No book on far and away weddings would be complete without at least a brief look at the wedding capital of the world: Las Vegas. In 1931, both gambling and easy marriage became legal and the place hasn't been the same since. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike have flocked here to tie the knot. Recent star nuptials have included such luminaries as Bruce Willis, Axl Rose, and Joan Collins.
Wedding Logistics
As you might expect, getting a marriage license in Vegas is as easy as dropping $20 into a slot machine. Both the bride and groom must apply in person at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau (702-455-3156 or 702-455-4415) at 200 South 3rd Street. The bureau is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to midnight and continuously from Friday at 8 am to midnight Sunday. There is no blood test required and you just bring a driver's license as identification. The license costs $40 (cash only, no poker chips). There is no waiting period.
Best Time to Go
We actually visited Vegas once in June and can report that it was DAMN HOT. And forget all that stuff about it being "a dry heat." That's bull. When it gets to 110 degrees, it doesn't matter what the humidity is. Consequentiy, the busy seasons in Vegas are in spring and fall. The Christmas/New Year's week can also be incredibly crowded. Winters can be downright cold, with strong winds adding to the misery.
Costs, Accommodations, and Getting Around
The three most popular chapels are Little White Chapel (702-382-5943 or 800-545-8111), Candlelight Wedding Chapel (702-735-4179), and Little Church of the West (702-739-7971). Most chapels charge about $50 to rent and request a "donation" for the minister of at least $40. Almost all take credit cards.
Airlines often have pretty cheap fares to Las Vegas; Southwest Airlines is usually the cheapest. Most hotels are also fairly inexpensive ($50 to $100 per night). The sheer variety of places to stay can boggle the mind. From the fancy Mirage with its white tiger displays and exploding volcanoes to the schmaltzy Circus Circus, Vegas must have more hotel rooms than most third-world countries.
Food is incredibly cheap, as is the booze—the casinos use cheap eats to bait you into gambling. We recommend staying away from the ultra-cheap buffets where most food items are unrecognizable, thanks to a coating of yellow fake cheese sauce.
Do you need a rental car? Probably not. Several shuttle services run from the airport to the casinos. Buses run up and down the strip at frequent intervals.
Even if you want to take an excursion outside of Vegas, many companies offer bus tours to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead that will save you the expense of renting a car.
What Makes it Special
Are you kidding? This is Vegas. Where else in America can you get married by a bad Elvis impersonator crooning an equally bad "Love Me Tender"?
In the age of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, it's comforting to know that a place as sleazy, noisy, and obnoxious as Las Vegas still exists.
On the other hand, Vegas has been trying to clean up its image lately to appeal more to the "family values" crowd. Hence, an indoor amusement park just opened on the strip and casinos are offering more "kid-friendly" shows and concerts. Who knows, maybe Barney (that darn purple dinosaur) may replace the nude dance reviews some day? Nah.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Destination Wedding Locations: Walt Disney World
Did you ever dream of spending the first few moments of married life to your "Prince Charming" in Cinderella's crystal coach driving off to your reception? Or having an Alice in Wonderland bridal luncheon with the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit as guests?
Yes, it's possible, with help from the folks at Walt Disney World in Orlando. They received so many inquires from brides and grooms about tying the knot in their theme park that they recently set up the Fairy Tale Wedding department.
Okay, let's say you don't want Goofy as your best man. You can still pick from one of Disney's numerous resorts to tie the knot, including the spectacular Grand Floridian. We visited the resort recently to get a firsthand look at Disney weddings.
Wedding Logistics
The Disney wedding is not as difficult as you might think—there is no blood test or waiting period to get a marriage license in Orlando. It takes about thirty minutes to fill out an application and another thirty minutes for processing. It ain't cheap, however: the cost of a marriage license is $63.50 in cash.
Best Time to Go
This is a tricky question. Basically, all the attractions in Florida have two peak seasons—the first runs from Christmas to Easter and the other runs from mid-June to August. Any holiday weekend (Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, etc.) finds the parks jam-packed as well. The crowds are most sparse in the fall from September to mid-December. Late spring (after Easter to mid-June) is also slower than the frenetic winter peak season.
How about the weather? Anyone who's visited Florida in the summer will attest to the brutal heat and humidity. While late fall is cooler, the weather is also slightly more rainy. If you're looking for the best combination of good weather and sparse crowds, you might want to try early December. Disney staffers told us most brides and grooms avoid summer weddings. Spring and fall are the most popular times.
Costs, Accommodations, and Getting Around
We were impressed by Disney's large variety of packages and options for all types of weddings. For example, if you're interested in an "intimate" wedding (bride and groom only), Disney offers an affordable package that includes the ceremony, flowers, four nights accommodation at one of five resorts, five days admission to the parks, breakfast every day and one dinner. Cost: $1894 per couple.
What if you want to invite fifty of your closest friends and have a big bash? Well, first the ceremony setup costs run $3 to $5 per guest, with a $100 minimum. For the reception, Disney has a $3500 minimum for food and beverage. Sample menus we previewed ranged from $13.50 per person for a cocktail hors d'oeuvre reception to $42.50 per person for a sit-down dinner. An open bar ranges from $8 to $16.50 per guest per hour, depending on the liquor served. The gratuity runs 18 percent on all food and beverage. A $500 deposit is required to hold the date and Disney can book weddings up to twelve months in advance.
Disney offers all kinds of interesting options to personalize your wedding. How about specially-designed wedding invitations with Disney characters like Cinderella or the Little Mermaid? The price runs $5 to $12.50 each—not the cheapest option but certainly unique.
Flowers, entertainment, and transportation options round out Disney's offers. Their full-service floral department can create a bridal bouquet starting at $125. You can opt for traditional music options (DJs start at $650, while a four-piece band is $1775), or have "themed" musicians such as the Toon Town Trio at $700.
How much does Cinderella's crystal coach run? Try $1200. If that's too pricey, you can have a vintage 1929 Cadillac for $350.
And what does it cost to have Goofy as your best man? Walt Disney characters are available for $395 for one character up to $775 for three.
If your guests want to extend their stay into a full-fledged vacation, Disney does offer discounted rates. Two- to ten-night plans are available, ranging from $371 to $1277 per person. Because the resorts book up quickly, Disney recommends your guests make reservations about four to six months in advance— they'll even provide reservation forms you can send out to guests early.
As for the best place to stay, our pick is the Grand Floridian Beach resort. Its Victorian-era design is highlighted by a five-story Grand Lobby, lush grounds, and gingerbread detailing. The "white and bright" decor makes it a perfect bridal setting.
One popular ceremony spot is a grassy knoll that overlooks the Cinderella Castle and a private cove. Near the Grand Floridian, a brick veranda with boat dock has a nice view of midnight fireworks. A favorite spot for intimate weddings is a bluff near the Polynesian resort. A future gazebo is planned here and Disney is considering building a nondenominational chapel at some point. If we had one complaint about Disney weddings it would have to be the ceremony sites—currently all are outdoors, although indoor backup sites are available in case of rain. The future chapel may remedy this problem.
For a large reception, we were impressed with the Grand Floridian's ballroom. Decorated in light hues, the room has an adjoining brick veranda that is a popular spot for cocktails.
What Makes it Special
If you or your fiance have children, what better place to tie the knot than the Magic Kingdom? The combination wedding and family vacation may the best way to start a new family. Even if you don't have children, Disney is still an intriguing place to get married. Besides all the attractions and parks, Disney's resorts offer service, food, and activities that rival the best destinations in the world.
Insider Travel Tips
The best advice to planning a wedding at Disney is to make at least one or two pre-wedding visits. The first visit will concentrate on site selections—touring all the possible places to tie the knot can take awhile. Especially for larger weddings, a second visit might concentrate on logistics (choosing flowers, menu planning, etc.).
The good news on airfare is that many air carriers (especially charters) offer cheap flights to Orlando. Consult your travel agent for the best deals.
As for advice on tackling all the parks and attractions, we highly recommend The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and EPCOT (by Bob Sehlinger, published by Prentice Hall Press) as a great source book for visiting the huge Walt Disney World complex in Orlando. This book offers smart tips on how to see the parks without getting bogged down in the crowds. It also talks about accommodations and transportation. The book includes EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios, and Universal Studios. For more reading, you can also check out the official Walt Disney-sanctioned guide: Steve Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World. Both books are available in bookstores across, the country.
More Information, Please
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings department can be reached at 407-363-6333.
The following attractions, shows, components, entities, and such mentioned or discussed in the above section are registered trademarks of Walt Disney Productions, Inc.: EPCOT, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, The Littie Mermaid.
Yes, it's possible, with help from the folks at Walt Disney World in Orlando. They received so many inquires from brides and grooms about tying the knot in their theme park that they recently set up the Fairy Tale Wedding department.
Okay, let's say you don't want Goofy as your best man. You can still pick from one of Disney's numerous resorts to tie the knot, including the spectacular Grand Floridian. We visited the resort recently to get a firsthand look at Disney weddings.
Wedding Logistics
The Disney wedding is not as difficult as you might think—there is no blood test or waiting period to get a marriage license in Orlando. It takes about thirty minutes to fill out an application and another thirty minutes for processing. It ain't cheap, however: the cost of a marriage license is $63.50 in cash.
Best Time to Go
This is a tricky question. Basically, all the attractions in Florida have two peak seasons—the first runs from Christmas to Easter and the other runs from mid-June to August. Any holiday weekend (Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, etc.) finds the parks jam-packed as well. The crowds are most sparse in the fall from September to mid-December. Late spring (after Easter to mid-June) is also slower than the frenetic winter peak season.
How about the weather? Anyone who's visited Florida in the summer will attest to the brutal heat and humidity. While late fall is cooler, the weather is also slightly more rainy. If you're looking for the best combination of good weather and sparse crowds, you might want to try early December. Disney staffers told us most brides and grooms avoid summer weddings. Spring and fall are the most popular times.
Costs, Accommodations, and Getting Around
We were impressed by Disney's large variety of packages and options for all types of weddings. For example, if you're interested in an "intimate" wedding (bride and groom only), Disney offers an affordable package that includes the ceremony, flowers, four nights accommodation at one of five resorts, five days admission to the parks, breakfast every day and one dinner. Cost: $1894 per couple.
What if you want to invite fifty of your closest friends and have a big bash? Well, first the ceremony setup costs run $3 to $5 per guest, with a $100 minimum. For the reception, Disney has a $3500 minimum for food and beverage. Sample menus we previewed ranged from $13.50 per person for a cocktail hors d'oeuvre reception to $42.50 per person for a sit-down dinner. An open bar ranges from $8 to $16.50 per guest per hour, depending on the liquor served. The gratuity runs 18 percent on all food and beverage. A $500 deposit is required to hold the date and Disney can book weddings up to twelve months in advance.
Disney offers all kinds of interesting options to personalize your wedding. How about specially-designed wedding invitations with Disney characters like Cinderella or the Little Mermaid? The price runs $5 to $12.50 each—not the cheapest option but certainly unique.
Flowers, entertainment, and transportation options round out Disney's offers. Their full-service floral department can create a bridal bouquet starting at $125. You can opt for traditional music options (DJs start at $650, while a four-piece band is $1775), or have "themed" musicians such as the Toon Town Trio at $700.
How much does Cinderella's crystal coach run? Try $1200. If that's too pricey, you can have a vintage 1929 Cadillac for $350.
And what does it cost to have Goofy as your best man? Walt Disney characters are available for $395 for one character up to $775 for three.
If your guests want to extend their stay into a full-fledged vacation, Disney does offer discounted rates. Two- to ten-night plans are available, ranging from $371 to $1277 per person. Because the resorts book up quickly, Disney recommends your guests make reservations about four to six months in advance— they'll even provide reservation forms you can send out to guests early.
As for the best place to stay, our pick is the Grand Floridian Beach resort. Its Victorian-era design is highlighted by a five-story Grand Lobby, lush grounds, and gingerbread detailing. The "white and bright" decor makes it a perfect bridal setting.
One popular ceremony spot is a grassy knoll that overlooks the Cinderella Castle and a private cove. Near the Grand Floridian, a brick veranda with boat dock has a nice view of midnight fireworks. A favorite spot for intimate weddings is a bluff near the Polynesian resort. A future gazebo is planned here and Disney is considering building a nondenominational chapel at some point. If we had one complaint about Disney weddings it would have to be the ceremony sites—currently all are outdoors, although indoor backup sites are available in case of rain. The future chapel may remedy this problem.
