travel agency for destination wedding

[taemo]

hey all,

so finally the miss has decided what kind of wedding she wants to have and we are going for a destination wedding in Oct or Nov 2014.

Can anyone recommend a travel agency in Calgary that specializes in Destination weddings?

Don't really want to do Mexico unless as last option and we had my sisters wedding in Punta Cana already.
Also we want to make it affordable for our guests and dont want them to spend more than $1500 per person at an all-inclusive resort.

[msommers]

Where would you like to go if you had a choice? Talking directly to the hotel saved my buddy a bunch but I believe they may be using a travel agent to organize flights and get a group rate.

[taemo]

if money was not an issue.. Phi Phi, Boracay, Palawan, Bora Bora or even Hawaii lol, but because some of our friends have tight budgets and have kids, we want something affordable at no more than $1500 per person.
Right now our top choice seems to be Montego Bay, then Cancun second. Cuba might be 3rd.
Don't really want to do Punta Cana as that's where my sister got married.

Talking to my sister last night, she did recommend to look for resorts around, then talk to a travel agency to set up group rates afterwards.

[ExtraSlow]

Book it through Westjet vacations. They are excellent to deal with, and you won't be stuck on some junky thomas cook or sunwing rattletrap.

[Type_S1]

Hold on...your friends are tight on cash but you want them to waste a weeks vacation and spend 1500$ to come to your wedding? Family of 4 = $6000 + $1000 spending + 1 week vacation taken from work. That's a little selfish don't you think.

I never understood these weddings and have gone to them. There is way too much going on that the bride/groom expect you to do and it ends up not even being a vacation.

As for your question....I would deal directly with the resort you are staying at to negotiate the best price. Take out the middleman (travel agent) and save $$. You should personally find the best deal on flights and book for all guests coming. This will save money for all the guests you are forcing to come!

[taemo]

my fiance's girlfriends(our friends) are the ones that wanted and convinced her to a destination wedding, they don't travel a lot other than around AB and BC and are actually looking forward to it.
3 of our friends will be having their b-days in Oct so it will be bday/wedding party for all of us.
the kids will be 2-4 year old by then, so they wouldn't be paying $1500 total per kids.
some of our friends that have tight budget, we told them to save $2000 and we will cover the rest for them.

these are not just some random friends that we've known for only a year or 2, but friends since JHS and our parents and very close relatives.

[whiskas]

Find a hotel/resort you want to have it done at. Then book a package through WJ or AC. We found that group discounts were quite shabby.

[SOAB]

Maui can be done for less than $1500 per person.

my cousin had her wedding there and it ended up costing $2200 for flights and room for my wife and I. we stayed in Maui for 5 nights and Honolulu for 5 nights. both places were oceanfront.

So the only thing they'd have to cover is food and drinks.

[taemo]

we thought about Hawaii but it's not as cheap as all-inclusive resorts in the caribbeans

flight to Hawaii is usually around $500-600.
Hotel in Waikiki is 100-200/night
Food is $40-100
unless you plan on staying in Waikiki for most of the time you will need to do activities in the island, transportation, etc.

Wouldn;t mind Maui or Big Island though, might do some research

[sputnik]

Originally posted by Type_S1
Hold on...your friends are tight on cash but you want them to waste a weeks vacation and spend 1500$ to come to your wedding? Family of 4 = $6000 + $1000 spending + 1 week vacation taken from work. That's a little selfish don't you think.

+1

[jdmakkord]

Originally posted by taemo
if money was not an issue.. Phi Phi, Boracay, Palawan, Bora Bora or even Hawaii lol, but because some of our friends have tight budgets and have kids, we want something affordable at no more than $1500 per person.
Right now our top choice seems to be Montego Bay, then Cancun second. Cuba might be 3rd.
Don't really want to do Punta Cana as that's where my sister got married.

Talking to my sister last night, she did recommend to look for resorts around, then talk to a travel agency to set up group rates afterwards.

With your budget Montego Bay won't be a fit. It's a premium Caribbean destination and prices are always on the higher side for a quality hotel. Rates would go Cuba<Cancun<Jamaica. Hit up a wedding show, there are always a few destination wedding specialists there looking for clients.

[B20EF]

I liked Sarah @ Carlson Wagonlit on Macleod Trail across from Chinook Mall. Good thing about all inclusives for people on a budget is that everything is taken care of. You dont have to worry about who can afford to drink and have fun or make it to dinner. A few family members anf friends wont make it but you can always have a party in Calgary too at a restaurant or something.

[A790]

We are working with Roger at Big Ben Travel (www.bigbentravel.ca - he's also a beyonder).

He has provided us with good information and good communication so far and I'd recommend you chat him up