I’m often asked by couples planning to get married how they can personalize their wedding and somehow make it different from all the rest. Having a destination wedding is already in a way different from most standard weddings. However the key is take certain elements of a standard wedding and adapt it to your destination setting. rnrnrnOur good example is the Unity Sand Ceremony which is a novel alternative to the popular “Unity Candle Ceremony” often done in church weddings. Because of the wind factor in most outdoor weddings especially those held in beach weddings, one cannot use candles because it is easily extinguished. But the unity sand ceremony is appropriate for an outdoor setting.
Its essence is to symbolize the union of “two into one”. It is not only visually beautiful but with the addition of fresh flowers or other decorative items, it makes an intriguing and interesting addition to a home’s décor later on.
How it works:
Get 3 glass vases, the size & shape of which is dependent on your taste. Prior to the wedding pre-fill the two outside vases with sand. You can color the sand with your wedding colors by using food coloring & then allowing the sand to dry in the sun. Make sure to measure how much sand the central vase can hold.
The groom will start by pouring a portion of his sand into the central glass vase.
The bride will follow by pouring a portion of her sand into the central vase creating a layered effect.
To complete the ceremony, the groom and bride simultaneously pour the balance of their sand into the central container.
Following the ceremony, the two outside vases used to pour the sand can be filled with wedding flowers while the central vase remains a cherished keepsake of the wedding.
Tip: to make pouring easier, create a cone or funnel out of decorative paper. Personalize the funnel by including names, date, a message or graphics that holds a special meaning to the Bride & Groom.
Yes, there are destination pre-nup shoots! Couples are now going to out-of-town, even out-of- the country locations to do their photo and/or video pre-nup shoots. Its cutting edge, its fun and spontaneous and its definitely not for everyone. Rather, it’s the latest trend in capturing a couple’s love story in a setting deemed unique and appropriate.
But why go destination? Well, for one thing its fun! It’s a great way to have fun with each other in the midst of all the wedding preparations and right before you get married. It’s also such a great excuse to travel and one can always justify it by buying the gifts for the entourage and other wedding participant at this time. Its spontaneous! Its proactive! Its going the extra mile to get, amazing photographs to show during your wedding reception and to cherish for a lifetime.
How to go about it
If you think that a pre-wedding pictorial or video shoot is what you want then go over these steps to lea how to plan for one:
Check your schedule. Are you both free to fly off to Phuket for the week-end? How about a day’s trip to Batangas?
Check your budget. This can be properly labeled as an “unnecessary expense.” Can your wedding budget absorb this?
Check your photographer/videographer’s schedule. Is he free to go with you? What amount will he charge? Is his fee inclusive of ticket, accommodations and meals? Does he need to take an assistant? Will he also take charge of showing the end result during the wedding reception?
Location! Location! Location! Where are you off to? Discuss what you both like, where you both want to go and then check how to go about it. Ask your photographer if he has any suggestions.
Discuss what kind of shoots will be taken. Photojoualistic? Posed? Candid? Glamour? This will determine the wardrobe and accessories you will bring.
Tip: check if your venue has any scheduled holidays, festivals, parades, shoots, etc. They will make for great photos!
Be prepared for several things that will demand some of your time such as-hair & make-up (before the shoot & re-touch), meals, wardrobe changes (you can’t wear the same outfit in all the pictures, right!)
Don’t be shy in front of the camera. If you’re not comfortable laughing and smiling on cue or acting wacky, get out of your comfort zone by practicing in front of the camera. When subjects are stiff and uncomfortable, it really shows in the photograph. Also try to “disregard” the bystanders. You will be photographed in front of people…. and get lots of special attention, so just focus on the directions from the photographer or videographer.
Lastly, you’ve now worked with a good photographer/videographer and have a great set of images to show of. Don’t keep those images in an album or just let it sit on a shelf. Display them during your wedding by doing a photo montage, photo guestbook or a mounted photo collage placed by the entrance of your venue.
Tucked away in the middle of mist-shrouded green mountains, just almost an hour’s drive from DavaoCity is Eden. This nature park and resort is a well-known “secret” among the locals but has yet to attain a must-go to status for local and foreign visitors.
I visited Eden around 2004 when just the basic infrastructure and amenities was being put into place. Even then I marveled at the sheers size of the place (80 hectares), and enjoyed its cool temperature (3, 000 ft. above sea level). Back then I expressed the hope that Eden’s developers would remain true to their vision of preserving its natural terrain and eventually make it a must-visit ecological tourist destination.
On this visit, I was delighted to see that this once barren land (Eden was formerly a mining site) now serves as habitat to over 100, 000 pine trees and rich assortment of flora and fauna. It is home to 2 flower gardens, fruit orchards, and a vegetable greenhouse including a hydroponics garden. It is also an animal sanctuary with wild deer, peacocks, and owls freely visible to visitors. Because describing its many attractions would take too long, here are just some of them-
·Enjoy the mountains either by trekking on a 4-kilometer mountain trail passing through giant trees, boulders, creeks and gardens. This can also be done by horseback. All treks can be done solo or with a guide.