For a large reception, we were impressed with the Grand Floridian's ballroom. Decorated in light hues, the room has an adjoining brick veranda that is a popular spot for cocktails.
What Makes it Special
If you or your fiance have children, what better place to tie the knot than the Magic Kingdom? The combination wedding and family vacation may the best way to start a new family. Even if you don't have children, Disney is still an intriguing place to get married. Besides all the attractions and parks, Disney's resorts offer service, food, and activities that rival the best destinations in the world.
Insider Travel Tips
The best advice to planning a wedding at Disney is to make at least one or two pre-wedding visits. The first visit will concentrate on site selections—touring all the possible places to tie the knot can take awhile. Especially for larger weddings, a second visit might concentrate on logistics (choosing flowers, menu planning, etc.).
The good news on airfare is that many air carriers (especially charters) offer cheap flights to Orlando. Consult your travel agent for the best deals.
As for advice on tackling all the parks and attractions, we highly recommend The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and EPCOT (by Bob Sehlinger, published by Prentice Hall Press) as a great source book for visiting the huge Walt Disney World complex in Orlando. This book offers smart tips on how to see the parks without getting bogged down in the crowds. It also talks about accommodations and transportation. The book includes EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios, and Universal Studios. For more reading, you can also check out the official Walt Disney-sanctioned guide: Steve Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World. Both books are available in bookstores across, the country.
More Information, Please
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings department can be reached at 407-363-6333.
The following attractions, shows, components, entities, and such mentioned or discussed in the above section are registered trademarks of Walt Disney Productions, Inc.: EPCOT, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, The Littie Mermaid.
Destination Wedding Locations: Maui, Hawaii
One of the best things about a destination wedding or honeymoon in Hawaii is the "no muss/no fuss" nature of this location. There are no passports to worry about, and no currency exchanges or calculations needed to convert silver Bug-a-Boos into dollars.
That is not to say that Hawaii, which is technically part of the United States, is in any way a sane and rational place. Any place that derives 113 percent of its income from tourism can be expected to be a little on the looney side. And we definitely discovered this when we visited the fiftieth state to scout out sites for this book.
First, we offer a run-down of the different islands and why we think Maui is the best. Hawaii is comprised of six islands, each with its own "spirit," as the travel brochures delicately put it. Let's take stock.
OAHU: TOO CROWDED. Home to Honolulu and Waikiki, this island was probably a nice place to visit about fifty years ago. If we want to see urban sprawl, we could stay at home.
KAUAI: RECENTLY BLOWN AWAY BY HURRICANE. While the tourist hotels are in the process of being rebuilt (as of this writing), Kauai still has one fatal flaw—its dinky size and lack of amenities limited night life) makes a visit any longer than a day or two seem too long.
HAWAII, MOLOKAI, AND LANAI: TOO RUSTIC. The drive-through volcanoes on the big island of Hawaii are spectacular and both Molokai and Lanai offer nice scenery, but this brings us to the biggest disadvantage of a Hawaiian vacation: too many islands, too little time.
While the idea of cramming as many islands into your trip sounds intriguing, the reality of plane hopping is less exciting. True, the average flight time between islands is just fifteen to thirty minutes, but the wait at the car rental place can be twice that.
As we mentioned earlier, the whole state of Hawaii has a somewhat loopy disposition. We noticed this on our arrival at the Maui airport. As some kind of sick Polynesian joke, the natives have decided not to put any signs at the airport to direct you, the tourist, to such popular hang-outs as the beach and the hotels. We discovered this oversight when we took a wrong turn and ended up in a top-secret naval base with the cryptic name "U.S.S. O.O.P.S."
Fortunately, the island of Maui is only forty-five miles wide. So, if you take a wrong turn, you run into that friendly directional locator called the Pacific Ocean. Despite this quirk, Maui offers the best scenery and activities for destination brides and grooms. For variety, Maui also has a couple of 10,000-foot dormant volcanoes. From secluded black sand beaches to bustling tourist towns, Maui is our pick as one of the best places to plan a destination wedding and honeymoon.
Wedding Logistics
It's pretty easy to tie the knot on Maui—Hawaii has no waiting period or residency rules for marriage licenses. As a result, nearly three thousand couples tied the knot there last year. There is a rubella blood test required for the bride if she has not been immunized for this disease (the test can be performed anywhere in the United States or Canada). If you have been immunized, Hawaii will accept a certificate from a U.S. or Canadian doctor as proof. (As a side note, the test is waived for brides who are beyond child-bearing age).
No health tests are required for the groom. You must apply for a license in person from a "marriage license agent." Call the Department of Health (808-243-5313) for the latest list of agents. The cost for a license is $16.
Local Bridal Customs
The traditional Hawaiian wedding gown is a holoku, a white gown which the bride accents with a crown of orchids. A red sash is the most remarkable part of a groom's attire, which is usually a white long-sleeve shirt and pants. Another tradition: the groom arrives at the ceremony site in a canoe—neat touch.
Best Time to Go
While Maui has really become a year-round destination, high season is still December, January, and February. Hotels and beaches are most crowded then. The crowds taper off after high season, hence, a nice time to visit is late April to June. October and November (before Thanksgiving) are also low seasons.
As for the weather, the "rainy" season is in the winter, especially January and February. Even so, the western part of Maui (where most of the resorts are) only sees about fifteen inches of rain a year. A stray shower can hit at just about any time, but usually the weather is nice—summer temperatures in the 80s, and 70s in the winter. Hurricane season, as those in Kauai found out recently, runs from June through November, though storms usually seem to veer away from the islands.
Costs, Accommodations, and Getting Around
The best deals on Maui are the package deals that many hotels, resorts, and condos offer. Most include a three- to seven-night stay, car rental, and even a "romantic dinner for two" in some packages.
' We found the best deal was to rent a "condo—the luxury of having a kitchen gives you the option of avoiding sky-high prices for meals if you wish. Most condos have the same amenities as hotels, including housekeeping, a concierge, and more. We stayed at the Ka'anapali Alii (800-642-6284) condo complex where we could even order room service from the hotel next door.
We stayed at the condo for four nights (five days) for about $ 1100 per couple, including car rental. At the Grand Hyatt at Wailea (800-233-1234) down the coast, a three-night package runs $1200. The hotel has a world-famous swimming pool and a stained-glass wedding chapel that hosts at least two weddings a day. As far as other packages went, most condos on Maui seemed to start at $1000 for seven days. Hotel packages, especially for the prime resorts, were slightly higher.
Airfare fluctuates with the whims of the major airlines. Check to see if it's cheaper to fly to San Francisco first, stay the night and then fly on to Maui. We found this to be more reasonable than a nonstop flight from the center of the United States, since many of the airlines offer super-low fares from California to Hawaii.
The food on Maui (as- on the rest of Hawaii) is incredibly expensive—about 30 percent more than the mainland. Expect to shell out $25 for breakfast for two, $40 for lunch, and $75 to $100 for dinner. On the upside, the Pacific Rim cuisine is absolutely incredible—be sure to ask your concierge for recommendations on the latest "hot" eateries.
What Makes it Special
The beaches are the stars here, of course. But if you want to venture beyond the surf, there are several interesting day trips. The road to Hana, a fifty-five-mile drive that will take you a very long three hours, is a favorite for seeing waterfalls and sheer cliffs that drop to the ocean. A helicopter ride (about $100 to $200 per person) is a fantastic way to take in remote waterfalls and the Haleakala crater (a dormant volcano that rises 10,000 feet above sea-level). A quick warning: look out for hucksters on the street offering "discount" coupons for helicopter rides, scuba diving, etc. What's the catch? You must attend a several hour "sales presentation" for a time share or condo deal.
Insider Travel Tips
The six-hour plane ride from Los Angeles will tire you out, so expect to spend much of the first day recuperating and acclimating to the time change. If you want to explore the more rustic parts of the island, rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Also, you'll need reservations to get into most of the popular restaurants—we relied on our concierge for recommendations and were never disappointed. Ka'anapali and Lahaina (resorts on the northwest side of the island) have a younger feel than Wailea, which had an older, more sedate atmosphere. The locals are generally friendly, if not a little bit wacky
That is not to say that Hawaii, which is technically part of the United States, is in any way a sane and rational place. Any place that derives 113 percent of its income from tourism can be expected to be a little on the looney side. And we definitely discovered this when we visited the fiftieth state to scout out sites for this book.
First, we offer a run-down of the different islands and why we think Maui is the best. Hawaii is comprised of six islands, each with its own "spirit," as the travel brochures delicately put it. Let's take stock.
OAHU: TOO CROWDED. Home to Honolulu and Waikiki, this island was probably a nice place to visit about fifty years ago. If we want to see urban sprawl, we could stay at home.
KAUAI: RECENTLY BLOWN AWAY BY HURRICANE. While the tourist hotels are in the process of being rebuilt (as of this writing), Kauai still has one fatal flaw—its dinky size and lack of amenities limited night life) makes a visit any longer than a day or two seem too long.
HAWAII, MOLOKAI, AND LANAI: TOO RUSTIC. The drive-through volcanoes on the big island of Hawaii are spectacular and both Molokai and Lanai offer nice scenery, but this brings us to the biggest disadvantage of a Hawaiian vacation: too many islands, too little time.
While the idea of cramming as many islands into your trip sounds intriguing, the reality of plane hopping is less exciting. True, the average flight time between islands is just fifteen to thirty minutes, but the wait at the car rental place can be twice that.
As we mentioned earlier, the whole state of Hawaii has a somewhat loopy disposition. We noticed this on our arrival at the Maui airport. As some kind of sick Polynesian joke, the natives have decided not to put any signs at the airport to direct you, the tourist, to such popular hang-outs as the beach and the hotels. We discovered this oversight when we took a wrong turn and ended up in a top-secret naval base with the cryptic name "U.S.S. O.O.P.S."
Fortunately, the island of Maui is only forty-five miles wide. So, if you take a wrong turn, you run into that friendly directional locator called the Pacific Ocean. Despite this quirk, Maui offers the best scenery and activities for destination brides and grooms. For variety, Maui also has a couple of 10,000-foot dormant volcanoes. From secluded black sand beaches to bustling tourist towns, Maui is our pick as one of the best places to plan a destination wedding and honeymoon.
Wedding Logistics
It's pretty easy to tie the knot on Maui—Hawaii has no waiting period or residency rules for marriage licenses. As a result, nearly three thousand couples tied the knot there last year. There is a rubella blood test required for the bride if she has not been immunized for this disease (the test can be performed anywhere in the United States or Canada). If you have been immunized, Hawaii will accept a certificate from a U.S. or Canadian doctor as proof. (As a side note, the test is waived for brides who are beyond child-bearing age).
No health tests are required for the groom. You must apply for a license in person from a "marriage license agent." Call the Department of Health (808-243-5313) for the latest list of agents. The cost for a license is $16.
Local Bridal Customs
The traditional Hawaiian wedding gown is a holoku, a white gown which the bride accents with a crown of orchids. A red sash is the most remarkable part of a groom's attire, which is usually a white long-sleeve shirt and pants. Another tradition: the groom arrives at the ceremony site in a canoe—neat touch.
Best Time to Go
While Maui has really become a year-round destination, high season is still December, January, and February. Hotels and beaches are most crowded then. The crowds taper off after high season, hence, a nice time to visit is late April to June. October and November (before Thanksgiving) are also low seasons.
As for the weather, the "rainy" season is in the winter, especially January and February. Even so, the western part of Maui (where most of the resorts are) only sees about fifteen inches of rain a year. A stray shower can hit at just about any time, but usually the weather is nice—summer temperatures in the 80s, and 70s in the winter. Hurricane season, as those in Kauai found out recently, runs from June through November, though storms usually seem to veer away from the islands.
Costs, Accommodations, and Getting Around
The best deals on Maui are the package deals that many hotels, resorts, and condos offer. Most include a three- to seven-night stay, car rental, and even a "romantic dinner for two" in some packages.
' We found the best deal was to rent a "condo—the luxury of having a kitchen gives you the option of avoiding sky-high prices for meals if you wish. Most condos have the same amenities as hotels, including housekeeping, a concierge, and more. We stayed at the Ka'anapali Alii (800-642-6284) condo complex where we could even order room service from the hotel next door.
We stayed at the condo for four nights (five days) for about $ 1100 per couple, including car rental. At the Grand Hyatt at Wailea (800-233-1234) down the coast, a three-night package runs $1200. The hotel has a world-famous swimming pool and a stained-glass wedding chapel that hosts at least two weddings a day. As far as other packages went, most condos on Maui seemed to start at $1000 for seven days. Hotel packages, especially for the prime resorts, were slightly higher.
