About Lindsay Wendt-Sheikh Expertise What I can offer people is a kind voice that will work with them to create a beautiful destination wedding and/or honeymoon. I have been in the travel business for 22 years and has traveled the world. My interest in one thing, my love of romantic travel.
Experience I take great pleasure in being a specialist in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and South Pacific and passing that first hand knowledge on to my clients. I keep myself up-to-date by traveling to the products that I sell. Spent 1992 - 1995 working as a chat show manager and travel message board manager for AOL.
Organizations Destination Wedding Association
Publications Bridal Guide Magazine, Rolling Stone, local and statewide newspapers
Education/Credentials CSS - Sandals Certified Specialist for 10 years, Fiji Matai Specialist, Hawaii Tourism Specialist, Caribbean Specialist, Puerto Rico Specialist, Cancun Specialist, Mexico Specialist, Couples Resorts Preferred Travel Agency, RIU Resort Partner Agent, Secrets & Dreams Resorts Master Agent
Question I need help planning a destination wedding for September 2009. My budget is $4000. This amount includes everything from airfare, hotel, service, and all that goes into the service, entertainment once we are there, etc. We would be departing out of BWI airport. Obviously some of my concerns are the validity of the marriage license, the quality of the honeymoon, the quietness (we must have quite and peace), the weather and the flight length. I prefer flights under 8 hours. We live in Pennsylvania (if that helps).
Do you know of any places, ideas, or suggestions on where to go, how to get there, and marriage service suggestions?
Thanks
Answer Hi Tom,
Sorry for the delay in answering your questions, unfortunately over the past two weeks we have had severe weather problems and getting destination wedding groups to their location. So please excuse the late reply.
As for your destination wedding request first of all September seems to always have cheaper rates, so that will help your budget request, however that might bring in the weather as a factor too. I would make sure that your guests purchase travel insurance, especially with so many companies offering an insurance that even covers nonrefundable airline ticket prices.
Now the route that you need to look at is an all inclusive resort and use a tour package. That is what our company uses allot because it is one set rate for everything. So when your guests check out they will not remember a bill, instead they will remember the great time they had.
With the departure city that you are looking at I would go to the Cancun side of Mexico, now don't worry I am not suggesting a spring break type of wedding. Instead I would look at the Riviera Maya side there that has allot of all inclusive resorts to pick from. First of all you have less flight times, options on the flight times because so many go into the Cancun International Airport and the overall resort costs. Here you will have allot to choose from that will offer. Actually there is too many to list here.
The only concern regarding Mexico is their legal requirements that forces you to be in the country 4 days prior to the wedding date. You have to take a blood test in Mexico and provide documentation for your four witnesses too. I know it is a hassle but many couples get away with not doing that by going to the local court house, signing their marriage certificate there. Yes, you are legal on that day but you actually have the ceremony in Mexico. They call it a spiritual wedding which is so much nicer then a judge.
Another destination I would look into in the Dominican Republic (D.R.). They also have a wealth of choices in all inclusive resorts. I would have to check further into the current September 2008 flight times to see how many are offered for your guests to pick from. To do a legal wedding in the D.R. there is paper work that has to be filled out months prior to your arrival and the judges do charge an extra fee. The last part was raised last year, so I am questioning what they are going to do for 2009.
Now those are two to start you on. What I would like to suggest is for you to email me directly at lindsay@tripsdowntheaisle.com. That way I can send you pictures and talk to the two of you more indepth. Maybe we can do an online conference session so I can show you what is out there and talk at the same time. Just let me know. I would love to help the two of you out!