·Surf the skies on its latest Sky Rider.
·Swim, fish and go on nature tours.
Eden has a day package for P230.00 inclusive of entrance fee and plated snack. Villas and family cottages can be rented for as low as P1, 323 (AsterRm.) or P1, 575 for 4 persons at Campsite 3. Log cabins and villas are available for bigger groups.
I was also thrilled to find out that weddings can now be held in Eden. It boasts of 3 venues to choose from for the wedding reception:
The Garden Hall for a more traditional indoor reception, the Holiday Terraces which is set on an outdoor multi-terraced garden amidst lush trees and plants with a nearby waterfall and the Vista Restaurant which is on a mountain slope with a view of its surroundings. Wedding ceremonies can also be held at Eden’s St. Michael’s Chapel, at the Amphitheatre or Gazebo or anywhere else just as long as it’s logistically accessible!
Its reasonably priced wedding packages start at P570.00 net inclusive of complimentary overnight stay for two (2) and its minimum guarantee is for 100 guests.
With the prevailing promo trend of low airfares for domestic travel, it really wouldn’t break the wedding budget if the destination wedding where to be held in Eden… in Davao. It really might just be your dream wedding in Eden.
ØDid you know that Destination Weddings can be likened to elopements? The couple would elope and marry in a small wedding away from home and retu home married. Sounds like a destination wedding to me!
ØDestination weddings can be nondenominational or religions, traditional or non-traditional, formal or informal… you choose and plan what you want.
ØCNNMoney.com says that “couples who have destination weddings… spend on average 41 percent less on their reception that those who have an average wedding.” However, the same survey says that it’s a little bit more expensive for guests because they have to spend for the travel.
ØThe true spirit of a Destination Wedding is about the bride and groom spending quality time together with people who they know and want to be with, in a venue they like and chose.
Ø“Wedding moon”- a term used to describe a destination wedding that combines the wedding and honeymoon in one locale.
ØNot all wedding suppliers (especially coordinators) can do destination weddings but all wedding destination coordinators can do regular weddings.
ØDestination weddings are the answer to a nontraditional bride and groom.
ØDestination weddings are an immediate way to decompress from the wedding. You are automatically on your honeymoon!
ØMany second time couples choose destination weddings.
ØGuests should think twice before bringing younger kids to a destination wedding.
ØSome couples choose to have a destination wedding so they can avoid “meddling relations during the planning process. It is because Destination Weddings have an added benefit of having fewer people involved in the preparations. It also helps trim the guest list substantially since this is now a more selective group of people who are invited.
And lastly, top five reasons of surveyed couples in the on why they chose to have a Destination Wedding:
Destination Weddings are more fun and romantic.
Destination Weddings are less traditional… they want something different (and not just the standard four walls of a hotel ballroom.)
Destination Weddings are less stressful… practically no need for seating assignments, dress code is normally casual and most details are handled by the venue.
Destination Weddings cost less than the average wedding but the fun element is doubled.
Destination weddings are two-in-one affairs because the honeymoon can take place in the same venue.
Nothing brings home the problems of having an outdoor destination wedding than when bad weather brings all the best laid wedding plans to a crashing halt. We are not talking of light showers or mild gusts of wind that can be solved by the anticipated erection of a tent, but the kind of downpour and gale force winds that only a typhoon signal can guarantee.
Forget bringing eggs to Santa Clara. Those poor nuns must already have cholesterol problems at the rate so many people are setting eggs on their doorsteps. Besides, it doesn’t work. Nothing does. When Mother Nature is mad, she shows it in the most destructive way.
Force majeure is its more stylish name but bad weather by any other name is an event planner’s major nightmare. It not only can undo all plans but it will reduce the most optimistic bride and groom to tears. What took one year to plan will be cancelled in a matter of minutes. Not to mention what it will do to the wedding budget.
As helpless as it sounds, here are some pointers which may help not only couples planning a destination wedding but also those who will have it in their area.
1. Choose you wedding date wisely.
Don’t go sentimental on your wedding date choice if it means risking bad weather. There are specific months in all countries when weather changes and patterns are a surety. He may have proposed in July or it’s your anniversary in August but you don’t need a weather bureau to tell you that it’s the start of typhoon season during these months. Summer is not only for sand, sea and surf but it can also mean a bad heat wave.
2.Never, never, never go for an outdoor wedding if your venue cannot guarantee a back-up indoor area.
Don’t play tag on your wedding day by not having a secondary venue, just in case your outdoor venue gets rained out. Even if it means an additional cost to your budget just consider it as an insurance policy and a guarantee to your peace of mind.
3. Check your suppliers’ contracts for any mention of AOG (Acts of God), Force Majeure, etc.
Can and will your wedding supplier refund, transfer or honor any cancellation due to bad weather? Do they have any policy that deals with such eventualities? It would be good practice to have something in writing so that both parties have a game plan on hand rather than having to negotiate something at the last minute.
Food will spoil, flowers wither and venues have other bookings, so early on, inquire about “just in case” situations.
