Frequently Asked Questions

A Destination Wedding is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their marriage at a gorgeous destination usually a beach Destination of their choosing. Most couples get married at an all-inclusive resort in The Caribbean, Central America, or Hawaii. Destination weddings can be intimate (just the two of you), limited to close family and friends, or a grand affair with hundreds of guests.

There are 2 kinds of Weddings. Legal Wedding is when you get married and say your vows before a Judge, Minister, or Priest. A valid marriage license is issued. A Symbolic Ceremony is there is no legal document, your marriage is not legal anywhere. A resort official, a Judge, Priest, non-denominational Minister can say the vows. Like a vow renewal. Many resorts have a chapel onsite, and a Catholic Wedding could be performed.

Nowadays, many couples opt to forgo traditional (and expensive) weddings in favor of a more intimate affair at a destination they love. Many resorts offer free basic wedding packages, OR if you are having a huge wedding group, the wedding and your complete stay could be earned. Destination weddings allow couples to extend their celebration from four hours to four days (or however long you see fit), while creating a lifetime of memories with their close friends and family. Because they are often more intimate than traditional weddings, destination weddings can also be more affordable for couples. On the other hand, a Destination Wedding offers the opportunity to "tie the knot" in unique settings. Roof top overlooking the ocean, at the end of a pier, in or on the water, on the beach, or by a waterfall. The places are only limited to your imagination. 

If you're thinking of planning a Destination Wedding, it is good to sit down and discuss this with the family and closest friends first. Have an alternate plan for relatives and friends who you know you want present on your special day but are unable to attend, you might prefer to have a small reception at home so all your loved ones can be a part of the celebration. Choosing the right destination may also affect who can attend. If your destination is expensive, has long or connecting flights less guests may choose to attend. Make sure to consider your closest family and friends when selecting a wedding destination and their budget concerns.  

Honeymoon Travel & Destination Weddings has been planning weddings and honeymoons for over 20 years. Along with our Sister Company, The Chicago Wedding Connection, we have provided wedding services in the Chicago Area for 25 years! We know how to plan a wedding here or away. We are located inside the Complete Bridal Salon in East Dundee, Illinois. The Complete Bridal Expo is also produced by us. We are a small company with only 6 Destination Specialists. We do more for you than just book the resort and air. We are there for you though the entire planning of your wedding and honeymoon. We are your liaison to the resort wedding coordinator. We will guide you through every step and make sure all details are handled correctly and provided. We will make sure you are never overcharged for any wedding service.  

While 9-15 months is an ideal amount of time for securing the best travel rates, we have worked with couples that have planned gorgeous weddings with only a few months to spare. The more time the better! If you do have time to plan further in advance, we always advise that couples start the process sooner rather than later, particularly with large groups. Remember you can lock in the resort at this year's rate now, even if your date is 2 years in away! We can add the airfare then when prices become available. Many resorts only do 1 wedding per day. Mid-week weddings may be easier to lock in. The most popular Friday and Saturday dates book first. Remember February to Mid-April is peak winter season and spring break. Any week with a Holiday like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, can price higher. Think about hurricane season, and will it affect my date. Any time after Labor Day, avoiding Thanksgiving will price well. December 1st to 15th is low season and low rates. Avoid the December 15th thru New Years as this is the highest Holiday rate.    

Every Caribbean Island and country like Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica has different legal requirements for weddings. All require notarized documents and paperwork; Mexico requires a blood test preformed in Mexico and the translation of documents into Spanish. All require a residency stay where you arrive anywhere from 1 day to 5 business days prior the ceremony to file paperwork. I am a Notary and can stamp your documents at no cost. Many destinations charge a filing fee. The Dominican Republic charges $250 US. I handle all the paperwork for you. This IS IMPORTANT! You do not want your Destination Wedding to turn into an expensive vacation and not get legally married! 1st step is to lock in your wedding date with a paid deposit to guarantee the date once a destination and resort is picked.  

The best way to help ensure that your guests can afford to attend your destination wedding is to plan, so they have plenty of time to plan and budget accordingly. We provide "Save the Date" letters to send to your guests. They will outline expected costs, like current air fare and a per night cost person. Your core group, parents, family, and best friends will know way in advance. It’s also important to consider the big picture, - the resort, the destination, flights, and time of year you’d like to marry. If necessary, YOU could go on to a 2nd Destination of your choice and to a more upscale resort and pick an affordable resort for the wedding. We price match the internet so we will book their stay at the lowest price available. Beaches Turks & Caicos’ may be out of many family’s budget if they bring their 2 kids, but The Grand Palladium in the Riviera Maya would be a perfect fit. Adults could stay in the Royal Suites Section and families take a standard room.    

Simple. We have a Price-Match Promise. We guarantee the lowest price at the time of booking. We will match any price found on the internet. We also have a Group Ease Discount for groups. Here is how it works. You lock in your Honeymoon stay. Then every adult guest who books their stay with Honeymoon Travel will get an EXTRA $25 off each. PLUS, the bride & groom will get $20 for each booking. No Limit. 20 rooms booked, $400 back to you. Some resorts offer 6th room Free at certain times of the year. You will be refunded the base price of the room to your credit card. With a large group, we could pay your entire Honeymoon & Wedding costs.  

Of course, we have a Preferred List of Resorts in all price levels. There is a reason why or why not to choose a certain resort. Chances are, we recently had a successful wedding at the resort you are considering. In our free wedding consultation, we can compare each resort’s features side by side, to help you decide on the prefect resort. There are over 350 All-Inclusive resorts in the Caribbean & Mexico. There are over 350 all-inclusive resorts, about 100 are adults or couples only. Then there are many resorts that have an Adults Only Section.   

No. The amount of deposit depends on the air seats. Charter flights only needs a $125 each deposit, plus optional trip insurance. If the air seats are at Published Fare, you buy the air seats in full and then add a small deposit for the resort. Honeymoon Travel & Destination Weddings, allows guests to make payments at any time. Final payment is due 45 days prior trip.   

Things happen, your grandmother passes away, you have an auto accident, apartment fire, luggage is loss, you get sick on the trip. You should always purchase Travel Insurance. Did you know your health insurance may not cover you out of the country? A destination wedding is an important investment, and with Cancel-For-Any-Reason Travel Insurance you will have peace of mind. We encourage you to protect your investment against any unforeseen circumstances that may occur after booking your trip. With flexibility to cancel your itinerary up until your day of departure, you will be refunded in full, with the exception of the cost of your plan, therefore providing 100% stress-free planning. With every destination wedding I usually have someone cancel.    

We never charge a fee for our services. Just like the online companies we make a commission from the resort. Expedia makes a commission for their services, so do we! We are so happy with our referrals; we usually get 2 or 3 referrals from each wedding!