Airfare fluctuates with the whims of the major airlines. Check to see if it's cheaper to fly to San Francisco first, stay the night and then fly on to Maui. We found this to be more reasonable than a nonstop flight from the center of the United States, since many of the airlines offer super-low fares from California to Hawaii.
The food on Maui (as- on the rest of Hawaii) is incredibly expensive—about 30 percent more than the mainland. Expect to shell out $25 for breakfast for two, $40 for lunch, and $75 to $100 for dinner. On the upside, the Pacific Rim cuisine is absolutely incredible—be sure to ask your concierge for recommendations on the latest "hot" eateries.
What Makes it Special
The beaches are the stars here, of course. But if you want to venture beyond the surf, there are several interesting day trips. The road to Hana, a fifty-five-mile drive that will take you a very long three hours, is a favorite for seeing waterfalls and sheer cliffs that drop to the ocean. A helicopter ride (about $100 to $200 per person) is a fantastic way to take in remote waterfalls and the Haleakala crater (a dormant volcano that rises 10,000 feet above sea-level). A quick warning: look out for hucksters on the street offering "discount" coupons for helicopter rides, scuba diving, etc. What's the catch? You must attend a several hour "sales presentation" for a time share or condo deal.
Insider Travel Tips
The six-hour plane ride from Los Angeles will tire you out, so expect to spend much of the first day recuperating and acclimating to the time change. If you want to explore the more rustic parts of the island, rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Also, you'll need reservations to get into most of the popular restaurants—we relied on our concierge for recommendations and were never disappointed. Ka'anapali and Lahaina (resorts on the northwest side of the island) have a younger feel than Wailea, which had an older, more sedate atmosphere. The locals are generally friendly, if not a little bit wacky
Friday, July 3, 2009
Destination Wedding Locations: 15 Money Saving Tips
As you might have guessed, getting married in a foreign country is not the world's easiest feat. You can't just pop down to your local marriage license bureau, buy a license, hop on a plane, and tie the knot on some tropical beach. Why not? Let's take a brief look at why the foreign marriage scene is so nuts.You can trace the origin of foreign marriage license gymnastics to the year 1789. That's the year the Founding Fathers drafted the U.S. Constitution and, in some fit of insanity, reserved the whole business of marriage and divorce to the states. That's why there is no Federal Department of Marriage.
What the heck does this have to do with anything, you might ask? Ah, it has a lot to do with getting married in a foreign country—this constitutional quirk means no federal officials can perform marriages—federal officials such as embassy officers, ambassadors, and various other friendly U.S. government employees you might see in a foreign country. As a result, if you want to get married in a foreign country, you have to follow the local rules and regulations. And if you think the individual states in this country have funky marriage license rules, you haven't seen anything yet.
Take Italy, for example. How about tying the knot in a lovely villa in Milan? Sounds romantic, yes? Well, first you need your birth certificates. And not just any ordinary copy of your birth certificate—you need one that is certified and exemplified. We haven't the foggiest idea what exemplification is, we just know that only the secretary of state (of the state in which you were born, naturally) can work this magic trick.
Next, the secretary of state needs to affix an "apostil" to the document (don't ask—we've never seen an apostil, but it sounds vaguely religious.) After you've got your birth certificates certified, exemplified, and apostilized, you need to get them translated into Italian. Then, go to your nearest Italian consulate with four (not three, but four!) witnesses, and finally, get your marriage license.
Ha! Just kidding—you don't get a marriage license. You just get a certificate that you take to the American consulate in Milan. Then, you trade in this certificate for another one and take this piece of paper to two different city offices in Milan. Then you get a marriage license. So you're all ready for your civil wedding in Milan. How about a romantic sunset ceremony? Wrong. Civil ceremonies in Milan must be performed between 10 am and 11 am. No kidding. (If you'd like to hear more about what can go wrong with an Italian wedding, check out David Shaw's article, "The Wedding March" in the March 1990 issue of Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.)
Beyond bureaucracies from hell, there is another roadblock to marriages in many countries: residency requirements. Some countries require you to be in the country for several days (or weeks) prior the wedding. France, for example, has a whopping forty-day residency requirement. And many Caribbean islands that were former French colonies have similar rules. In this section, we will give you some general information on how easy or how difficult it is to tie the knot in certain foreign destinations.
How do you find out the rules and requirements for different countries? Here are some possibilities:
The Federal Government
As you might guess, the federal government handles questions about marriage in foreign countries about as efficiently as it moves the mail. We discovered that there are five sections within the U.S. State Department Office of Citizen's Consular that are supposed to help you with this information. Each section has information on a different part of the world:
East Asia and Pacific: 202-647-3675 Europe and Canada: 202-647-3445 Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: 202-647-3712 Near Eastern/South Asia: 202-647-3926 Africa: 202-647-4994
We called each of the above numbers and the response of the bureaucrats on the phone varied widely. A couple never returned our messages. One was very helpful, even faxing us detailed information on getting married in Mexico.
Unfortunately, the information is so general that it's not very useful. For example, we got information on getting married in Mexico City—not exactly a top tourist destination. Think this is the same as Cancun? Nope— Mexico has thirty two federal districts (roughly the equivalent of states), each with their own arcane rules.
This is not to say that the information is totally useless—we learned, for example, that the only legal marriages in predominantly Catholic Mexico are (you guessed it) civil ones! Hence, this information is helpful, but more as a starting point.
Local Consulates
Many countries have consulates and/or tourist bureaus in major U.S. cities. According to travel industry insiders we interviewed, however, the information from these sources is helpful but not wholly reliable. In the last section of this book, we list some consulates and tourist bureaus for popular destinations.
Professional Planners and Tour Companies
Perhaps the best person to ask about getting married in a particular country is someone who's already planned a wedding there. Both professional planners (reviewed in Chapter 6) and tour companies that specialize in booking wedding and honeymoon packages in certain countries are good sources. Of course, you have to pay for this advice; a professional planner may charge a fee that runs into the hundreds of dollars. Tour companies will give you marriage license information, if you book a package with them.
Obviously, the more experience a planner has with a location, the better. For example, if either the bride and groom has been previously divorced, you'll want to ask the planner if they've ever handled a similar wedding. You may have to get divorce decrees specially certified, for example.
The concierge at local hotels or resorts
A concierge at a hotel or resort that does a fair number of weddings may be a good resource for marriage license information.
TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Here are ten questions to ask about getting married in another country.
DOES YOUR RESORT HAVE A WEDDING PLANNER OR DEPARTMENT? Will someone be available to help you handle any red tape? What are the fees for this sender?
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS? How long must you wait after you arrive before you can tie the knot? And is this actual days or business days?
WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS NECESSARY? Requirements can vary tremendously. You'll need, at the very least, some form of identification, most commonly a birth certificate. But does it need to be an original, a certified copy, or notarized? Must it be translated? Are there any fees for translations? Must the translation be done in a specific way?
ARE THERE ANY REQUIRED MEDICAL TESTS? A blood test? X-rays? A doctor's certification of certain immunizations or health status? Can the certifying doctor be here in the United States?
IS THERE A FILING PERIOD OR PROCESSING TIME? Do the actual documents need to be sent ahead of time?
IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD? This is the period of time between when you get the license until you can marry. Can you get the license through the mail ahead of time?
SHOULD WE ARRIVE EARLY TO HANDLE ANY LAST-MINUTE PAPERWORK? While the resort may handle all the paperwork, some will request that you arrive early. This allows you to do any last-minute license tasks, to plan the wedding, or whatever.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROOF OF DIVORCE? In some countries, the divorce decree must be translated or certified. Check to see if there are waiting periods after your divorce is finalized before you can remarry. If one of you is a widower, confirm the requirements to prove this—usually you'll need to show a death certificate.
HOW MANY WITNESSES ARE NEEDED, IF ANY? Must the witnesses be citizens of that country? Should they also serve as interpreters?
CIVIL VS. RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES: WHAT IS ALLOWED? Some countries only recognize civil ceremonies. Others are exactly the opposite, requiring a certain religious ceremony.
Destination Wedding Locations 145
THE SECRET CEREMONY OPTION
After all this talk about medical tests and translated birth certificates, you may be wondering "Am I crazy? The killer residency requirement is ridiculous! Should I forget this idea of a destination wedding?"
Of course not. Here's a solution: consider a "secret ceremony." Just before you get on the plane for that tropical getaway, you drop by the justice of the peace. In a very private ceremony, you tie the knot. Then, hop on the plane and have the wedding you've imagined on that white sand beach. If you've invited a small number of friends and family, they'll never know that you're already married and this is just for show.
The "secret ceremony option" is a wonderful way to have your cake and eat it, too. What does it matter that you were technically married hours earlier? You don't have to worry about translations, residency periods, foreign bureaucracies, and other red tape. Only you and your fiance know the truth. The important part is you're getting married. And this is going to be one hell of a vacation.
CAUTION: Use a credit card to for travel deposits or payments.
The travel industry is populated with hundreds of tour operators and "consolidators" who offer tremendous savings on airfares and hotels. Unfortunately, some are scam artists who take in huge amounts of money from travellers, only to go out of business before the trips are ever taken.
How do you know that a tour company (or a travel agent, for that matter) is reputable? The honest truth is it is very hard—scam artists can hide their trail of unhappy customers, or a seemingly reputable travel company can hit tough financial straits and go bankrupt overnight.
The only way to protect yourself is to use a credit card to pay for deposits or trip payments. Charges to your card have special federal consumer protection-—if you don't receive what you paid for or if the services or goods were inferior, you can dispute the charge on your card. The merchant has to prove that it didn't defraud you.
We've seen this work time and time again to protect consumers. When a travel tour company based right here in Boulder, Colorado, cancelled its European trips because of financial problems, the only consumers who got "refunds" were those who charged the deposits to credit cards. They just contacted their credit card companies and had the charges removed from their bill. Those who paid with cash or check lost as much as $3,000 each.
One quirk to this law: credit card issuers require you dispute the charge within sixty or ninety days after the "purchase," according to the fine print on the back of credit card statements. But you have to place deposits down six months in advance, right? How can you be protected?
Remember that a deposit is not actually a purchase. You have not yet received the goods or services (that is, the wedding or honeymoon trip). This loophole has enabled consumers to get credit even if months have elapsed since the deposit was made.
Another tip: follow the advice of a travel agent when selecting tour packages. The agents know who is reputable, which company fulfills their promises, and so on. Are travel agents foolproof? No, of course not. They can go out of business, too. And they might not steer you to the best deals (or even be aware of them). Nonetheless, we still find a reputable, experienced travel agent to be a valuable asset in planning your trip.
15 Money Saving Tips on Destination Wedding and Honeymoons
SAVE 50 PERCENT OR MORE BY GOING "OFF SEASON." California's Napa Valley is a bar-gain in spring. Ski resorts slash their rates in the summer and still offer fun festivals, hiking, mountain biking, and more. In the fall, the Caribbean has great deals before Christmas. Winter sees some of the lowest air fares to Europe. A good travel agent can help you find the best off-season bargains.
PICK UP CONDE NAST'S TRAVELLER MAGAZINE. We like this publication's honest and frank critiques of destinations and resorts. Forget the bridal magazines—their breathless chatter gives no real information. Another hot tip: travel guides for students (like the "Let's Go" series) offer great money-saving ideas.
CONSIDER THE "SHOULDER SEASONS" between high and low season. Not all destinations have super-saver bargains during shoulder times. But in the Caribbean, for example, the shoulder rates in late November or in late April are fantastic. One resort we found in the Virgin Islands has a shoulder season that offers big discounts. Go at the end of March (high season) and you'll pay $2330 per couple for seven nights. Wait one week (after April 1) and the price drops to $1630—a whopping savings of$700, which might be enough to pay for one airfare!
EXCHANGE MONEY AT A BANK. See if your local bank can exchange money before you leave, or find a bank at the location where you're heading. Hotel exchange rates could break you.
GET A CONDO OR SUITE WITH A KITCHEN and buy inexpensive breakfasts (like bagels, toast or frozen waffles). The savings over eating breakfast out each day will be significant—then you can go "whole hog" at dinner. Better yet, take full advantage of any complimentary breakfast offered by the hotel or resort.
CONSIDER A NICE THREE-NIGHT PACKAGE if seven nights will break the bank. Some resorts also have four- and five-night packages that are not as widely promoted as the seven-night variety.
