Travel

Survival checklist

Hotel and destination travelling tips

As you are planning your wedding day, an item often overlooked is the time allocated for travelling to and from the wedding destination. When planning travel time, add an additional 50 per cent to your schedule. If you invited many friends and relatives from out of state, ask local hotels for a group discount. A group discount will save you considerable time and money. If everyone stays at one location, transportation problems will be minimized.

Renting a bus can sidestep an enormous amount of potential issues that always seem to arise when transporting people. A bus can pick up guests from the hotel, transport everyone to the wedding and even afterwards to the reception. This prevents guests from getting lost, misunderstanding directions, having car trouble and so on. With a bus, all of the designated drivers can finally enjoy a drink at the reception!

Pura vida” is a popular greeting among Costa Rican residents. It means “full of life” or “life is good” — and perfectly captures the essence of this colourful country. Teeming with orchids, tropical rainforests and wildlife, Costa Rica treasures its reputation as the world’s greenest country. Almost 30 per cent of this country, including much of the coastline, is protected. This commitment to everything green makes it a popular choice for couples who want to support the planet while they celebrate. But going green doesn’t mean roughing it. Although best-known as an eco-destination, Costa Rica is fast becoming a celebrity magnet thanks to an ever-expanding roster of upscale resort hideaways for A-listers and their entourages. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen led the trend with her purchase of a multimillion-dollar beachfront property on Nicoya Peninsula, and other celebs soon followed. Many are drawn to Costa Rica for special occasions such as weddings, honeymoons and vow renewals. Others, such as Steven Tyler, who headed here after the 10th season of American Idol, simply love the country’s seclusion. For a growing number of couples, the magical combination of stunning beauty and privacy makes Costa Rica their choice for a destination wedding that’s in harmony with nature.

Preparing for your destination wedding is important. Review these destination wedding travel tips before you leave!

As Destination Weddings now count for more than 10% of all weddings occurring among Canadian couples it should come as no surprise to learn that these couples are now more and more looking for dream weddings in more exotic locations!

What was once a major demand for The Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico has now grown to include islands such as Antigua, St. Lucia and The Bahamas as well as European and South Pacific destinations.

The ABCs of a Caribbean wedding

By Michele Peterson

Although rain on your wedding day is said to bring good luck, most couples hope for sunshine on their big day. If you’re planning to tie the knot in the summer and have your heart set on a Caribbean destination wedding, it can be difficult to choose an island if you’re worried about weather. Officially, hurricane season stretches from June 1 to November 30. If you don’t want to be packing rain ponchos, one of the ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire or Curaçao — would be a good bet. These southern islands, located off the coast of Venezuela and outside the hurricane belt, offer virtually no threat of tropical storms.

Known as the Dutch Caribbean, these three islands have close ties to the Netherlands and local residents speak Papiamento, a charming mix of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French and English. Each island has its own unique character — from barefoot beach casual to upscale sophistication — which means there’s something for every bridal couple.