DestinationWeddings.com * Post all experiences, info and questions here! *

[abbie32]

You are going to hear mixed reviews about everything. I am getting married in April 2011 at Dreams Cancun and my TA is through destinationweddings.com and it is the best decision I ever made!!!!

 

My destination wedding specialist (DWS) lives in New Jersey and I live in Halifax, NS, Canada. She gets back to me right away with any questions, calls vs. emails so we get to know each other, and she was able to get my date confirmed with the wedding coordinator at Dreams Cancun in 2 days!!

 

I've read many brides on here getting married at Dreams Cancun commenting that while Claudia (Wedding Coordinator) does a great job she is very hard to reach and it is a frustrating process. I don't have to deal with any of that because my DWS handles all that for me. They take care of the travel for you, work with the wedding coordinator, book all your guests travel, and they have an emerg 24/7 number in case anything goes wrong. I feel so comfortable knowing that if something goes wrong with a guests flight, room, etc. they deal with it and not me. :-)

 

You ask the questions and tell them what you want and they do what they can to make it happen. They pick someone for you that has done weddings at the resort you choose. If you don't like the person they pair you with you can request someone else. They know how to get deals on travel and bargain with the wedding coordinators. You ask them questions and tell them what you want and they do their best to make it happen for you. It is amazing!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing this. It's only $50 so you really have nothing to lose. :-)

[fsuambs]

I am very happy that I found this thread. I currently have a wedding specialist with destinationweddings.com and I am rather frustrated. I'm frustrated because she is not listening to me! I've told her exactly what I wanted and what was important to me but she keeps on trying to get me to sign a contract with a resort that is not affordable for our guests. The resort is beautiful, Azul Sensatori, but is way too much. She hasn't been helpful when discussing pricing. She has told me that they price-match but every time I bring up a price that I find from a different website (e.g. cheapcaribbean, apple vacations, etc) she tells me that we have to book the airfare and resort separately. Is this correct?

The others that have used destinationweddings do your specialist make your guests book air and resort separately or are they able to put a packaged deal together?

[jk1101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsuambs I am very happy that I found this thread. I currently have a wedding specialist with destinationweddings.com and I am rather frustrated. I'm frustrated because she is not listening to me! I've told her exactly what I wanted and what was important to me but she keeps on trying to get me to sign a contract with a resort that is not affordable for our guests. The resort is beautiful, Azul Sensatori, but is way too much. She hasn't been helpful when discussing pricing. She has told me that they price-match but every time I bring up a price that I find from a different website (e.g. cheapcaribbean, apple vacations, etc) she tells me that we have to book the airfare and resort separately. Is this correct? The others that have used destinationweddings do your specialist make your guests book air and resort separately or are they able to put a packaged deal together?

My DW.com told me it would be cheaper for my guests to book their airfare on their own. As much as it would be easier for them to do it with her - I appreciated her honesty with that.

[fsuambs]

Thanks for the feedback. My DW specialist told me that they had to do it with her!

[kymkymkym]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbie32 You are going to hear mixed reviews about everything. I am getting married in April 2011 at Dreams Cancun and my TA is through destinationweddings.com and it is the best decision I ever made!!!! My destination wedding specialist (DWS) lives in New Jersey and I live in Halifax, NS, Canada. She gets back to me right away with any questions, calls vs. emails so we get to know each other, and she was able to get my date confirmed with the wedding coordinator at Dreams Cancun in 2 days!! I've read many brides on here getting married at Dreams Cancun commenting that while Claudia (Wedding Coordinator) does a great job she is very hard to reach and it is a frustrating process. I don't have to deal with any of that because my DWS handles all that for me. They take care of the travel for you, work with the wedding coordinator, book all your guests travel, and they have an emerg 24/7 number in case anything goes wrong. I feel so comfortable knowing that if something goes wrong with a guests flight, room, etc. they deal with it and not me. :-) You ask the questions and tell them what you want and they do what they can to make it happen. They pick someone for you that has done weddings at the resort you choose. If you don't like the person they pair you with you can request someone else. They know how to get deals on travel and bargain with the wedding coordinators. You ask them questions and tell them what you want and they do their best to make it happen for you. It is amazing!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing this. It's only $50 so you really have nothing to lose. :-)

I am also using DestinationWeddings.com and so far have had zero complaints - abbie it sounds like we have the same TA - is her name Joan by chance? My TA is also through New Jersey, she is very prompt and I have no complaints about her whatsoever, She told me she mostly works with Canadian brides.