PACKAGES THAT INCLUDE AIRFARE AND HOTEL OFFER THE BEST BARGAINS. Super deals include breakfasts, dinner(s), car rentals, and other goodies. Book early to get the best rates.
NEVER ORDER ROOM SERVICE. Surcharges and gratuities make this very expensive. Also, never even look at the minibar—that little refrigerator in your room stocked with $15 cans of peanuts. It may be tempting, but you'll pay the price later. Always check your final bill. We frequently have been charged for items in the minibar that we never touched.
PACK LOTS OF ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES, including shampoos and suntan lotion. Most hotels and resorts charge a premium price for such items.
PACK LITTLE PACKETS OF DETERGENT and hand wash any dirty clothes. We once used a hotel laundry service for two outfits and got a bill for $50.
GET A TRAVEL AGENT. They'll save you more money than you can imagine. We like ones who have actually visited the locations or hotels they've recommended—or have sent clients there recently and got good reports.
AVOID TAXIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Try to walk or ride the bus, since taxis are darned expensive.
SEE IF THE RATES FOR A ROOM WITH LESS OF A VIEW ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE. If you're right next to the beach, you don't have to look at it twenty-four hours a day. With the savings from a "garden view" room, you might be able to afford another day or two of vacation.
CHECK YOUR CAR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CAR RENTAL COVERAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Don't buy expensive extra collision coverage if you don't need it. Some credit cards also offer tins perk if you use them to pay for the rental.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY STUDENT DISCOUNTS. Many airlines and even hotels offer discounted rates to college students. Typically, such fares require you to be under a certain age and/or have a college ID. Discounts on both domestic and international travel can be significant.
WARNING: Marriage license requirements can change at any time.
In the following section, we review various destinations and give you general information on getting married there. While we have thoroughly researched this material, omissions and mistakes may exist.
Therefore, we urge you to consult the services of a professional wedding planner (whether he or she works independently or for a resort or hotel) to obtain, a marriage license in a foreign country. In addition, requirements and rules at home or abroad may change at any time. Before departing, be sure to confirm all documentation, residency periods, and other rules.
What the heck does this have to do with anything, you might ask? Ah, it has a lot to do with getting married in a foreign country—this constitutional quirk means no federal officials can perform marriages—federal officials such as embassy officers, ambassadors, and various other friendly U.S. government employees you might see in a foreign country. As a result, if you want to get married in a foreign country, you have to follow the local rules and regulations. And if you think the individual states in this country have funky marriage license rules, you haven't seen anything yet.
Take Italy, for example. How about tying the knot in a lovely villa in Milan? Sounds romantic, yes? Well, first you need your birth certificates. And not just any ordinary copy of your birth certificate—you need one that is certified and exemplified. We haven't the foggiest idea what exemplification is, we just know that only the secretary of state (of the state in which you were born, naturally) can work this magic trick.
Next, the secretary of state needs to affix an "apostil" to the document (don't ask—we've never seen an apostil, but it sounds vaguely religious.) After you've got your birth certificates certified, exemplified, and apostilized, you need to get them translated into Italian. Then, go to your nearest Italian consulate with four (not three, but four!) witnesses, and finally, get your marriage license.
Ha! Just kidding—you don't get a marriage license. You just get a certificate that you take to the American consulate in Milan. Then, you trade in this certificate for another one and take this piece of paper to two different city offices in Milan. Then you get a marriage license. So you're all ready for your civil wedding in Milan. How about a romantic sunset ceremony? Wrong. Civil ceremonies in Milan must be performed between 10 am and 11 am. No kidding. (If you'd like to hear more about what can go wrong with an Italian wedding, check out David Shaw's article, "The Wedding March" in the March 1990 issue of Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.)
Beyond bureaucracies from hell, there is another roadblock to marriages in many countries: residency requirements. Some countries require you to be in the country for several days (or weeks) prior the wedding. France, for example, has a whopping forty-day residency requirement. And many Caribbean islands that were former French colonies have similar rules. In this section, we will give you some general information on how easy or how difficult it is to tie the knot in certain foreign destinations.
How do you find out the rules and requirements for different countries? Here are some possibilities:
The Federal Government
As you might guess, the federal government handles questions about marriage in foreign countries about as efficiently as it moves the mail. We discovered that there are five sections within the U.S. State Department Office of Citizen's Consular that are supposed to help you with this information. Each section has information on a different part of the world:
East Asia and Pacific: 202-647-3675 Europe and Canada: 202-647-3445 Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: 202-647-3712 Near Eastern/South Asia: 202-647-3926 Africa: 202-647-4994
We called each of the above numbers and the response of the bureaucrats on the phone varied widely. A couple never returned our messages. One was very helpful, even faxing us detailed information on getting married in Mexico.
Unfortunately, the information is so general that it's not very useful. For example, we got information on getting married in Mexico City—not exactly a top tourist destination. Think this is the same as Cancun? Nope— Mexico has thirty two federal districts (roughly the equivalent of states), each with their own arcane rules.
This is not to say that the information is totally useless—we learned, for example, that the only legal marriages in predominantly Catholic Mexico are (you guessed it) civil ones! Hence, this information is helpful, but more as a starting point.
Local Consulates
Many countries have consulates and/or tourist bureaus in major U.S. cities. According to travel industry insiders we interviewed, however, the information from these sources is helpful but not wholly reliable. In the last section of this book, we list some consulates and tourist bureaus for popular destinations.
Professional Planners and Tour Companies
Perhaps the best person to ask about getting married in a particular country is someone who's already planned a wedding there. Both professional planners (reviewed in Chapter 6) and tour companies that specialize in booking wedding and honeymoon packages in certain countries are good sources. Of course, you have to pay for this advice; a professional planner may charge a fee that runs into the hundreds of dollars. Tour companies will give you marriage license information, if you book a package with them.
Obviously, the more experience a planner has with a location, the better. For example, if either the bride and groom has been previously divorced, you'll want to ask the planner if they've ever handled a similar wedding. You may have to get divorce decrees specially certified, for example.
The concierge at local hotels or resorts
A concierge at a hotel or resort that does a fair number of weddings may be a good resource for marriage license information.
TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Here are ten questions to ask about getting married in another country.
DOES YOUR RESORT HAVE A WEDDING PLANNER OR DEPARTMENT? Will someone be available to help you handle any red tape? What are the fees for this sender?
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS? How long must you wait after you arrive before you can tie the knot? And is this actual days or business days?
WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS NECESSARY? Requirements can vary tremendously. You'll need, at the very least, some form of identification, most commonly a birth certificate. But does it need to be an original, a certified copy, or notarized? Must it be translated? Are there any fees for translations? Must the translation be done in a specific way?
ARE THERE ANY REQUIRED MEDICAL TESTS? A blood test? X-rays? A doctor's certification of certain immunizations or health status? Can the certifying doctor be here in the United States?
IS THERE A FILING PERIOD OR PROCESSING TIME? Do the actual documents need to be sent ahead of time?
IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD? This is the period of time between when you get the license until you can marry. Can you get the license through the mail ahead of time?
SHOULD WE ARRIVE EARLY TO HANDLE ANY LAST-MINUTE PAPERWORK? While the resort may handle all the paperwork, some will request that you arrive early. This allows you to do any last-minute license tasks, to plan the wedding, or whatever.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROOF OF DIVORCE? In some countries, the divorce decree must be translated or certified. Check to see if there are waiting periods after your divorce is finalized before you can remarry. If one of you is a widower, confirm the requirements to prove this—usually you'll need to show a death certificate.
HOW MANY WITNESSES ARE NEEDED, IF ANY? Must the witnesses be citizens of that country? Should they also serve as interpreters?
CIVIL VS. RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES: WHAT IS ALLOWED? Some countries only recognize civil ceremonies. Others are exactly the opposite, requiring a certain religious ceremony.
Destination Wedding Locations 145
THE SECRET CEREMONY OPTION
After all this talk about medical tests and translated birth certificates, you may be wondering "Am I crazy? The killer residency requirement is ridiculous! Should I forget this idea of a destination wedding?"
Of course not. Here's a solution: consider a "secret ceremony." Just before you get on the plane for that tropical getaway, you drop by the justice of the peace. In a very private ceremony, you tie the knot. Then, hop on the plane and have the wedding you've imagined on that white sand beach. If you've invited a small number of friends and family, they'll never know that you're already married and this is just for show.
The "secret ceremony option" is a wonderful way to have your cake and eat it, too. What does it matter that you were technically married hours earlier? You don't have to worry about translations, residency periods, foreign bureaucracies, and other red tape. Only you and your fiance know the truth. The important part is you're getting married. And this is going to be one hell of a vacation.
CAUTION: Use a credit card to for travel deposits or payments.
The travel industry is populated with hundreds of tour operators and "consolidators" who offer tremendous savings on airfares and hotels. Unfortunately, some are scam artists who take in huge amounts of money from travellers, only to go out of business before the trips are ever taken.
How do you know that a tour company (or a travel agent, for that matter) is reputable? The honest truth is it is very hard—scam artists can hide their trail of unhappy customers, or a seemingly reputable travel company can hit tough financial straits and go bankrupt overnight.
The only way to protect yourself is to use a credit card to pay for deposits or trip payments. Charges to your card have special federal consumer protection-—if you don't receive what you paid for or if the services or goods were inferior, you can dispute the charge on your card. The merchant has to prove that it didn't defraud you.
We've seen this work time and time again to protect consumers. When a travel tour company based right here in Boulder, Colorado, cancelled its European trips because of financial problems, the only consumers who got "refunds" were those who charged the deposits to credit cards. They just contacted their credit card companies and had the charges removed from their bill. Those who paid with cash or check lost as much as $3,000 each.
One quirk to this law: credit card issuers require you dispute the charge within sixty or ninety days after the "purchase," according to the fine print on the back of credit card statements. But you have to place deposits down six months in advance, right? How can you be protected?
Remember that a deposit is not actually a purchase. You have not yet received the goods or services (that is, the wedding or honeymoon trip). This loophole has enabled consumers to get credit even if months have elapsed since the deposit was made.
Another tip: follow the advice of a travel agent when selecting tour packages. The agents know who is reputable, which company fulfills their promises, and so on. Are travel agents foolproof? No, of course not. They can go out of business, too. And they might not steer you to the best deals (or even be aware of them). Nonetheless, we still find a reputable, experienced travel agent to be a valuable asset in planning your trip.
15 Money Saving Tips on Destination Wedding and Honeymoons
SAVE 50 PERCENT OR MORE BY GOING "OFF SEASON." California's Napa Valley is a bar-gain in spring. Ski resorts slash their rates in the summer and still offer fun festivals, hiking, mountain biking, and more. In the fall, the Caribbean has great deals before Christmas. Winter sees some of the lowest air fares to Europe. A good travel agent can help you find the best off-season bargains.
PICK UP CONDE NAST'S TRAVELLER MAGAZINE. We like this publication's honest and frank critiques of destinations and resorts. Forget the bridal magazines—their breathless chatter gives no real information. Another hot tip: travel guides for students (like the "Let's Go" series) offer great money-saving ideas.
CONSIDER THE "SHOULDER SEASONS" between high and low season. Not all destinations have super-saver bargains during shoulder times. But in the Caribbean, for example, the shoulder rates in late November or in late April are fantastic. One resort we found in the Virgin Islands has a shoulder season that offers big discounts. Go at the end of March (high season) and you'll pay $2330 per couple for seven nights. Wait one week (after April 1) and the price drops to $1630—a whopping savings of$700, which might be enough to pay for one airfare!
EXCHANGE MONEY AT A BANK. See if your local bank can exchange money before you leave, or find a bank at the location where you're heading. Hotel exchange rates could break you.
GET A CONDO OR SUITE WITH A KITCHEN and buy inexpensive breakfasts (like bagels, toast or frozen waffles). The savings over eating breakfast out each day will be significant—then you can go "whole hog" at dinner. Better yet, take full advantage of any complimentary breakfast offered by the hotel or resort.
CONSIDER A NICE THREE-NIGHT PACKAGE if seven nights will break the bank. Some resorts also have four- and five-night packages that are not as widely promoted as the seven-night variety.
PACKAGES THAT INCLUDE AIRFARE AND HOTEL OFFER THE BEST BARGAINS. Super deals include breakfasts, dinner(s), car rentals, and other goodies. Book early to get the best rates.
