Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a destination wedding?
A destination wedding often takes place in an exotic locale far from home.There are a number of amazing locations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe to choose from. A destination wedding can be as large or small as the couple desires. Some couples prefer to celebrate by themselves while others choose to invite as many guests as they would to a traditional wedding at home.
Why plan a destination wedding?
There are a number of great reasons to choose a destination wedding. Gaydestinationweddings give couples, their families and friends the chance to spend three to seven days together in a faraway location rather than just four or five hours in a banquet room. They offer the couple's families and friends the chance to truly bond and make memories that will last a lifetime. The cost of a destination wedding is another reason couples may decide to plan one. Destination weddings can be as luxurious or simple as the couple likes and they're within reach for those with budgets small and large. Additionally, destination weddings are unique and enjoyable for the couple and their guests.
Is a destination wedding right for us and our guests?
If you're thinking of planning a destination wedding, it's likely important to you that your closest friends and family members will be able to attend. Before you commit to having a destination wedding, run the idea by family and friends.If there are relatives who you know you want present on your special day but are unable to attend, you might prefer to have an intimate destination wedding and a reception after your wedding abroad so all your loved ones can be a part of the celebration. Additionally, choosing the right destination may also affect who can attend. A wedding in Hawaii where you plan to enjoy zip-lining, water rafting and other activities may not be the best choice for your older guests. Make sure to consider your closest family and friends when selecting a wedding destination.
Who are you as a company?
GayDestinationWeddings.com was born from a desire to serve a community whose time has come. Our LGBT community has finally achieved the freedom to marry, and GDW is hereto make these long awaited and often hard won hopes and dreams come true.Our experience derives from the strong pedigree of our parent company, The Destination Weddings Travel Group, the global leader in specialty destination weddings and romance travel.The Destination Weddings Travel Group has facilitated travel arrangements for over half a million guests, and produced almost 20,000 destination weddings- each one completely customized to fulfill the dreams of a unique, happy couple.GayDestinationWeddings.com's headquarters is located just west of Boston in Wayland,Mass and has an international corporate office located in Toronto, Canada.
Why book your destination wedding with GayDestinationWeddings.com?
GayDestinationWeddings.com was created by people like you, for people like you. When it comes to romance travel, we understand the unique needs, tastes and desires of the LGBT community. Each of our hotels and resorts are hand selected for their one-of-a-kind character and appeal, just like the individuals we strive to serve. Many of these resorts are part of our Preferred Partner Collection, means couples have the opportunity to receive even more added benefits, such as exclusive savings and more. And perhaps even more importantly,we have carefully screened each one to ensure their total embrace of same-sex weddings and celebrations. GayDestinationWeddings.com is the only website and service of its kind.Our parent company, DestinationWeddings.com, is the largest and most experienced specialty destination wedding company in the world. Its commitment to same-sex civil rights and marriage freedom is extraordinary. GDW was created to focus exclusively on serving the needs and exceeding the expectations of the LGBT community. Our experienced wedding specialists are all accredited by New York’s Gay Wedding Institutewhich makesthem uniquely qualified to answer your specific questions and able to plan your big celebration with care and sensitivity.Planning a destination wedding requires considerable time, organization and expertise. Planning a wedding far from home can be challenging to do on your own. Our experienced Certified Destination Wedding Specialists make the process simple for you and your guests. Your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist will help you choose the perfect destination and resort and book your honeymoon and travel accommodations for you and your guests.Your specialist will also set you up with an on-site wedding coordinator at the resort who will help you plan your ceremony and reception. Your specialist will be there to help you through the planning process.GayDestinationWeddings.com also offers couples a free wedding website where couples can tell their guests about their wedding and communicate with them before the big day.
How much experience do your specialists have?
Our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists have years of experience and are passionate about planning destination weddings. They are with couples from the beginning stages of the planning process, to welcoming them home. All of our specialists have been carefully selected from the best in the industry, completed numerous rigorous certification programs,including training from The New York Gay Institute, and receive continuing education to stay up-to-date on everything in the industry.
What are your fees?
Each of our award-winning Certified Destination Wedding Specialists work with a limited number of couples in order to provide personalized service and ensure a perfect celebration every time – so our services are ALWAYS 100% free to you.
How far in advance should I plan my destination wedding?
Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, so it's best to start as soon as possible.
Will I need a wedding coordinator to handle the ceremony at my destination wedding location?
Depending on the ceremony details, it is recommended that you work with someone at the location to help finalize the details. Many resorts and hotels have complimentary on-site wedding coordinators, who maintain reputable local vendor lists, and can help organize your big day. GayDestinationWeddings.com also maintains a list of reputable wedding coordinators in most destinations, who are available to assistas well. Your CertifiedDestination Wedding Specialist will set you up with a wedding coordinator at your resort and assist you as needed throughout the process.
What are the legal requirements when getting married out of the country?
The legal requirements depend on the location of your destination wedding and your specialist will be able to help you answer these questions. Don’t worry about the legalities - we can help you through that.
Do you have a list of resorts that you work with?
Our proprietary G-List™ of hotels and resorts has been handpicked to appeal to the discerning tastes of a sophisticated LGBT audience. Each listing has been carefully vetted to insure the unequivocal embrace of gay wedding partners and their guests. And as gay marriage and LGBT partnerships continue to gain acceptance and legal rights around the world, our G-List will continue to grow always maintaining our high standards of inclusion. If you have a specific location in mind and don't see it on the G-List let us know, we can work with just about any hotel or resort in the world.
I'm concerned about my guests being able to afford to come, what does it cost for the guests?
Because every wedding is customized to fit the needs of every couple, each wedding is different, as are the costs.Your wedding can be as simple or lavish as you like. The travel costs depend on the time of year, resort and destination. However, keep in mind that our "Easy Payment Plan" makes attending your wedding affordable for your guests.
And do we have to pay for our reservations in full right away?
GayDestinationWeddings.com offers our exclusive "Easy Payment Plan", which allows you and your guests the flexibility of spreading the payment of travel expenses out overtime. Our "Easy Payment Plan" makes it easier and more affordable for your closest friends and family to be part of your big day.