I think with anything - depending on who you are paired with that's who is going to make or break your experience. Luckily I was paired with a wonderful TA from destinationweddings.com and have absolutely no complaints..

[mbarnes04]

There's a destinationwedding.com and a destinationweddings.com... just FYI

[abbie32]

Kimkimkim- yes it is Joan! haha She is from New Jersey and she is sweet. She prefers to call so we get to talk to her and we have a good laugh. I always feel better after talking to her and get excited about the wedding.

 

Happy planning and congrats on your wedding! :-)

[thope]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsuambs I am very happy that I found this thread. I currently have a wedding specialist with destinationweddings.com and I am rather frustrated. I'm frustrated because she is not listening to me! I've told her exactly what I wanted and what was important to me but she keeps on trying to get me to sign a contract with a resort that is not affordable for our guests. The resort is beautiful, Azul Sensatori, but is way too much. She hasn't been helpful when discussing pricing. She has told me that they price-match but every time I bring up a price that I find from a different website (e.g. cheapcaribbean, apple vacations, etc) she tells me that we have to book the airfare and resort separately. Is this correct? The others that have used destinationweddings do your specialist make your guests book air and resort separately or are they able to put a packaged deal together?

With cheapcarribean you do have to book your airfare upfront...but can make payments on the room, just found this out. Also the price changes depending on where you are flying from...for instance Miami flights add 50.00 to the cost and Oklahoma flights add 250.00 to the cost....be sure to read the fine print.
I had the same frustrating experience with DW.com I am now usisng a local travel agent and dealing with the wedding planning myself..I went through 3DW agents...one kept trying to get me to book with a resort that she uses frequently but fit none of my requests. The second was too stressed/sick to get back to me in a timely manner, and the third told my sister and mother in law to be (neither of which make very much $) they had to make 1000.00 deposits if they wanted to book air with thier travel. So needless to say bc of many high price quotes and lack of response many guests have been turned off. My new agent is good and she only requires 150.00 deposit pp. I'm not sure what the difference is in deposits but I would ask these things when shopping around for the right TA.

[TLC4Rock]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsuambs I am very happy that I found this thread. I currently have a wedding specialist with destinationweddings.com and I am rather frustrated. I'm frustrated because she is not listening to me! I've told her exactly what I wanted and what was important to me but she keeps on trying to get me to sign a contract with a resort that is not affordable for our guests. The resort is beautiful, Azul Sensatori, but is way too much. She hasn't been helpful when discussing pricing. She has told me that they price-match but every time I bring up a price that I find from a different website (e.g. cheapcaribbean, apple vacations, etc) she tells me that we have to book the airfare and resort separately. Is this correct? The others that have used destinationweddings do your specialist make your guests book air and resort separately or are they able to put a packaged deal together?

I strongly encourage you to change agents! It's not too late, I was told in the beginning if I had any issues to change. Your DWS should be providing a service to you! And as I always say to"I'm the Bride!"

[kymkymkym]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbie32 Kimkimkim- yes it is Joan! haha She is from New Jersey and she is sweet. She prefers to call so we get to talk to her and we have a good laugh. I always feel better after talking to her and get excited about the wedding. Happy planning and congrats on your wedding! :-)

Yes! Joan is awesome I have absolutely no complaints about her thus far, she definitely has lots of experience and tons of stories to tell Good luck to you as well and congrats!!!