NEVER ORDER ROOM SERVICE. Surcharges and gratuities make this very expensive. Also, never even look at the minibar—that little refrigerator in your room stocked with $15 cans of peanuts. It may be tempting, but you'll pay the price later. Always check your final bill. We frequently have been charged for items in the minibar that we never touched.
PACK LOTS OF ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES, including shampoos and suntan lotion. Most hotels and resorts charge a premium price for such items.
PACK LITTLE PACKETS OF DETERGENT and hand wash any dirty clothes. We once used a hotel laundry service for two outfits and got a bill for $50.
GET A TRAVEL AGENT. They'll save you more money than you can imagine. We like ones who have actually visited the locations or hotels they've recommended—or have sent clients there recently and got good reports.
AVOID TAXIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Try to walk or ride the bus, since taxis are darned expensive.
SEE IF THE RATES FOR A ROOM WITH LESS OF A VIEW ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE. If you're right next to the beach, you don't have to look at it twenty-four hours a day. With the savings from a "garden view" room, you might be able to afford another day or two of vacation.
CHECK YOUR CAR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CAR RENTAL COVERAGE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Don't buy expensive extra collision coverage if you don't need it. Some credit cards also offer tins perk if you use them to pay for the rental.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY STUDENT DISCOUNTS. Many airlines and even hotels offer discounted rates to college students. Typically, such fares require you to be under a certain age and/or have a college ID. Discounts on both domestic and international travel can be significant.
WARNING: Marriage license requirements can change at any time.
In the following section, we review various destinations and give you general information on getting married there. While we have thoroughly researched this material, omissions and mistakes may exist.
Therefore, we urge you to consult the services of a professional wedding planner (whether he or she works independently or for a resort or hotel) to obtain, a marriage license in a foreign country. In addition, requirements and rules at home or abroad may change at any time. Before departing, be sure to confirm all documentation, residency periods, and other rules.
Long Distance Wedding: Scams and Rip-offs
Just the other day we received a call from a panicked bride in California. Her wedding (which was in Houston, Texas) went off without a hitch—except for the pictures. The photographer had just called to say he was holding her pictures hostage—if she didn't send in another $500, she'd never see them and he'd destroy the negatives.
How did this happen? This long-distance bride became a victim of what we call the "local contract scam." Most contracts and agreements used by wedding merchants are written for in-town customers. For example, the photographer above had a "proof release" form that stated "the bride agrees to return the proofs within ten days; after this deadline, the bride agrees to purchase the entire proof set."
This clause is obviously used to encourage r couples to return their proofs (and hence place their orders) in a timely manner. The ten-day limit may be fine for in-town customers, but for our long-distance bride, this clause proved her undoing. Transit time to send the proofs from Texas to California chewed up five days alone. While the bride admitted to signing this form, she had no idea that the studio would hold her to this unrealistic time deadline. So, what do you think happened when the proofs arrived back in the studio past the deadline? The photographer called back the bride and said she would now have to purchase all the proofs (adding up to another $500 in charges!).
After the consumer brought this situation to our attention, we called the photographer to find out what happened. When pressed, the photographer admitted that the time deadline was unrealistic, but smugly said that it was the bride's "tough luck." He had the pictures and knew that the consumer wouldn't be interested in an expensive, long-distance court battie to get them.
What happened? The bride coughed up the $500 and got her pictures. And she learned a lesson—the same lesson that you can learn before you head down the aisle. You can avoid being a victim.
WHY ARE FAR & AWAY WEDDINGS THE MOST VULNERABLE TO SCAMS?
Weddings are a one-shot deal. After you purchase that dress, can you ever imagine yourself going back to the bridal shop? Will you buy another wedding video? Bridal bouquet?
The answer is probably no. After you walk out of that wedding business, the employees/owners are well aware that they'll never see you again. Unscrupulous scum bags see this as the perfect opportunity to fleece you out of your money, delivering shoddy goods and substandard services. Or failing to deliver anything at all, leaving town with your money.
Adding fuel to the fire is the "standard industry practice" of requiring (demanding) deposits to "hold your date." Some companies require 100 percent payment before they ever deliver you their goods or services. Often this is a recipe for disaster—after they've got your money, you must trust them to deliver those flowers to the wedding, shoot those pictures, serve that menu, or whatever. Paying in advance for something that is supposed to be delivered in the future is precarious at best. (An exception to this is Discount Bridal Service— mentioned in an earlier chapter—which requires a 100 percent deposit. We have found this company to be reliable and reputable.)
Long-distance and destination couples are especially vulnerable. If the merchant tries to pull a fast one you can't confront them face-to-face after the wedding—perhaps the most effective negotiating technique. They know you live hundreds (if not thou-sands) of miles away and you must trust them to do as they promise. Like the sleeze-bag photographer from the above story, they've got you in a corner and can theoretically demand whatever they think they can get away with.
All this said, it is worth noting that the majority of wedding merchants we have researched are honest folks. The cliche about the "few bad apples" is true to a certain degree—only a small percentage of companies are shady (perhaps one in ten). The problem is that you are playing roulette here with a lot of money—one wrong spin of the wheel, and you could find yourself in the position of the bride above who had her pictures held hostage.
As a result, we urge you to treat each merchant with what we call "polite suspicion." In other words, you must always plan for the worst-case scenario.
TOP CONSUMER TIPS FOR FAR & AWAY WEDDINGS
SCREEN! SCREEN! SCREEN! Most disreputable companies have left a large number of unhappy brides in their wake. As a result, they leave a trail of slime that can be detected if you talk to other wedding merchants, past brides, a local consumer protection office, and the Better Business Bureau. Taking the time to check references is your first line of defense.
GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. No money should exchange hands until you've had time to review a written contract agreement that clearly spells out what you are receiving. Logistics such as delivery times should be clear and cancellation and refund policies must be spelled out.
MAKE ALTERATIONS TO STANDARD CONTRACTS TO ACCOUNT FOR LONGDISTANCE CIRCUMSTANCES. The bride in the story at the beginning of this chapter learned the sad fact that many contracts are written for in-town brides. In her case, she should have insisted in writing that the "standard" contract be modified to take into account her long-distance wedding. Be careful to look for penalty fees that zap you if you don't respond in a certain number of days. If you think any part of an agreement is unworkable, ask for changes.
NEVER, EVER ACCEPT VERBAL AGREEMENTS. A "hand-shake" agreement is a big no-no. Don't ever let the merchant take your money, promising to send a written agreement later. Often what happens is that the contract (which shows up much later) contains a few surprises they never told you about—surprises that could cost you dearly.
ALWAYS GET CHANGES IN WRITING. Changes are a part of life, especially when you plan something this far in advance. Make sure any change is also in writing—this does not mean you must sign a new agreement with the company, however. According to attorneys we have consult- ed, often all that is required is to send a written letter or memo that outlines the change. This is evidence that a change (that has been agreed to verbally) has taken place. Putting it in writing also helps the merchant remember the change.
NEGOTIATE THE LOWEST DEPOSIT POSSIBLE. Giving the merchant the lowest amount of deposit money possible provides a powerful incentive to the merchant—if they don't deliver the quality that's promised, they may not get the rest of their money. Try to pay the balance for bridal services after the goods/services are delivered to confirm the quality. This may not always be possible; many photographers, for example, insist on full payment before they take one shot. Others, like musicians or caterers, may allow you to settle at the end of the evening.
USE THAT CREDIT CARD. If you've read any of our other books, you know we highly recommend the use of credit cards. Remember that purchases (deposits and final payments) are covered by special consumer protection laws that enable you to receive a refund if the merchant fails to deliver what they promise. If you have a problem, you simply contact the bank that issued your card and dispute the charge; the merchant must then prove they didn't rip you off. When you write a check or pay by cash, you lose this crucial bargaining chip if things go wrong.
Consider hiring a bridal consultant or destination wedding planner. We realize doing this costs extra money, but consider the additional peace of mind. Having a bridal consultant at the wedding location makes the merchant think twice about ripping you off. Not only can the consultant harass them for a refund, but the merchant stands to lose all future business from the planner. The same goes for destination wedding planners—if the company has an on-site coordinator, the chances of getting scammed are less.
THE SURROGATE BAD COP
As a bride and groom, you obviously want to enjoy your wedding and reception. The last thing you want to do is dicker with a wedding merchant who is not doing their job. Arguing with the florist minutes before the wedding or finding out that the band is playing country instead of rock-n-roll is not any fun.
Yet you do want to get what you paid for. So, we recommend you use a "surrogate bad cop" to be your "enforcer" on the big day. This could be a wedding planner or consultant whom you have hired, or simply a relative (Mom) or a bridesmaid. Their job is to make your life happy by handling the dirty work. They will go tell the band to play the correct music, or get the florist to make the extra corsage they forgot to make for Grandma. Meet with the surrogate bad cop before the wedding. Tell them you have trusted them to make sure your wedding day is enjoyable—and you need them to fine-tune any last minute problems. Bring with you to the meeting and the wedding a folder with copies of all the written agreements you got from the merchants. Then, if the florist fails to bring that corsage and claims you didn't order it, your surrogate bad cop will whip out the written proposal that the florist signed and calmly point out their error. Grandma will get her corsage and you (the bride and groom) will enjoy the evening.
Another smart tip—get home phone numbers (as well as cellular and pager numbers) for all the merchants you've hired. Why? If it's Saturday night and the caterer is missing, do you think anyone is at their office? Probably not—you might have a better chance reaching them at home or in the car. Give this list to your surrogate bad cop to have at the wedding and reception.
A surrogate bad cop is an important job that you entrust to someone who is responsible. Make sure you pick wisely. The more helpful this person is willing to be, the more you'll actually enjoy the wedding and reception.
WATCH OUT FOR WEIRD LICENSE RULES
The marriage license may be one of the last things you'll purchase before the wedding, but beware that some states have some strange hoops that they force brides and grooms to jump through.
Waiting period rules are a prime example. Take Texas, for example. Brides and grooms in the Lone Star State must wait seventy-two hours after they get the license until the actual ceremony. The theory here is to provide a "cooling off" period for those couples who are rushing into marriage after a burst of passion. While this is nice, it sure is hell for long-distance brides and grooms who now must come into town three days early just to get the license.
Others states have blood test requirements. One Pennsylvania bride who was planning a wedding in Florida ran into a blizzard of red tape before her wedding. Florida told her they would only accept a blood test certificate from a Florida-state inspected lab, which took an entire week.to return results. The upshot: the bride and groom had to go to Florida a-week before the wedding.
The message here: check with the county marriage license department in the town you are getting married in to find out all the requirements and weird rules. Above all, do this EARLY. If a blood test is required, for example, then you may be able to combine this with an on-site visit earlier in your planning process.
Also ask if there are any exemptions to the rules. For example, in Texas, a district judge can waive the waiting-period requirement. If you're in a jam, this may be worth investigating.
How did this happen? This long-distance bride became a victim of what we call the "local contract scam." Most contracts and agreements used by wedding merchants are written for in-town customers. For example, the photographer above had a "proof release" form that stated "the bride agrees to return the proofs within ten days; after this deadline, the bride agrees to purchase the entire proof set."
This clause is obviously used to encourage r couples to return their proofs (and hence place their orders) in a timely manner. The ten-day limit may be fine for in-town customers, but for our long-distance bride, this clause proved her undoing. Transit time to send the proofs from Texas to California chewed up five days alone. While the bride admitted to signing this form, she had no idea that the studio would hold her to this unrealistic time deadline. So, what do you think happened when the proofs arrived back in the studio past the deadline? The photographer called back the bride and said she would now have to purchase all the proofs (adding up to another $500 in charges!).
After the consumer brought this situation to our attention, we called the photographer to find out what happened. When pressed, the photographer admitted that the time deadline was unrealistic, but smugly said that it was the bride's "tough luck." He had the pictures and knew that the consumer wouldn't be interested in an expensive, long-distance court battie to get them.
What happened? The bride coughed up the $500 and got her pictures. And she learned a lesson—the same lesson that you can learn before you head down the aisle. You can avoid being a victim.
WHY ARE FAR & AWAY WEDDINGS THE MOST VULNERABLE TO SCAMS?
Weddings are a one-shot deal. After you purchase that dress, can you ever imagine yourself going back to the bridal shop? Will you buy another wedding video? Bridal bouquet?
The answer is probably no. After you walk out of that wedding business, the employees/owners are well aware that they'll never see you again. Unscrupulous scum bags see this as the perfect opportunity to fleece you out of your money, delivering shoddy goods and substandard services. Or failing to deliver anything at all, leaving town with your money.
