Stunning agent-booked destination weddings
The couple: Ashley & Cody Philp
The wedding: January 10, 2024 at The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
The guest list: 60
The agent: Deanna Beatty, Romance & Foodie Travel
Photographers: Wandering Media Co.
From the agent: Ashley and Cody contacted me about a year before the wedding, which in my opinion is the perfect time to start planning. They had originally wanted a different resort but after showing them a few options that I really recommended for weddings, they ended up choosing The Fives. A lush, tropical, greenery feel with amazing food was what they were really going for and I think The Fives Beach is the perfect property for that. I am a top producer with The Fives, so their product is very familiar to me and I know they offer amazing wedding planning services and a great property for large groups to enjoy.
When I give hotel recommendations for weddings, I really consider not only how the resort will be for the group but how well they can plan weddings. I do find there are some resorts that just excel in this category and I always strive to offer a stress free wedding planning experience, which I think can be attributed to resorts who specialize in weddings.
From the couple: From the moment we began planning, Deanna Beatty at Romance and Foodie Travel was more than just our travel agent—she was our biggest supporter, always sharing in our excitement and enthusiasm. She made every step so easy, and it felt like we had a close friend guiding us. One of the things that really stood out was how responsive and kind she was. Even while we were traveling, Deanna was quick to handle any questions and resolve any concerns, making sure we never felt stressed or alone. Her attention to detail and ability to balance logistics with excitement truly set the tone for our wedding week.
Our destination, The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences, exceeded every expectation. The resort was stunning, with its pristine beaches, world-class dining, and luxurious atmosphere. Each day felt like a celebration of relaxation and beauty. One particularly memorable moment was our ceremony at the beach gazebo, where the breathtaking ocean view provided a serene and romantic backdrop for our vows. Then, as the sun began to set, we moved to the grand garden for our reception. The lush greenery and twinkling lights created a magical, intimate atmosphere. We can’t count how many guests commented on the sheer beauty of it all!
We’re thrilled to say that we didn’t face any issues on the day of our wedding. Everything flowed beautifully, and that’s a testament to the incredible team we had around us. From start to finish, we focused our energy on being present, trusting our team, and soaking in each moment with our loved ones. By doing so, we were able to lean into the experience fully, allowing ourselves to embrace every emotion and simply enjoy. The day unfolded naturally, and everything just came together in the most perfect way.
Our media team, Wandering Media, was the perfect addition to our day. We didn’t just gain talented photographers and videographers—we gained lifelong friends. They were so warm and engaged, capturing every precious detail with care. One thing we learned is just how important it is to have a team that truly gets your vision and is invested in telling your story. Thanks to them, we have the most beautiful collection of memories to look back on.
Overall, we are incredibly grateful for the experience. If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding, we couldn’t recommend our team enough. Deanna, The Fives, and Wandering Media all brought something unique and invaluable to our celebration. Our week in paradise was filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments—an experience we will treasure forever.
One thing we realized is that the day is about you, your partner, and your loved ones. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, but what made our day truly magical was focusing our attention and love on our experience and our emotions. Everything else just fell into place. Trust in your team, lean into the moments, and cherish every second. When you’re surrounded by people who care, the day will unfold even better than you could have imagined.
The couple: Parul Kumar & Ritika Aggarwal
The wedding: May 2023, Hard Rock Punta Cana Resort and Spa, Dominican Republic
The guest list: 220
The agent: Preety Jaswal, Preety Weddings & Travel
Photographers: JSK Photography
From the agent: When working with a couple with families living in two different countries, you need to be able to offer options in each of their own currencies. The Canadian guests were booked with a Canadian tour operator, while the US group was booked with Hard Rock directly. It can be tricky to navigate two different group blocks but I was able to make it work by staying organized and being available to all guests to answer their questions. My sweet bride and groom had a specific vision in mind and I think I was able to deliver the wedding of their dreams in paradise!
From the couple: Preety helped us plan the wedding of our dreams. She was very organized and always available to answer any questions. Preety was super prompt in her communication. Due to her being well connected within the wedding industry, she is able to acquire exclusive perks that are in favour of the couple and guests. We are still in awe of our wedding when we look back at our photos and videos, all of which couldn’t have happened without the support and services offered by Preety and her team! #RitzfoundherParudise was an epic success all made possible by Preety envisioning and delivering the vision of her couple!