4. Monitor the weather at least 5 days before the wedding date.
Check the weather stations and get a 5-day weather update from the Internet and prepare for the worst even if no storm clouds are on the horizon. Remember that climate change has made weather patterns more unpredictable.
5. If you have to cancel, CANCEL!
Just like removing bandage from a wound, if you have to cancel, do it fast to make it painless. Make your decision definite so that everyone is clear on what has to be done now. If the time for “ifs” and “buts” is over, then get everyone moving on how to make this negative situation into a positive one. Start assigning roles – a family member to inform the guests, another to check on the suppliers, someone to talk to the venue, etc.
Last but not the least, there should be no arguments, no finger pointing, especially between the bride and the groom. Never forget the crucial fact that the situation was not of your making much less something desired. Move on, move up and start anew. Remember for better or for worse... it’s just unfortunate that the worse came first.
As an event planner/wedding coordinator that specializes in Destination Weddings, I am often asked to check out or ocular visit many a destination wedding venues in all parts of the globe. I do this enjoyable work partly as a tourist but mainly as the key person who can guide the couple as to the advisability of their chosen location and wedding venue.Most venues do not disappoint in delivering what their brochures and websites claim they offer.But now and then, one stumbles and finds a gem of a venue that is just plain perfect in holding that dream destination wedding.In a recent trip, I was lucky enough to find not one but two locations on the eco-paradise of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
Located just north of the equator (sunny tropical climate!), Sabah sits at the tip of Boeo, the world’s third largest island.Its state capital Kota Kinabalu, or KK, as it is popularly known, is a resort city set between the majestic Mt.Kinabalu and the South China Sea.You can tour KK in half a day and still leave plenty of time for the many activities it offers.For the more laid back traveler, KK’s cultural and traditional arts and crafts can be easily appreciated from leaing the art of Batik painting, haggling at the local market or just enjoying a short cruise through thick mangrove forests.But if it’s adventure one craves, then KK outdoes itself in offering wild river rafting down the Kiulu River, traveling to the Khas wetlands for a river cruise in search of exotic birds, monkeys and crocodiles, trekking through Kinabalu Park where you can walk along the 100 –foot-high canopy walkway.For the vertically adventurous, the jagged peaks of Mt.Kinabalu (4095m) beckons to be climbed and enjoyed.
KK does quite well on the romance angle too.And this is where my two “finds” come into the picture.For wedding destination hunters and eventual honeymooners, Shangri-la Hotel Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa (located a mere 10-minute-drive from the airport) and Shangri-la Hotel Rasa Ria Resort (a 45-minute-drive away from the city) is unparalleled in providing that dream of a tropical haven where nature still abound, but mode amenities can still be enjoyed.Lt’s face it, the bride and groom of today wants to get away from the standard “wedding package” of church and hotel and opt instead for the new, the different and the exotic….and if it comes with inteet access, WiFi connections, shopping, spas and warm and smiling hotel staff, then it’s a done deal.
Shangri-la Tanjung Aru is quite popular with the locals, especially those who wish to celebrate milestones in their life.It has several wedding set-ups from a candle-lit ceremony on the beach during sunset, a garden wedding complete with a gazebo or the traditional and classic wedding in its ballroom.What I found unique is its Solemnization Package where the hotel’s in-house wedding planner or account coordinator can arrange a solemnization services by the local registrar.After submitting the necessary papers and personally submitting it to the Registrar of Marriage (example: single status certificate, proof of identification, etc), the bride and groom, together with the required witnesses can be married civilly.Their wedding packages are complete with options to get the cake, flowers and entertainment from the hotel or you can personalize your choices by choosing to bring in your own.Menu choices are also available as part of the packages.
From playing golf in its 18-hole-championship golf course Dalit Bay Golf Club, its varied water activities (banana boat, water and jet ski, etc), jungle trekking, river-boat ride complete with native villages, batik-making lessons to yoga and Pilates classes, hotel guests and their kids will never run out of activities.Of course, it has a glorious pool (don’t forget the sandy beach!) one can just soak and cool-off in.
For those tying the knot, Rasa Ria’s Romance Wedding Package promises to take care of everything.From the locally available flowers, photography, cake and Civil Marriage officiant and civil marriage license to the cocktails and dinner for the reception.
The resort’s Wedding Pavilion, a meandering walkway with a quaint gazebo that faces the beach and sea, couples may choose to walk or ride in a decorated golf cart or buggy.One can even rent a horse for pictorial purposes.
The cost of holding a wedding in KK is not as expensive as expected.It is nearly comparable to holding a wedding in Cebu or any of the major provincial cities in the .One nice bonus is that the bride and groom can claim that they held their wedding in another country, thus giving the wedding a surprising inteational flavor.With KK, it’s like paying as if you’re traveling domestic – but you’re actually traveling overseas.
Any wedding destination must be easily accessible to travelers everywhere and have an airport that is not only fully operational, safe and clean, but also complete with mode conveniences.For those interested to know more – Cebu Pacific flies to Kota Kinabalu twice a week (Monday and Friday) from the newly opened NAIA 3.For inquiries, e-mail Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa at tah@shangri-la.com or Rasa Ria Resort at rrr@shangri-la.com.
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