Adding fuel to the fire is the "standard industry practice" of requiring (demanding) deposits to "hold your date." Some companies require 100 percent payment before they ever deliver you their goods or services. Often this is a recipe for disaster—after they've got your money, you must trust them to deliver those flowers to the wedding, shoot those pictures, serve that menu, or whatever. Paying in advance for something that is supposed to be delivered in the future is precarious at best. (An exception to this is Discount Bridal Service— mentioned in an earlier chapter—which requires a 100 percent deposit. We have found this company to be reliable and reputable.)
Long-distance and destination couples are especially vulnerable. If the merchant tries to pull a fast one you can't confront them face-to-face after the wedding—perhaps the most effective negotiating technique. They know you live hundreds (if not thou-sands) of miles away and you must trust them to do as they promise. Like the sleeze-bag photographer from the above story, they've got you in a corner and can theoretically demand whatever they think they can get away with.
All this said, it is worth noting that the majority of wedding merchants we have researched are honest folks. The cliche about the "few bad apples" is true to a certain degree—only a small percentage of companies are shady (perhaps one in ten). The problem is that you are playing roulette here with a lot of money—one wrong spin of the wheel, and you could find yourself in the position of the bride above who had her pictures held hostage.
As a result, we urge you to treat each merchant with what we call "polite suspicion." In other words, you must always plan for the worst-case scenario.
TOP CONSUMER TIPS FOR FAR & AWAY WEDDINGS
SCREEN! SCREEN! SCREEN! Most disreputable companies have left a large number of unhappy brides in their wake. As a result, they leave a trail of slime that can be detected if you talk to other wedding merchants, past brides, a local consumer protection office, and the Better Business Bureau. Taking the time to check references is your first line of defense.
GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. No money should exchange hands until you've had time to review a written contract agreement that clearly spells out what you are receiving. Logistics such as delivery times should be clear and cancellation and refund policies must be spelled out.
MAKE ALTERATIONS TO STANDARD CONTRACTS TO ACCOUNT FOR LONGDISTANCE CIRCUMSTANCES. The bride in the story at the beginning of this chapter learned the sad fact that many contracts are written for in-town brides. In her case, she should have insisted in writing that the "standard" contract be modified to take into account her long-distance wedding. Be careful to look for penalty fees that zap you if you don't respond in a certain number of days. If you think any part of an agreement is unworkable, ask for changes.
NEVER, EVER ACCEPT VERBAL AGREEMENTS. A "hand-shake" agreement is a big no-no. Don't ever let the merchant take your money, promising to send a written agreement later. Often what happens is that the contract (which shows up much later) contains a few surprises they never told you about—surprises that could cost you dearly.
ALWAYS GET CHANGES IN WRITING. Changes are a part of life, especially when you plan something this far in advance. Make sure any change is also in writing—this does not mean you must sign a new agreement with the company, however. According to attorneys we have consult- ed, often all that is required is to send a written letter or memo that outlines the change. This is evidence that a change (that has been agreed to verbally) has taken place. Putting it in writing also helps the merchant remember the change.
NEGOTIATE THE LOWEST DEPOSIT POSSIBLE. Giving the merchant the lowest amount of deposit money possible provides a powerful incentive to the merchant—if they don't deliver the quality that's promised, they may not get the rest of their money. Try to pay the balance for bridal services after the goods/services are delivered to confirm the quality. This may not always be possible; many photographers, for example, insist on full payment before they take one shot. Others, like musicians or caterers, may allow you to settle at the end of the evening.
USE THAT CREDIT CARD. If you've read any of our other books, you know we highly recommend the use of credit cards. Remember that purchases (deposits and final payments) are covered by special consumer protection laws that enable you to receive a refund if the merchant fails to deliver what they promise. If you have a problem, you simply contact the bank that issued your card and dispute the charge; the merchant must then prove they didn't rip you off. When you write a check or pay by cash, you lose this crucial bargaining chip if things go wrong.
Consider hiring a bridal consultant or destination wedding planner. We realize doing this costs extra money, but consider the additional peace of mind. Having a bridal consultant at the wedding location makes the merchant think twice about ripping you off. Not only can the consultant harass them for a refund, but the merchant stands to lose all future business from the planner. The same goes for destination wedding planners—if the company has an on-site coordinator, the chances of getting scammed are less.
THE SURROGATE BAD COP
As a bride and groom, you obviously want to enjoy your wedding and reception. The last thing you want to do is dicker with a wedding merchant who is not doing their job. Arguing with the florist minutes before the wedding or finding out that the band is playing country instead of rock-n-roll is not any fun.
Yet you do want to get what you paid for. So, we recommend you use a "surrogate bad cop" to be your "enforcer" on the big day. This could be a wedding planner or consultant whom you have hired, or simply a relative (Mom) or a bridesmaid. Their job is to make your life happy by handling the dirty work. They will go tell the band to play the correct music, or get the florist to make the extra corsage they forgot to make for Grandma. Meet with the surrogate bad cop before the wedding. Tell them you have trusted them to make sure your wedding day is enjoyable—and you need them to fine-tune any last minute problems. Bring with you to the meeting and the wedding a folder with copies of all the written agreements you got from the merchants. Then, if the florist fails to bring that corsage and claims you didn't order it, your surrogate bad cop will whip out the written proposal that the florist signed and calmly point out their error. Grandma will get her corsage and you (the bride and groom) will enjoy the evening.
Another smart tip—get home phone numbers (as well as cellular and pager numbers) for all the merchants you've hired. Why? If it's Saturday night and the caterer is missing, do you think anyone is at their office? Probably not—you might have a better chance reaching them at home or in the car. Give this list to your surrogate bad cop to have at the wedding and reception.
A surrogate bad cop is an important job that you entrust to someone who is responsible. Make sure you pick wisely. The more helpful this person is willing to be, the more you'll actually enjoy the wedding and reception.
WATCH OUT FOR WEIRD LICENSE RULES
The marriage license may be one of the last things you'll purchase before the wedding, but beware that some states have some strange hoops that they force brides and grooms to jump through.
Waiting period rules are a prime example. Take Texas, for example. Brides and grooms in the Lone Star State must wait seventy-two hours after they get the license until the actual ceremony. The theory here is to provide a "cooling off" period for those couples who are rushing into marriage after a burst of passion. While this is nice, it sure is hell for long-distance brides and grooms who now must come into town three days early just to get the license.
Others states have blood test requirements. One Pennsylvania bride who was planning a wedding in Florida ran into a blizzard of red tape before her wedding. Florida told her they would only accept a blood test certificate from a Florida-state inspected lab, which took an entire week.to return results. The upshot: the bride and groom had to go to Florida a-week before the wedding.
The message here: check with the county marriage license department in the town you are getting married in to find out all the requirements and weird rules. Above all, do this EARLY. If a blood test is required, for example, then you may be able to combine this with an on-site visit earlier in your planning process.
Also ask if there are any exemptions to the rules. For example, in Texas, a district judge can waive the waiting-period requirement. If you're in a jam, this may be worth investigating.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Long Distance Wedding: Countdown (Part II)
The Flowers
We recommend setting up an appointment with the florist early in the week before your wedding, if it is on a weekend. If adjustments have to be made, chances are the flowers haven't been delivered to the florist by Monday or Tuesday of that week. If you can't be there, give your surrogate planner a copy of the contract or proposal—and any changes or questions you may have. Have the planner touch base with the florist to confirm these details:
The Bakery
Go over the size, flavor, and decoration of the cake(s). This is important if you want to be certain the cake corresponds to your original order. If you are in town, try to visit the baker in person, early in the week prior to your wedding.
Set appointments with the photographer and videographer the week before the wedding. This is prudent since many photographers haven't met both the bride and groom—this is a perfect time to introduce them. During this meeting:
The Musicians or DJs
Music at the Ceremony
Call each musician to confirm the date, time, and location. Also review the selections to be played and at what time during the ceremony. Ask if they will attend the rehearsal and confirm any extra charge. Find out when they want to be paid, before the ceremony or after (see if the best man can pay these bills when he pays the officiant). If you have any friends or relatives who will be singing or performing at the ceremony, contact them to confirm rehearsal dates and times
Music at the Reception:
Limousines
GET ALL THE PHONE NUMBERS FOR EVERY MERCHANT OR BUSINESS YOU ARE HIRING, What if the DJ is AWOL at the reception? Or the photographer is late to the ceremony? Calling their office number on a Saturday may only get you an answering machine. Having their home phone numbers (as well as cellular phone numbers and/or pager numbers) is peace of mind for any bride and groom.
IF YOU PLAN TO ALLOW THE PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER, AND RECEPTION ENTERTAINERS TO EAT AT YOUR RECEPTION, INFORM THEM AHEAD OF TIME. If you are providing them sandwiches or an alternative to the food you're serving your guests, tell them to see the caterer for their meals.
CONFIRM WITH ALL BUSINESSES WHEN THEIR PART OF THE "SHOW" WILL BE OVER. For example, if the photographer is only going to be at the reception for three hours, confirm this and ask about overtime fees.
When you get engaged
Passports
Marriage License Gymnastics
COUNTDOWN CHECKLIST AT A GLANCE
We recommend setting up an appointment with the florist early in the week before your wedding, if it is on a weekend. If adjustments have to be made, chances are the flowers haven't been delivered to the florist by Monday or Tuesday of that week. If you can't be there, give your surrogate planner a copy of the contract or proposal—and any changes or questions you may have. Have the planner touch base with the florist to confirm these details:
- Date and place of delivery. Make sure the florist has the correct date and place on his or her calender. If you chose an off-peak day such as a Sunday, be sure to point this out. We've received letters from brides who've had no flowers at their Sunday weddings, thanks to florists who "assumed" all weddings are on Saturdays.
- Time of delivery to the ceremony. You must be certain that the site will be open to allow the florist to set up. If the florist has several weddings on your date, he or she may plan to drop the flowers off early to your wedding. Remember, if you plan a summer wedding, you'll want to be sure the air conditioning is on at the ceremony site so the flowers do not wilt.
- Coordination of ceremony flowers. Ask if the florist will be willing to help pin on corsages and boutonnieres, as well as show the bridesmaids how to hold their bouquets. Some florists include this coordination in their cost, others charge an additional fee for it and still others don't offer the service at all. Check ahead of time.
- Time of delivery to the reception site. Again, you'll need to know how early the flowers will be delivered so you can coordinate with the reception site to have the space open and the air conditioning working. Also, your florist should have contacted die reception site to discuss placement of arrangements with the caterer—ask if he or she has!
- If you plan to have some ceremony arrangements transferred to the reception, confirm these details. Ask if there is an additional fee for this service. Give the florist a specific time to pick up the flowers from the ceremony site and deliver them to the reception.
- Last minute changes. You found out that your fiance's mom is allergic to gardenias so you need to change her corsage. Or you decided you wanted a guest book attendant and need to order another corsage. Put all your requests and changes in writing, give one copy to the florist at your meeting and keep one for yourself. If you must make changes via the telephone, send the florist a written memo detailing the discussion. This is the only way to make sure you get what you want. Remember, however, that last minute changes may cost you extra money. If this is the case, have the florist re-draw up the order sheet to include your changes as well as the additional expenses. Don't take "no" for an answer—this is your wedding and your right as a consumer! Payment terms if there is an unpaid balance. If possible pay the balance after the wedding day. Usually, however, florists require full payment before the date.
The Bakery
Go over the size, flavor, and decoration of the cake(s). This is important if you want to be certain the cake corresponds to your original order. If you are in town, try to visit the baker in person, early in the week prior to your wedding.
- When will the cake be delivered? This is crucial! It is best for the cake to be delivered an hour or two before the reception. An earlier delivery may invite mishaps such as cakes toppled by a bumbling catering staffer.
- Of course, make sure they have the correct date, time, and location.
- Make sure the baker has phone numbers for the caterer, reception site, and florist so they can coordinate with one another.
- Confirm their return policy for any rented items (cake plates, columns, and so on).
- Pay the final bill. Most bakers require full payment before the wedding—if you can pay at the time of delivery, this may be better.
Set appointments with the photographer and videographer the week before the wedding. This is prudent since many photographers haven't met both the bride and groom—this is a perfect time to introduce them. During this meeting:
- Confirm the place and time of the ceremony and reception.
