebrations teamed up with Toronto-based Platinum Events for Cayman destination weddings, which means planning a Grand Cayman event from Canada has never been easier!

10 VIP Items For Your VIP (Out-Of-Town) Guests

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For those that have traveled far and wide to be with you on your special day, why not show your appreciation in the form of a welcome bag? Don’t know what to include? We’ve broken it down into 10 essential items/ideas that will make them feel all the more special for going that extra distance to be with you.

Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Inspiration: Paradise Island, Bahamas—Part 2

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Wedding reception at Atlantis.

Last week I shared details of my heavenly stay at the One&Only Ocean Club with you. As promised, today I’m dishing all about Atlantis, Ocean Club’s much larger, glitzier sister-hotel located just down the beach. You’re probably familiar with Atlantis as it’s one of Bahamas most popular properties. Built on 500-acres Atlantis is a massive oceanfront playground offering something for everyone. There are over 3,700 rooms spread over 6 hotels: The Reef, Royal Towers, Coral Towers, Beach Tower, Harbourside Resort and The Cove.

A penthouse with a view!

The most exclusive and private is The Cove which is where I laid my head down for some sweet tropical dreams. From the moment you enter the sweeping open-air lobby, you know you are in for a luxury stay. Although it’s big, there is something very Zen and intimate about the atmosphere.

The Cove lobby.

The neighbouring Cove Beach is actually one of the most popular and beautiful places to say “I do” on property at Atlantis. It’s quiet, the beach is stunning and you can host up to 150 guests for a reception. There are a number of other fantastic places for your destination wedding on property including the Dig Deck, Stingray Falls, the Royal Deck (this has the largest capacity, with room for 500 guests), Paradise Beach and the Royal Overlook. Where you decide to throw your party really depends on what type of wedding you want to have and the number of guests. Interesting fact I learned while visiting: for 11/11/11, there are already 16 weddings booked for the day, and they are trying to squeeze in a few more as they have been inundated with requests!

Atlantis' Lazy River...SO fun!

Other features that make Atlantis so amazing: the multi-pools (the Cove exclusive pool is tres chic); the aquarium; Dolphin Cay, where you can get up close and personal with them; the Water Adventures (slides, plunges and a lazy river!); the casino; the massive Mandara Spa (there are 32 treatment rooms!); prestige shopping and the food.  There are 21 restos on site including the prestigious Nobu and the Mesa Grill by Bobby Flay, which was my hands down favourite. The Southwestern dishes were to-die-for, and the ambiance is electric.

Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Inspiration: Paradise Island, Bahamas

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Last week, I experienced a delicious taste of the tropics with a four-day jaunt to Bahamas, specifically Paradise Island where I stayed at two very different, but equally amazing properties: One&Only Ocean Club and Atlantis. The former is quiet and boutique; the latter, a sprawling 500-acre Caribbean wonderland. Because there I have so much to share about each property, I’m going to need two posts to do it. Today, it’s all about Ocean Club.

With just 105 plush rooms, Ocean Club is extremely intimate and all about luxury. Anything your heart desires is yours at Ocean Club and your personal butler will make sure you are completely taken care of (mine was Allison and she often found me around about the property to check in make sure all was well). The grounds of Ocean Club are stunning, with all rooms boasting an ocean view and the beach here is spectacular and private…all yours, just for Ocean Club guests only. One of the most spectacular sights on property is the amazing Versailles Gardens built in 1962.

Versailles Gardens—incredible!

The Gardens are one of the most popular spots for weddings at One&Only and from this photo you can see why. The surroundings are magnificent.

Other standouts at Ocean Club include Dune by Jean Georges, the amazing resto where you can dine morning noon and night with a dreamy ocean view.

Jean Georges at Ocean Club.

The Mandara Spa, which boasts, packed treatment menu including ocean-side outdoor massages! Other body treatments are done in spa villas and I must say my 90+ minute lime and ginger body scrub/facial/massage was one of the best services I’ve ever had. There’s beach yoga in the mornings, two pools and a shuttle over to sister property Atlantis in case you want a little more energy in your day. Ocean Club truly is paradise found. I would go back in a heartbeat and apparently many of their guests do. Year after year. Especially those who’ve wed or honeymooned there.

Coming Monday: the world of Atlantis.

Shania Twain’s Wedding Photos

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{Photography courtesy Robert Evans}

As you’ve probably heard by now, Canadian singer Shania Twain said “I do” to Frédéric Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day. The couple exchanged vows in front of 40 of their closest friends and family. Shania wore a gown she found in a small boutique hear her home in Lausanne, Switzerland and paired the dress with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and Calvin Klein shoes. Her nine-year-old son Eja, walked her down the aisle and shooting the big day was photographer Robert Evans, who also shot the weddings of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, as well as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Twain gushed about her love on her blog, “I’m in love! Frederic has been a true gift to me as a compassionate, understanding friend. Over time, an amazing love has blossomed from this precious friendship.” While Evans wrote on his blog, “The images captured were stunning and mostly effortless on my part due to the fact that the love Shania and Fred share for one another exudes from deep within their lives. I feel fortunate to have witnessed it, let alone having had the privilege to photograph it.”

{Photography courtesy Robert Evans}