Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart ~ Destination Wedding

Getting Married Abroad – A Bride's Diary by Bright_Star_Digital

Now i think Sandals is one place i have always aspired to go, with it’s name goes the thought of white sandy beaches, bliss and the height of luxury, team this with the biggest brand in the wedding industry… Martha Stewart, and you have a destination wedding dream team. Do watch the above film {click on the cross to skip the ad}… it’s gorgeous, and get to know a little more about the newly launched Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart below….

Royal wedding fever is in full swing and wedding websites are reporting a massive surge in traffic. However you don’t have to be royalty to feel like a princess on your wedding day; like our bride in her video diary, by choosing to marry abroad you can enlist the services of a professional planner so that all you need to worry about before you go is picking your perfect dress and remembering the passports!

A recent study by consumer research group Mintel showed that 18% of Britons chose to tie the knot abroad last year, and there are plenty of good reasons why…

It’s cheaper: In 2010 the average wedding abroad costs £6,585, whilst the average wedding in Britain costs nearly £20,000 – that’s a £13,415 saving! Just think what else you could do with that money…

The weather: Whether you want snow-fall or guaranteed sunshine there will be a destination to suit you.  In the Caribbean for example you can enjoy up to 10 hours of glorious sunshine a day!

The guests: By getting married at home it’s harder to limit the number of guests that you invite, going abroad makes it much easier to invite only the people that you really want to share your day with making it a truly intimate experience.   Sandals recently conducted their own survey and found that almost 50% of people chose to get married abroad because of unwanted friends and family!

Relax: Getting married should be fun.  Our bride in the diary woke to a lovely sunrise and had a swim in the warm sea on her big day. How would you like to start yours?

So you could do as Kate and William are doing and get married in the UK, but if you prefer you could follow in the footsteps of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner who chose to get married on the beach at sunset, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem who got married in the Bahamas, Michael Buble & Luisana Lopilato, Liv Tyler & Royston Langdon and Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green who all, like our bride and groom, chose to get married abroad.

{w} Hi Amanda, could you firstly tell {www} readers a little bit about you?

My name is Amanda Lucas and I am the UK Wedding Supervisor for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the Luxury Included® Caribbean hotel chain. I have held this position since May 2007, and deal with approximately 700 wedding requests a year. I also recently worked on the launch of Sandals® Weddings by Martha Stewart, which allows brides and grooms to choose from six customisable and exquisite wedding experiences designed exclusively by wedding and lifestyle guru, Martha Stewart.

{w} What do you love/dislike about your job?

I love the fact that in some small way I am part of a benchmark occasion in a couples lives.  I am also very proud to be associated with the Sandals brand, and to work on the beautiful weddings that we offer.  Dislike….. when human brides turn into bridezillas!

{w} How did you get into the travel industry and into the wedding industry?

I have been working in the travel industry for 16 years, and started working at Sandals and Beaches Resorts over seven years ago. I have held various positions both overseas (working at what is now Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios) and within the UK Sandals office. The stunning wedding product was something that I was always interested in, and I moved into the weddings department in May 2007.

{w} What do you aim to achieve for your clients/guests?

A hassle free and memorable destination wedding.

{w} Could you tell us some information about your packages/prices?

With six exquisite wedding themes designed exclusively by Martha Stewart, Sandals’ weddings all feature coordinated colour palettes, beautifully designed wedding décor, complementary bouquets, invitations, cakes and favours, along with à la carte items, creating a memorable experience to suit every couple’s unique preferences. All Sandals’ weddings also include a personal wedding planner, a marriage officiant, a reception for bride, groom and two guests, a 5″x7″ honeymoon photograph, a honeymoon dinner for the bride and groom, continental breakfast in bed, plus preparation of documentation and certified copy of marriage license and all government / administrative fees.

The basic wedding package, Beautiful Beginnings is currently free* for all couples who book a stay in a Premium room category at any of the 14 Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts! The stunning Beautiful Beginnings wedding allows the wedding couple to celebrate their special day with elegance and simplicity. It includes a sweet magenta dendrobium bouquet and boutonniere, a table for four with crisp linens, a lovely centrepiece, and a traditional two tier white cake. It is the perfect choice for those looking for an intimate and memorable occasion.

Prices for the remaining five themes start at $1600.

{w} Do you have any tips for couples in selecting their destination wedding?

My main tip would be to pre-book your wedding as far in advance as possible.  This will allow you to budget and to spread the cost of your wedding prior to departure for your chosen destination.  Wedding services are usually confirmed and pre-booked prior to your departure, so the longer lead time you give, the more likely it is that we will be able to confirm your requests. It also means that when you arrive at your destination, you can spend more time on the beach rather than in lengthy discussions with the in-resort weddings team!

{w} How can we get in touch with you?

Call 08000 22 33 31, visit www.sandals.co.uk or email weddings@sandals.co.uk

* terms and conditions apply

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