The couple: Melissa & Adrian Virasami
The wedding: April 22, 2024, Dreams Royal Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The guest list: 40
The agent: Andrea Stainburn, Boutique Travel Services
Photographers: In house (Dreams Royal Beach)
From the couple: The booking went very smoothly. Without the help from our travel agent, we would not have been able to do it ourselves. Andrea took care of everything from the very beginning till the moment we took off for our for destination wedding. The wedding day went fantastic, weather was amazing, our wedding coordinator in Punta Cana took care of everything exactly the way we wanted/planned. It was the best decision we made to have a destination wedding. We always wanted a small wedding and everyone that we wanted to be there for our special day made it there to celebrate with us. We have nothing but good things to say about our experience with our destination wedding, we wouldn’t change it for the world and we couldn’t be happier with how things turned out! The photographers were wonderful and work so quickly to get the shots we’ve always dreamed of. We chose a specific package which included both photos and video to capture our entire day.
The couple: Ashley & Brandon Cluff
The wedding: April 13, 2024, Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
The guest list: 31
The agent: Tracy Keith, Romantic Planet Vacations
Photographers: Adventure Photos
From the couple: Our decision to work with a travel agent helped answer trip concerns and provide more details about destination weddings. It was a great resource to obtain multiple quotes, keep the trip organized, outline pricing, trip details, assist in special requests and answer questions for our guests. Thank you to Tracy and Romantic Planet Vacations for helping us plan and book our beautiful adventure!
Tips for couples considering a destination wedding: Keep reminding yourself not to stress about your family and friends bookings, your guests are in control of their own timelines and payments. One thing that ended up being a bit hit and really helpful for the trip was to create a group chat on WhatsApp and invite your wedding guests to join. It can be used on WiFi and is easy to navigate. Our guests used it to message everyone, share details about fun activities they found at the resort, where they were going to eat and this encouraged everyone to mingle and meet up, share photos of the trip and photos of the big day — and the app is free. Watch out for the resort at par with Canadian deals, become familiar with what your wedding package includes, ask questions and don’t be shy to follow up and take advantage of any “Additional Inclusions” listed on the package.
The couple: Stephanie Izsak & Ian Matchett
The wedding: Jan. 19, 2024, Dreams Onyx, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The guest list: 64
The agent: Cindy Almond, Romance & Foodie Travel
From the couple: A destination wedding was a perfect option to bring our families and friends together from Canada and around the world. The team at Dreams Onyx and Lisbeth especially went above and beyond in ensuring our special day went smoothly and that us and our guests had an unforgettable experience.
The couple: Alexa & Alexander
The wedding: November 18, 2023, Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos, Mexico
The guest list: 80
The agent: Lana Wilson, Liz Moore Destination Weddings
Photographers: Daniel Ortiz Photography
From the agent: Alexa and Alexander were such a fantastic couple to work with from the initial contact until all of the guests returned home. They decided upon the Whales Terrace venue at Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos for its oceanfront view and the amazing sunsets it provided for their celebration. The terrace provided an experience of being right next to the ocean without having toes in the sand. We coordinated with the fantastic wedding team at the resort and finalized their date. We then set up a room block for their guests to ensure everyone could secure accommodations and attend all the events they had planned. Many of Alexa and Alexander’s guests travelled from New Zealand, Germany, and the United States to Mexico. We were able to finalize all room reservations and payments without interruption. Many guests commented on how simple we made the booking process from the wedding website we created for the couple. The wedding celebration turned out spectacular and was a special experience to be lucky enough to participate in.
From the couple: We had an amazing experience planning and having our wedding at The Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos with the help of Lana from Liz Moore Weddings. Our guests had such a blast and an incredible vacation. The food, scenery and service were exceptional. All of our vendors were great but in particular our wedding photographer Daniela Ortiz deserves recognition. She is so organized, punctual, friendly and talented. Our entire day ran so smoothly. We were able to soak in every moment and truly enjoy ourselves. We wish we could go back and do it all again!