- Bring your "shot list." This is a list of photography "must haves." For example, you may want a picture of you and all your siblings. Or a detailed portrait of the grandparents. put it in writing! Make a list for the photographer, keep one for yourself and give one to your surrogate bad cop at the wedding. This way, if the photographer claims he "forgot" his list at home, someone at the wedding will have a copy. find out how the photographer plans to run the day. Discuss the sequence of the day's events and how you will coordinate with him or her to keep on schedule. Of course, you may have a professional coordinator who is responsible for the flow of the evening—if so, inform the photographer. Have the photographer contact the coordinator for details on the day's events.
- Confirm the payment terms. Ask if you can pay the balance after you pick up the proofs or the finished album. This will help ensure that the photographer delivers what he or she promises.
- Cover emergency plans. If you haven't already confirmed this, find out what the photographer will do in the case of an emergency. For example, when will he call you if he can't make your wedding? Who will step in for him? What about backup equipment in the case of a mechanical failure?
- If the videographer is attending the rehearsal, confirm the date and time. There may be an extra charge for this service. Also, ask the videographer many of the above questions.
The Musicians or DJs
Music at the Ceremony
Call each musician to confirm the date, time, and location. Also review the selections to be played and at what time during the ceremony. Ask if they will attend the rehearsal and confirm any extra charge. Find out when they want to be paid, before the ceremony or after (see if the best man can pay these bills when he pays the officiant). If you have any friends or relatives who will be singing or performing at the ceremony, contact them to confirm rehearsal dates and times
Music at the Reception:
- Confirm the date, time, and location of the reception. Tell them when the reception site will be available for set-up. Give them the phone number of the reception site or the caterer.
- Confirm what the musicians or DJ will be wearing, especially if you prefer formal attire.
- Provide them with a list of special songs and preferences. Hopefully, you gave this to them earlier so they could learn the songs or pick up the appropriate CDs. This just should be a confirmation. Remember to give a copy of your list to your surrogate bad cop at the wedding, in case the band "forgets" their copy.
- If you need to make adjustments in the song list, now is the time to ask. Sometimes this is possible, but if a band needs to learn a new selection, it may not be feasible. When do the musicians need to be paid? Musicians seem to play better when paid after the reception, rather than before. If you can swing this, make sure someone at the wedding (a consultant or relative) has a check for the band.
Limousines
- By phone, confirm date, time, and location of pickup.
- Consider providing the limo company with maps of the locations and schedules, so they don't get lost or arrive late. You can typically fax this information.
- Check on payment policy.
- If you're renting a luxury car from a company like Avis, call to confirm with the rental company ahead of time. Also, provide volunteer drivers with maps and schedules.
- Rehearsal Dinner and/or Bridesmaids Luncheon
- Confirm the time and date with the restaurant or site.
- Check with the caterer or site about the menu. Give them a final guest count.
- If you're providing the beverages, find out when you need to drop off beverages for chilling.
- Put all attendants' gifts in one place. This helps you remember to bring them to the rehearsal dinner or bridesmaids luncheon.
- Give each member of the bridal party a written schedule of the events of the wedding day. Don't let anyone leave without reading it. It may be best to do this at the rehearsal itself. This is your best opportunity to get that notoriously late groomsman to the church on time. Take different members aside to explain their roles the following day (best man must pay officiant, etc.).
GET ALL THE PHONE NUMBERS FOR EVERY MERCHANT OR BUSINESS YOU ARE HIRING, What if the DJ is AWOL at the reception? Or the photographer is late to the ceremony? Calling their office number on a Saturday may only get you an answering machine. Having their home phone numbers (as well as cellular phone numbers and/or pager numbers) is peace of mind for any bride and groom.
IF YOU PLAN TO ALLOW THE PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER, AND RECEPTION ENTERTAINERS TO EAT AT YOUR RECEPTION, INFORM THEM AHEAD OF TIME. If you are providing them sandwiches or an alternative to the food you're serving your guests, tell them to see the caterer for their meals.
CONFIRM WITH ALL BUSINESSES WHEN THEIR PART OF THE "SHOW" WILL BE OVER. For example, if the photographer is only going to be at the reception for three hours, confirm this and ask about overtime fees.
When you get engaged
- Decide when and where you want to go. Using the back section of this book, compare the different costs for possible sites. Decide whether you want an "intimate" wedding (couple only) or a more traditional wedding that includes family and friends. Whether or not your guests can afford the trip is a consideration (some couples pick up airfare and hotel tabs for guests, which obviously inflates wedding costs.)
- Do some basic research into marriage requirements at different locales. When we review sites at the back of this book, we'll give you a general idea of what different states or countries require. This will help you decide whether you can do the planning on your own or if you will need the services of a professional planner.
- Decide how much time you have. Remember that many destinations require a full day of travel time each way. Hence, a seven-day honeymoon may be reduced to just five days of actual vacation. Is that enough?
- Prepare a destination wedding budget. Talk to a travel agent to get the latest prices on air/hotel packages. Factor in other costs like long-distance phone calls, faxes, translations and document processing, car rental, transfers from the airport, meals, sightseeing activities, shopping and, of course, the wedding itself (flowers, photography, officiant fees) Other extras might include a professional planner's fee, tips, and so on.
- Remember that many "traditional" bridal gowns require three to four months to order, plus another two weeks for alterations. If you're lucky, you might be able to buy a sample gown off-the-rack. Less formal gowns may require less lead time to order or you can buy one off-the-rack at a department store. Once the date and place are set, you'll want to begin the gown search in earnest.
Passports
- You'll need a certified copy of your birth certificate. Be aware that if you need to send away for this from the Department of Health in the county in which you were born, it may take four to six weeks.
- Get an application from a main post office near you. You'll need two identical pictures taken within the last month (Kinko's copy shop and travel agents can do this for you). You'll also need a driver's license and $65 (for an adult).
- Once you submit your application, it may take at least four weeks for processing. One postal employee told us that they do offer "express" service, which takes about a week and costs $20 extra.
- Make any airport and hotel reservations in your maiden name. You'll have to do this since your passport will be in your maiden name.
Marriage License Gymnastics
- Investigate the marriage license requirements of your desired location. Ask a hotel/resort concierge for help or hire a destination wedding planner.
- Check for residency requirements. Some destinations require you to be in "residence" for a period of days or weeks prior to the wedding. Even a few states have "waiting periods" that require you to wait two to three days between the time you get the license and when the wedding can be performed.
- Be aware of filing periods. Some countries require up to six weeks to process your completed application. Other locations require documents to be translated.
- If you've been married previously, you may need either a copy of the divorce decree or a copy of your spouse's death certificate, if you are widowed.
- Typical documents required include a birth certificate (or driver's license for U.S. destinations) and, in some cases, medical test results. Arrange for these as soon as possible.
- Other Stuff
- Remember that many resorts and hotels book up to six months in advance. Does that mean you can't plan a destination wedding in less time? Of course not—the prices may be higher and the pickings slimmer, but it can be done.
- Two weeks before your wedding, confirm all the details. Refer back to the checklist earlier in this chapter for specific points.
- For U.S. destinations, pack all required documents (birth certificate, divorce decree, etc.) in one place so you can find them conveniently when you arrive in your destination. You will need to apply for your marriage license as soon as you arrive, especially if the state has a waiting period.
COUNTDOWN CHECKLIST AT A GLANCE
- The License
- The Guest List
- The Bride's Dress
- The Bridesmaids's Dresses
- The Groom and Other Men
- The Officiant
- The Ceremony Site
- The Reception Site
- The Caterer O The Flowers
- The Baker
- The Photographer
- The Videographer
- The Photographer
- The Musicians or DJs
- Limousines
- Rehearsal Dinner
- O Passports and Other Stuff
Long Distance Wedding: Countdown (Part I)
It's no secret that checklists have probably saved the sanity of thousands of brides and grooms each year. Just pop by the wedding section of your local bookstore and you'll find giant spiral bound books with titles like Checklists For The World's Most Excruciatingly Perfect Nuptials and 101 Easy Steps to Planning Your Fourth Wedding.
Of course, none of these tomes addresses a situation like yours. Dealing with surrogate planners and marriage license gymnastics are details unique to far and away weddings. In response, we would like to humbly present the following checklists to ease that trip down the aisle.
LONG-DISTANCE WEDDING COUNTDOWN
The real crunch time for long-distance brides and grooms is the last week or two before the wedding. Here are some key hurdles you must pass.
The License
Here is a small detail that, if overlooked, can ruin your whole wedding: the marriage license. Each state has it's own rules for marriage licenses—some require blood tests, others have waiting periods and so on.
We suggest calling about three months ahead to find out all the rules. Typically, a county clerk or marriage license bureau will have the answers. Key questions to ask include: are there any health test requirements (blood test, for example)? What are the cost and payment options (most states accept cash only)? Any waiting periods (the time between when the license is bought and when a wedding can occur)? Must you apply in person? What documents (or identification) are needed? Can one of you apply "by proxy" (a procedure by which the absent person may apply for a license)?
Be prepared for some surprises. One bride who was planning a long-distance wedding in Georgia discovered the state only accepted blood test results from Georgia labs—this forced her to come in a week earlier than planned. In Texas, couples must wait seventy-two hours from the time they get the license to the actual ceremony. That means buying the license Wednesday for a weekend wedding.
Try to avoid visiting license bureaus on Friday afternoon—this is the busiest time.
The Guest List
Two weeks before your date, you will busiest time. ! no doubt be thinking it's time to figure out how many people will be actually attending the wedding. But . . . you haven't received calls or response cards from all the people on your invitation list. What do you do? Hopefully, most guests will be polite enough to respond. For those who aren't, call them—especially if you are planning an expensive sit-down dinner and need a very accurate count for your caterer. Ask your caterer when they will need this final count.
Don't be surprised when your guests decide to add family members or friends to their group. For example, you may have chosen not to invite children to your reception, but one family may decide to bring them anyway. Try to politely reiterate your "no kids" policy, but accept with good grace if they ignore it and plan to bring the children anyway. Remember that no matter what you think your final count is, there are always a small number of people who will show up when they said they wouldn't and people who don't come, but responded that they would. The caterer should be preparexi to handle 5 to 10 percent more guests than your actual final count.
THE APPAREL
The bride's dress
So, you've picked up your dress from your in-town bridal shop, packed it away, and shipped it or carried it to the wedding location. Once the dress arrives, you will want to have it steamed (not pressed) at a local bridal shop or dry cleaner. Make sure your surrogate planner has called around in advance to find a local business that can steam your dress.
Try to assign one room in your parents' house (or wherever you are staying) for all your apparel and honeymoon gear. In fact, use one whole suitcase or box to hold all the items you will need for your wedding day: makeup, bra, slip, hose (have a couple of extra pairs), jewelry, and so on. Also, include an emergency sewing kit to handle last-minute problems.
When packing for your honeymoon, be- sure to place the tickets, passport, travelers checks, and itinerary with your clothes—this way you'll avoid misplacing these important items.
The bridesmaids' dresses
Bridesmaids can either send their dresses early to the wedding location (perhaps to your parents' home), or bring them on the plane or in the car with them. Again, they will need to have their dresses steamed.
Before they come in to the wedding location, send each bridesmaid a list of the items they will need to pack for both the wedding weekend and the actual wedding day. For example, if you plan a formal rehearsal dinner, tell your bridesmaids to pack a nice dress. If a barbecue is on the agenda, shorts and t-shirts will be more appropriate. The list should include dresses, slips, hose (make sure they all wear the same color—consider supplying this yourself), accessories, makeup, and so forth. Providing this list will help attendants remember every detail.
The groom and other men in the bridal party
Find out how early the groom can pick up his tuxedo from the rental shop. If he owns his own suit or tux, make sure it gets steamed at the same time the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses are taken care of.
Usually, rental tuxedos can't be picked up until the day before the wedding. Be sure the groom and groomsmen try on their tuxes to be certain they fit properly. Improper fit should be taken care of immediately. Groomsmen will also need to receive a written schedule regarding when and where to pick up their tuxes and what they should receive (style of tuxedo, color of ties and cummerbunds, jewelry, shoes if you're renting them, etc.). If they are wearing their own suits or shoes, fist what color shirts, ties, socks, and shoes are expected. Try to have all the tuxedos picked up at the same time to insure the right colors and styles.
TUXEDO SNAFUS
One bride told us about a snafu that occurred with the men's tuxedos at her wedding. The bride chose royal blue ties and cummerbunds and specified this at the time she reserved the tuxedos. The day before the wedding some groomsmen picked up their tuxes in the morning, while the groom picked his up later in the afternoon. The bride's father picked up his tux the morning of the wedding. When they all arrived at the ceremony site (a couple hours before the wedding) various members of the wedding party discovered they were given different colored ties and cummerbunds.
