Hello, my name is Dawn Fairbanks, and I am truly a Destination Wedding Specialist! I have 15 years experience in the travel business and prior to that owned a bridal shoppe and organized large bridal trade shows. I know brides and I know how you feel, excited, nervous, stressed, happy all rolled in one at times!!
My role as a Destination Wedding Specialist/Planner is to educate you on the Wedding Packages at different resorts - the inclusions, the extras, the private reception/dinners, the costs, the perks and the finer details - available at specific resorts or chains of hotels. Secondly, I work within your budget, or advise you of budgets, to secure travel quotes for you and your guests.
There are always two distinct ways to look at the planning of a Destination Wedding. The bottom line for most of you is that you want to make sure your guests don't feel they are paying too much to come along and join in your wedding celebration. Consideration of guests is probably the number one factor, number two being what you and your fiance are willing to spend on your wedding.
There are many relative things to consider: Free Wedding Packages, Private Receptions, Photography Packages (take you own?), Honeymoon Options, Group Offers get 1 free! etc. Some of these things we start with then add on along the way!
My first task is to set up your Wedding Date, Time and Location. Once we secure and confirm those details directly with the Wedding Coordinator at the Hotel then I will pass you along their email address and you can confer back and forth to you heart's content! I will always be there along the way should you encounter things you don't understand or need my advice/help.
Then, we set up the Travel Contract and Group Arrangements ... a minimum of 10 adults are needed to secure a contract. Generally, once the rates have been accepted and the contract signed, we can add on guests as long as the airspace and hotel rooms are still available when they inquire.
There are special circumstances that change that option but I will attempt to make you aware of any conditions prior to confirming prices and details. I will also help you personally with the documentation needs you and your guests will require. I have access to some services that will greatly save you $$$. If the hotel sells out prior to your departure date, they will sometimes ask for a rooming list and can make it difficult to make changes.
I don't necessarily need names right from the beginning but it always helps! A bride and groom can hold rooms for their group if they so chose to do, 45 to 60 days prior to departure I will need final names as they match identification and full payments. We do offer payment plans for all our clients. Single guests can hold a single room then update to double if they find someone along the way to travel with, this enables them to hold the airseat and a room until such time as they want to change that. Single occupancy is always at a higher cost.
I will liaison between you and your guests for any travel related questions and concerns they have and keep the group together. It is important that everyone book together as hotels will never bump a wedding group but can and have moved people around, that is entirely their option should they oversell their rooms at any given time, and there is nothing I can do for those that choose to book on their own.
You will unfortunately always encounter those that choose "lastminute" selloffs etc. as they are out there! Please remember that it is an Honour to be invited to a Bride and Groom's very special Wedding Week and your family and friends will always remember the wonderful, personal and emotional, times they had together during your celebration and their holiday! Almost a week long wedding!
I pride myself on caring about my clients, and working very hard to make sure the details and Wedding Day Celebrations become a very good memory for all concerned! Destination Weddings can be fun, personal and you can tailor make your arrangements around anything (pretty much!) you would like!
I have had the privilege of working with many Brides over the past few years and have experienced the joy of having my daughter get married in Puerta Plata, Dominican, so I have done it as the mother of the bride also, I have a few ideas for those Moms that would like to get involved also!
Please feel free to contact me anytime ... we can personally meet anytime you wish and I will try to work around your personal work schedules also, making myself available nights and weekends if that is what you need! Emails of course are great as they provide a lot of written confirmations!
Thanks, take care & congratulations!!!!
Dawn