Have you ever......?

[MissSimone]

So I know everyone here on BDW is actively planning their own DW but has anyone actually attended a DW. I was wondering what were some of things as a guest that you noticed that made the wedding extra special, unique fun or not so much. Was there anything there that you're using in your own DW or vow to never do in your DW. From a guest's perspective did you think it was worth the money? Personally I have never been to a DW and I think I'll be the first of my friends to have one.

[TheFutureWagners]

Wow that is SUCH a great question for us all to know. I hope people starting posting!!!

[Mrs.S2B]

I posted a question like this somewhere, but I can't find it.  So I don't know if anyone wrote back.  Anyway, great question and I hope we get some good tips, do's and don't do's. 

[Lua]

what a great question! i've never attended one but many people i speak to have and loved them!

can't wait to hear what everyone has to say

[tlinette]

I've been to a DW wedding in July 2008 in at the Riu in Bahamas. I was a bridesmaid. I'm sooo thankful I attended her wedding because that has helped me tremendously in know what I do want and don't want. I absolutely learned that I do not want a wedding on the beach/sand. My friends was and it was a bit uncomfortable. My feet sunk into the sand the  entire time, and I had loads of sand flea bites afterwards. I've decided to do gazebo.

 

Since I am also having my wedding at a RIU resort, I am thankful to have experienced the semi-private reception, which was nice and private enough, and the overall seamlessness of the entire weekend. Even though the bride did not have an itinery of events for us, I still had a great time. We all found events and activities to do on our own, and together.

[HazelsMelody]

I went to a destination wedding last April 2009 at the Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica and it was beautiful!! I think it's definitely worth it as a guest to go! We booked it really really late, cuz I wasn't originally planning on going but then my boyfriend and I decided to take a trip together and he found my invite. Anyway, we weren't able to book with the wedding group and we didn't get an OOT Bag, but it was still awesome. They had arranged for the group to do an excursion together, which again, we missed cuz we arrived and therefore left earlier than the rest of the group, but we definitely want to arrange an excursion for the group for our wedding. But they didn't have TONS planned for every day which was nice. They had a couple "events" that any of their guests were welcome to attend, they just said, "this is where we'll be at this time," kind of thing, and the resort was big enough that if we chose not to attend, we could be by ourselves and enjoy our own vacation, but those that we did attend, it was just nice to be a part of the group.

We also hung out with smaller groups a few times, the morning of the ceremony we hung out at the pool and pool bar with the groom's brother and his girlfriend and a time or two at the beach cafe listening to the entertainment there.

The ceremony was soooo beautiful. It was in the wedding gazebo that is on the beach, so they still had the ocean as their backdrop, but it wasn't in the sand or at the mercy of passersby in Speedos etc.

 

Their wedding definitely sealed the deal for us, when he proposed to me, there was no question that we were going to do a destination wedding.

[Jen1407]

Miss Simone, what a great question to ask!!!  And to the ladies who have been to a destination wedding, thanks for providing your feedback.

[debbmach]

I went to a wedding in Mexico a few years ago and it was beautiful!!! I knew then and there that was what I wanted. They planned an excursion for all the guests to attend if we wanted to and that was it. Aside from the actual wedding day, they had nothing else planned. It was great! I loved the idea of going to my friends wedding and spending a week on vacation with them and my other friends. What I did appreciate was the private dinner/reception they had, which is why I decided to do the same thing. I'm sure it would have been a different situation if we were in the restaurant with all the rest of the guests on the resort. I also liked that they gave us a travel mug to use at the resort that week. What didn't I like, hmmm....can't really think of anything. It was great!

[MissSimone]

I'm so glad I asked this question. This just solidifies how much I want to have a DW. You guys are giving great feedback. Let's keep it going !

[jszy10]

LOVE this question!!  I have so many guests (both of our parents included) that have never even been out of the US, so think experience will be pretty new for everyone.  My FI's best man went to a DW last year and loved every minute!  I'll be interested in hearing more responses! It is always helpful to hear from a different perspective!