LaurieB

OMG I literally read every post in this thread, I am sweating because my laptop is blowing hot air on me and I haven't moved for an hour and a half!! I am a Destination Wedding specialist, TA, who only books group travel and destination weddings(35 weddings groups booked for 2011/2012 winter). I thought I understood the stress of the guests booking, and from my perspective they definitely wait until the last week and a half of a booking period (I provide invites for my DW couples and on it I always put a Book By Deadline, not RSVP so people get the message!!!) I am also planning my own destination wedding for NOV 2012 at melia las dunas, and while I've mentioned it to my family in passing, I have a feeling my parents are going to find issue's with it and try and control some things. So I'll have to have a sit down with them and lay out some ground rules, explain our reasoning and let them know this is it!! Booking so many weddings I deal with all sorts of different perspectives, many groups are on board and very excited, and some people feel obligated and forced into it, others are outright rude about the bride and groom's choices. I feel like telling those ones to not go, but that's not really in my job description. I just keep my mouth shut about the negative people but always pass on positive messages to my bride and groom's as well as updates every time someone books so they aren't left wondering. I laughed out loud about the girl who said her FI banned her from talking to her TA because she got Twitchy with her...too funny, but it happens. Anyways, looking forward to my own wedding, I am still not 100% sure I'll do a DW, but our families are half in PEI and half in Alberta so I feel like having a wedding in one spot is like picking the side you love more..and I have a very hard time choosing!! Plus it'll be just as expensive for the side that travels to come to the wedding as it would be to go to a resort and this way both of our families can meet! They may never meet if we don't stay at an AI for a week together. Thanks for providing me with a full night of entertainment!! (and the sweats)

The resorts typically don't modify their wedding packages and substitute things within them. If it includes something you don't want you can just forfeit it but no reduction in package price. I also want to get married at this resort in Nov 2012, I've been here before, it's amazing!!