Over March break, Claire and Kent and 50 of their friends and family headed to Majestic resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  Both Claire and Kent live in Western Canada while I am in Toronto, so the planning was all done via email and phone.  It was my first completely virtual wedding!  They tied the knot at a Catholic ceremony in a small chapel followed by an outdoor reception.  Guests were each made a customized cigar with the couples name and wedding date. Guests enjoyed a private reception with dinner and dancing.

Here is the lovely thank you note, I received from them:

Jenn,

Thanks so much again for all your help.  Our day was truly amazing.  Everything was perfect and nothing went wrong!  I loved my flowers and the church was the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Every time I walked by I loved it more and more.

 The resort was amazing too.  Every single person LOVED the food. Everyone enjoyed themselves too…not even one complaint!  The service was awesome and they kept leaving us little surprises and gifts.  We felt so special.  We are definitely going back there (hopefully next year for our anniversary)!  Our room was really beautiful too.  We had a huge balcony with a hot tub on it basically right on the beach. 

Our photographer was really awesome too.

Thanks again for everything.  Everything was sooooo organized and I felt so at ease.  You really helped me be 100% prepared and it went so smoothly.

Thank you again,

Claire and Kent

Wishing Claire and Kent a long and happy life together!

Claire’s Orchid and Calla lily bouquet and shoes

Claire and Kent sharing a kiss in front of the chapel

Claire and Kent are married!

Claire and Kent outside the chapel of their Punta Cana Destination wedding

Kiss on the Beach-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Claire and Kent’s Wedding Party jumping on the beach

Claire and Kent’s groomsmen on the beach-Punta Cana

Cigar Roller made custom cigars for the destination wedding guests.

Claire and Kent on the beach in Punta Cana

Wedding Planning and Destination Wedding Guests Booking- Jennifer Borgh Events & TravelOnly

Wedding Coordination-Majestic Resorts

Photography-Tropical Studio-Saul G.

About Jennifer Borgh:

Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto , Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.www.jenniferborghevents.com

jenn@jenniferborghevents.com

For anyone that knows me well, they know that I am not a big fan of “wedding packages”.  For weddings should be personal and represent the couple and not follow a set of standard rules.  Sandals and Beaches has just launched the ultimate wedding packages.   I am so very excited about Sandals and Beaches resort wedding packages as they are very flexible and can be mixed and matched to suit the couple.  As well, I help my couples plan the wedding before they arrive on the resort so if they want any personal touches, almost anything is possible.

Enjoy some new eye candy that Sandals resorts has launched to let couples see how truly beautiful a Caribbean wedding at one of their resorts can be.  They have partnered with Martha Stewart, who has designed beautiful, modern packages and finishing touches.

If you are looking for help booking a Sandals or Beaches Resort wedding, please contact me via email jenn@jenniferborghevents.com or phone 647-203-3602.  I would love to help you have a stress free, beautiful wedding for a group or just the two of you!

About Jennifer Borgh:

Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto and York Region, Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.www.jenniferborghevents.com

jenn@jenniferborghevents.com

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of coordinating Lindsay and Steve’s March Wedding at the Liberty Grand in Toronto.  As you can see from the photos, that Dina and Azra of Facephotography captured,  Lindsay and the entire bridal party were absolutely stunning. A gift from her husband, Lindsay wore, beautiful black Valentino open toe shoes and a beautiful off-white wedding gown. On her bouquet, designed by Cool, Green and Shady, she remembered her great grandmother by adding her brooch onto the handle. Guests danced the night away to a soulful, Grooveyard band, and of course my favourite song that they played was the couples first dance, a rendition of Bob Marley’s- “Is this Love”.

It was a honor to be by their side to make sure all the details were taken care of.  It gives me such joy to see my couples with such big smiles on their faces and such good memories of the day.

Here is the nice thank you note, I received from the happy couple

” Jenn, Thank you so much for helping us with our wedding on Saturday! You were amazing! Our day was absolutely perfect! Thank you so much! We cant stop talking about it!!!
xoxo
Lots of Love, Linds & Steve

Photo Credit: All of the above photos were taken by Facephotography

• Personal pre-planning wedding consultant
• Personal on-resort wedding consultant and dedicated resort wedding team
• Bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
• Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
• Marriage officiant
• Sparkling wine & chilled hors d’oeuvres reception for bride, groom and six guests
• An elegant reception table set for eight with a floral centerpiece
• Two-tiered wedding cake
• Preparation of marriage documents
• Certified marriage certificate
• Wedding gift from Sandals Resorts
• One (1) 5×7 honeymoon photograph
• Honeymoon dinner for bride and groom at a resort specialty restaurant with white-glove service and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
• Decorated honeymoon room
• Full breakfast-in-bed and mimosas on a morning of your choice

• Sandals WeddingMoons^® Inclusions
• The Beautiful Beginnings Wedding Theme
• Complimentary one (1) room category upgrade for Bride & Groom (excluding Butler Service Rooms and based on availability)

• Sandals WeddingMoons^® Inclusions
• The Beautiful Beginnings Wedding Theme
• 30 min. Standard Reception
• Private group rehearsal dinner
• Complimentary (1) room category upgrade for Bride & Groom (excluding Butler Service Rooms and based on availability)
• Manicure and pedicure for bride, 35 min. massage for groom
• Complimentary one (1) person credit based on first (12) paid double rooms**
• Group pre-registration and check-in upon arrival
• About Jennifer Borgh:

  Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto and York Region, Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!

  Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.

  www.jenniferborghevents.com

  jenn@jenniferborghevents.com

As a very popular resort in Barbados announces its month-end closure, destination wedding couples are left with decisions to make about moving their wedding.  With only 3 weeks until the end of the month, only an expert Wedding Planner-Travel Agent will be able to handle this situation with ease.

For couples who hired a Wedding Planner-Travel Agent in Ontario, their move to another resort should be facilitated by the experts.  Yes, more decisions will need to be made, but it should be able to happen without a lot of added stress.  Its moments like this that make couples appreciate choosing the right vendors for their wedding.

This is one of the main reasons, I recommend booking as a group through one Ontario based travel agent.  For couples who may have booked their guests though several travel agents, they are going to have to do all the leg work themselves.  Once they find out that their resort is closing they should immediately be contacting another resort that has enough room to accommodate the group.  Then they need to be contacting each guest to let them know to contact their travel agent and see if they can be moved.   With so many people that may be booked at the closed resort, they want to make sure that their wedding group takes priority and is able to stay together at another resort.  This is something that is very hard to do with individual bookings and might not be possible at all.  In this case, some guests might have to stay at another resort and pay for a day pass and transportation to join the wedding.

About Jennifer Borgh:

Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto and York Region, Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!

Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.

www.jenniferborghevents.com

jenn@jenniferborghevents.com

-Everyone loves a good deal and sometimes when you are flexible on dates/resort you can find a last minute deal.  Unfortunately, for destination weddings, last minute guests just add last minute work for the couple trying to get extra décor, extra seats and extra dinners.  Some issues that can arise with last minute guests are: added work for the couple, and hotels and flights being sold out.

-The best way to book a wedding group is about a year in advance so everyone can attend and everyone pays the same price.  Certain things can be included in a group booking such as a rehearsal dinner and even some wedding packages.  When you are invited to a wedding and the couple has gone through the trouble of securing a group rate with inclusions book it!  Don’t try and get a better deal, don’t try and book outside the group booking.  Save the deal search for your next vacation.

-When possible, stay at the same resort and same flight as the rest of the guests.  With destination weddings the fun starts when you arrive at the airport and it’s a great time to start meeting the other guests.

-Don’t boggle down the couple with your issues.  If your name was spelled wrong on the e-ticket then call the travel agent. There is no need to add extra stress to the couple (unless absolutely necessary).  Simple issues arise with travel all the time.  One email and the problem can often be solved.

-Let the couple know of your dietary restrictions ahead of time.  Are you vegetarian?  Do you have a nut allergy?  Even if you aren’t asked, a mention of this at the beginning can avoid issues.

-Bring a gift and a card!  The monetary expectation isn’t the same for a destination wedding but you are still there to celebrate the occasion, so bring a gift and especially a card.

-If you are giving the couple a gift then have it shipped to their residence or bring it when they return.  Bringing gifts and expecting the couple to pack them up and bring them back home is a huge inconvenience (unless it’s something useful for the destination wedding!)

-Don’t complain about the location.  It’s their wedding, not yours.  If the destination is not your first choice then there is no need to mention it to the couple or any of the guests.

-Get excited about the wedding!  Do some of your own research about the destination and find out about the amazing things to do.

-Don’t complain once at the destination.  If there are issues then take it up with the resort manager.  Or put in a call to the travel agent who booked you.  Unless it’s critical there is no point in complaining to the couple or other guests. This can really put a damper on everyone’s stay.

-Make sure you have all of your documents in order. If you need a passport make sure it’s up to date to avoid last minute stress.

About Jennifer Borgh:

Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto and York Region, Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!

Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.

www.jenniferborghevents.com

jenn@jenniferborghevents.com

I think I can speak for all exceptional Wedding Planners when I say, we take our bride and grooms feelings to heart. We love our couples, we want them to be happy and stress free and we want the entire process to be enjoyed by everyone involved.

We don’t want our couples to be upset and we don’t want them to have to deal with anything the wedding week except the final details.  We want them and their guests to fully enjoy the day.(or week with destination weddings)

So please think twice before you call the couple in the weeks leading up to their wedding about anything that isn’t positive.  This is not an appropriate time to cancel, change plans, put in special requests.  Nor is it a time to complain, bring negatives to their attention(unless it’s something they might want to fix before the wedding).  In life we need to celebrate the good things, and savor every happy moment.  Getting married can be a very emotional time in a couples relationship with family drama, so much invested financially, and the pressure of having each guest enjoy the day.  Please, let the couple have one less thing to worry about.  After all, this day is about love and happiness.

About Jennifer Borgh

Specializing in destination weddings and local weddings in Toronto and York Region, Jennifer Borgh with her team of exceptional assistants and vendor connections ensure every single detail of your wedding is taken care of. Jennifer Borgh Events is a boutique planning company and doesn’t overbook.  Jennifer Borgh plans weddings and honeymoons FULL time and is therefore available when you need her!

Her extensive background in events has taken her all across the Caribbean.  Being Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Sandals and Travel Industry Council of Ontario leaves destination bridal parties completely worry-free in her capable hands.

www.jenniferborghevents.com

jenn@jenniferborghevents.com