The bride's father attempted to return the tie sets and get the proper color, but was treated rudely by the tuxedo shop's staff. In fact, the shop insisted they had not made any mistakes! Needless to say, the father of the bride was miffed, but instead of making a stink, took the proper number of black tie and cummerbund sets and left for the wedding. Although the ties didn't match the royal blue bridesmaids dresses, this was the easiest compromise.
The moral of the story is: get everything in writing and try to coordinate picking up all the tuxedos at one time. This way you will be certain the tuxedo styles and colors coordinate. If the groomsmen can't pick up their tuxes together, give each of them a list noting the style number and color of the tuxedo, tie and cummerbund. Don't say the ties are "blue," instead tell them "royal blue, style 304."
One reliable tux rental company is Gingiss \ Formal Wear, a nationwide chain with shops in most metro areas. Gingiss has a special program to get measurements of out-of-town groomsmen that results in more accurate sizing.
The Officiant
We are amazed at the number of stories we hear from married couples who tell us the officiant (priest, pastor, rabbi, or judge) never showed up or was several hours late to their wedding! An easy way to avoid this is to schedule a pre-wedding visit with the officiant. At this meeting, discuss the time of the event, the officiant's fee, the rehearsal (when and where), the flow of the ceremony, and any last-minute requests or questions you may have.
On the day of the rehearsal we also recommend another call to the officiant's office to confirm the rehearsal time. Obviously, an officiant is vital to making a wedding ceremony legal—be sure he or she is there!
The Ceremony Site
If you're in town a couple of days before the wedding, we recommend visiting the ceremony site to go over any last-minute details. Some examples of questions to ask include:
Another reason to schedule this appointment is the "surprise remodel" problem. One long-distance bride alerted us to this pitfall when she discovered, to her horror, that her church hadn't finished remodeling by her wedding date. Never mind that the church had promised the work would be finished a month earlier—such projects always seem to run longer than expected. With just days before her wedding, the bride walked into the church to discover ugly scaffolding, bare pipes, and exposed insulation. Despite some last-minute attempts to cover up the construction, the ambiance was destroyed. The lesson is twofold: first, think twice about booking any ceremony site where a major renovation or remodel is planned near your wedding date. Second, have your surrogate planner visit the site a couple of weeks prior to the wedding to make sure everything is in its place.
The Reception Site
The Caterer
It would be ideal to meet with your caterer a couple weeks before your wedding day. However, most long-distance brides can't schedule to come in this early and must do some last-minute planning over the phone. Either way, ask several important questions about your reception:
Of course, none of these tomes addresses a situation like yours. Dealing with surrogate planners and marriage license gymnastics are details unique to far and away weddings. In response, we would like to humbly present the following checklists to ease that trip down the aisle.
LONG-DISTANCE WEDDING COUNTDOWN
The real crunch time for long-distance brides and grooms is the last week or two before the wedding. Here are some key hurdles you must pass.
The License
Here is a small detail that, if overlooked, can ruin your whole wedding: the marriage license. Each state has it's own rules for marriage licenses—some require blood tests, others have waiting periods and so on.
We suggest calling about three months ahead to find out all the rules. Typically, a county clerk or marriage license bureau will have the answers. Key questions to ask include: are there any health test requirements (blood test, for example)? What are the cost and payment options (most states accept cash only)? Any waiting periods (the time between when the license is bought and when a wedding can occur)? Must you apply in person? What documents (or identification) are needed? Can one of you apply "by proxy" (a procedure by which the absent person may apply for a license)?
Be prepared for some surprises. One bride who was planning a long-distance wedding in Georgia discovered the state only accepted blood test results from Georgia labs—this forced her to come in a week earlier than planned. In Texas, couples must wait seventy-two hours from the time they get the license to the actual ceremony. That means buying the license Wednesday for a weekend wedding.
Try to avoid visiting license bureaus on Friday afternoon—this is the busiest time.
The Guest List
Two weeks before your date, you will busiest time. ! no doubt be thinking it's time to figure out how many people will be actually attending the wedding. But . . . you haven't received calls or response cards from all the people on your invitation list. What do you do? Hopefully, most guests will be polite enough to respond. For those who aren't, call them—especially if you are planning an expensive sit-down dinner and need a very accurate count for your caterer. Ask your caterer when they will need this final count.
Don't be surprised when your guests decide to add family members or friends to their group. For example, you may have chosen not to invite children to your reception, but one family may decide to bring them anyway. Try to politely reiterate your "no kids" policy, but accept with good grace if they ignore it and plan to bring the children anyway. Remember that no matter what you think your final count is, there are always a small number of people who will show up when they said they wouldn't and people who don't come, but responded that they would. The caterer should be preparexi to handle 5 to 10 percent more guests than your actual final count.
THE APPAREL
The bride's dress
So, you've picked up your dress from your in-town bridal shop, packed it away, and shipped it or carried it to the wedding location. Once the dress arrives, you will want to have it steamed (not pressed) at a local bridal shop or dry cleaner. Make sure your surrogate planner has called around in advance to find a local business that can steam your dress.
Try to assign one room in your parents' house (or wherever you are staying) for all your apparel and honeymoon gear. In fact, use one whole suitcase or box to hold all the items you will need for your wedding day: makeup, bra, slip, hose (have a couple of extra pairs), jewelry, and so on. Also, include an emergency sewing kit to handle last-minute problems.
When packing for your honeymoon, be- sure to place the tickets, passport, travelers checks, and itinerary with your clothes—this way you'll avoid misplacing these important items.
The bridesmaids' dresses
Bridesmaids can either send their dresses early to the wedding location (perhaps to your parents' home), or bring them on the plane or in the car with them. Again, they will need to have their dresses steamed.
Before they come in to the wedding location, send each bridesmaid a list of the items they will need to pack for both the wedding weekend and the actual wedding day. For example, if you plan a formal rehearsal dinner, tell your bridesmaids to pack a nice dress. If a barbecue is on the agenda, shorts and t-shirts will be more appropriate. The list should include dresses, slips, hose (make sure they all wear the same color—consider supplying this yourself), accessories, makeup, and so forth. Providing this list will help attendants remember every detail.
The groom and other men in the bridal party
Find out how early the groom can pick up his tuxedo from the rental shop. If he owns his own suit or tux, make sure it gets steamed at the same time the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses are taken care of.
Usually, rental tuxedos can't be picked up until the day before the wedding. Be sure the groom and groomsmen try on their tuxes to be certain they fit properly. Improper fit should be taken care of immediately. Groomsmen will also need to receive a written schedule regarding when and where to pick up their tuxes and what they should receive (style of tuxedo, color of ties and cummerbunds, jewelry, shoes if you're renting them, etc.). If they are wearing their own suits or shoes, fist what color shirts, ties, socks, and shoes are expected. Try to have all the tuxedos picked up at the same time to insure the right colors and styles.
TUXEDO SNAFUS
One bride told us about a snafu that occurred with the men's tuxedos at her wedding. The bride chose royal blue ties and cummerbunds and specified this at the time she reserved the tuxedos. The day before the wedding some groomsmen picked up their tuxes in the morning, while the groom picked his up later in the afternoon. The bride's father picked up his tux the morning of the wedding. When they all arrived at the ceremony site (a couple hours before the wedding) various members of the wedding party discovered they were given different colored ties and cummerbunds.
The bride's father attempted to return the tie sets and get the proper color, but was treated rudely by the tuxedo shop's staff. In fact, the shop insisted they had not made any mistakes! Needless to say, the father of the bride was miffed, but instead of making a stink, took the proper number of black tie and cummerbund sets and left for the wedding. Although the ties didn't match the royal blue bridesmaids dresses, this was the easiest compromise.
The moral of the story is: get everything in writing and try to coordinate picking up all the tuxedos at one time. This way you will be certain the tuxedo styles and colors coordinate. If the groomsmen can't pick up their tuxes together, give each of them a list noting the style number and color of the tuxedo, tie and cummerbund. Don't say the ties are "blue," instead tell them "royal blue, style 304."
One reliable tux rental company is Gingiss \ Formal Wear, a nationwide chain with shops in most metro areas. Gingiss has a special program to get measurements of out-of-town groomsmen that results in more accurate sizing.
The Officiant
We are amazed at the number of stories we hear from married couples who tell us the officiant (priest, pastor, rabbi, or judge) never showed up or was several hours late to their wedding! An easy way to avoid this is to schedule a pre-wedding visit with the officiant. At this meeting, discuss the time of the event, the officiant's fee, the rehearsal (when and where), the flow of the ceremony, and any last-minute requests or questions you may have.
On the day of the rehearsal we also recommend another call to the officiant's office to confirm the rehearsal time. Obviously, an officiant is vital to making a wedding ceremony legal—be sure he or she is there!
The Ceremony Site
If you're in town a couple of days before the wedding, we recommend visiting the ceremony site to go over any last-minute details. Some examples of questions to ask include:
- How early can the florist deliver the flowers? Is there a refrigerator to hold the flowers if they're dropped off early? If not, will the air conditioning be turned on so the flowers don't wilt?
- Where can the videographer set up his equipment? The photographer? Can they use lights or flashes? Can they move around?
- Where will the bride and the bridesmaids be able to dress or wait for the ceremony to start? What about the groom and groomsmen?
- Confirm the date and time the ceremony is scheduled. How early can we get there to dress and take pictures?
- Confirm the date and time of rehearsal. Will a coordinator be able to help us run the rehearsal (and later the ceremony)? If I have my own coordinator, will she be able to run the rehearsal and ceremony without interference ?
- Where do the musicians sit or stand?
Another reason to schedule this appointment is the "surprise remodel" problem. One long-distance bride alerted us to this pitfall when she discovered, to her horror, that her church hadn't finished remodeling by her wedding date. Never mind that the church had promised the work would be finished a month earlier—such projects always seem to run longer than expected. With just days before her wedding, the bride walked into the church to discover ugly scaffolding, bare pipes, and exposed insulation. Despite some last-minute attempts to cover up the construction, the ambiance was destroyed. The lesson is twofold: first, think twice about booking any ceremony site where a major renovation or remodel is planned near your wedding date. Second, have your surrogate planner visit the site a couple of weeks prior to the wedding to make sure everything is in its place.
The Reception Site
- Confirm the time and date of the event—especially if it's an off-time or off-day, like a Sunday wedding at 2 pm.
- When will the facility be opened? Your caterer, florist, and cake baker need to know how early they can get in to set up. Make sure the air conditioning or heat is turned on far enough in advance.
- If the reception site staff is setting up the tables and chairs, ask to see a sketch of the setup and traffic flow.
- Ask to see the changing rooms or restrooms to determine if you will be able to change into traveling clothes comfortably.
- When is the balance due to be paid? Most sites, unless they are hotels or country clubs, will need to be paid in advance. Be prepared.
The Caterer
It would be ideal to meet with your caterer a couple weeks before your wedding day. However, most long-distance brides can't schedule to come in this early and must do some last-minute planning over the phone. Either way, ask several important questions about your reception:
- Confirm the date and time
- When will you begin setting up for the reception? This is important because it influences the times when the flowers and cake can be delivered.
- Are you familiar with the florist and the cake baker? Since coordination here is key, it's a good idea to insist that the caterer contact each of them. This way, if there are any logistical problems, they can work them out ahead of time rather than during your actual wedding,
- Look over the menu one last time. Confirm any verbal changes you made earlier in the planning process. Go over the setup of the tables, the buffet, the head table, the guest table, and the cake table. When making your appointment with the caterer, it might be a good idea to ask him or her to have a sketch of the setup available to preview. Confirm number of servers and their attire—if you requested tuxedos, make sure the caterer has this in his or her notes.
- If the bride and groom are providing the alcohol to the caterer, when is it needed? This is an important detail because the caterer will need to chill some beverages ahead of time.
- Can I make any last-minute changes? This is easier to accomplish earlier in the planning process, but if something comes up at the last minute, ask about it. Menu changes may cost extra, so be prepared.
- When do you want final payment? Most caterers require final payment prior to the wedding date in order to pay for the staff, food, and rentals. Be prepared if this is the case with your wedding.
- Some caterers won't take a personal check, instead insisting on a cashier's check. Ask about this when making your appointment.
- When is the last day to give a final guest count? Call back on that day and give the caterer your final count. Confirm that the caterer will provide 5 to 10 percent more food to accommodate additional people.
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