TIY Travel Founder, Kelli hi!, here taking over this blog post. I’ll give my fresh take on hosting a destination wedding and hiring a destination wedding travel agent. I hosted my 80 person wedding in San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico in October 2021… yes, at the end of Covid. The planning was…. fun.
Are you currently planning your dream destination wedding (YES, do it! They are incredible!). Have you ever considered the benefits of hiring a destination wedding travel agent? As the founder of TIY Travel and someone who experienced planning my own wedding without a travel agent, I have a fresh perspective on the dos and don’ts of destination wedding planning. Let me share with you the reasons why I deeply regret not hiring a destination wedding travel agent, and why you should seriously consider one for your special day!
I am a major traveler and own my own travel company, so of course, I thought I didn’t need to hire a destination wedding travel agent. I thought I had it all under control. I thought a detailed list of recommendations for accommodation, transport, activities, and food would be enough to let my guests figure out everything on their own. I thought, “of course they won’t ask me questions, they know I am busy planning an entire wedding.” I thought it would be simple. Spoiler Alert: I was very very wrong.
For our wedding, we wanted to take everyone to a town that was so special to us, San Pancho, Nayarit Mexico. This isn’t a town with large all-inclusive resorts, which is exactly why we love it. It is filled with boutique hotels, home rentals, street tacos & authentic charm. We wanted our guests to discover an authentic side of Mexico. I spent weeks writing a guide for the town with top recommendations. I think very few people looked at it, and if they did, they didn’t know where to start. I ended up being bombarded with questions. Usually I jump at the opportunity to help others plan their travels, but I was so overwhelmed with wedding planning that this felt like an extra burden on top of everything else. I became frustrated with every question. Family members stepped up to organize room blocks with hotels, and I was grateful for this. But I also felt guilty putting this work on to my guests.
What I didn’t understand at the beginning was that this was many people’s first time in Mexico, and if they had been before, they had never stayed off resort in a small town like San Pancho. They were confused, overwhelmed and just looking for some guidance. Which is all totally fair, but it was just an additional task I couldn’t take on.
All this to say- why didn’t I just work with a destination wedding travel agent to improve mine and my guests’ destination wedding experience? Someone to step in and organize the room blocks, transportation and more, and most importantly, answer everyone’s questions! To save you from making the same mistake, take a look at the top 5 reasons why I regret not hiring a destination wedding travel agent and why you should consider it! Or just schedule a free travel consultation today to start organizing your dream destination wedding!
5 Reasons Why I Regret Not Hiring a Destination Wedding Travel Agent
- Hiring a destination wedding travel agent is little to no additional cost to you!
- One of the most surprising revelations for me was that hiring a destination wedding travel agent is not an added financial burden. Travel agents receive commissions from suppliers like hotels, resorts, and transportation services for bringing them business. This means that you and your guests can benefit from their services without any extra cost. Some agents may ask for a “good faith deposit” or a minor planning fee, but the benefits they provide far outweigh these nominal fees.
- Especially with weddings, it is helpful to work with a destination wedding travel agent who knows the region and has experience and expertise with the local vendors. They can offer additional discounts and packaged deals.
- One of the most surprising revelations for me was that hiring a destination wedding travel agent is not an added financial burden. Travel agents receive commissions from suppliers like hotels, resorts, and transportation services for bringing them business. This means that you and your guests can benefit from their services without any extra cost. Some agents may ask for a “good faith deposit” or a minor planning fee, but the benefits they provide far outweigh these nominal fees.
- Hiring a destination wedding travel agent gives you extra benefits & perks
- Destination wedding travel agents have established relationships with suppliers, which means they can offer you exclusive benefits and perks. From room upgrades to complimentary food and beverages, you and your guests will be treated to special arrangements that make your wedding experience even more memorable.
- This is especially true for destination wedding packages. While the perks are dependent on venue, location, wedding size & more, you will be pleasantly surprised by the added benefits of working with an advisor.
- Destination wedding travel agents have established relationships with suppliers, which means they can offer you exclusive benefits and perks. From room upgrades to complimentary food and beverages, you and your guests will be treated to special arrangements that make your wedding experience even more memorable.
- Hiring a destination wedding travel agent gives you a stress free experience
- Let’s be honest- planning your dream destination wedding can be overwhelming, especially when you have to consider logistics, accommodations, and activities for your guests. Hiring a destination wedding travel agent takes a significant load off your shoulders. They’ll handle all the intricate details, ensuring smooth travel for everyone involved and swiftly resolving any unforeseen issues. And when the inevitable flight delays, transport issues, etc. occur, your destination wedding travel agent can be there to jump on the phone and resolve it for you!
- Hiring a destination wedding travel agent helps your guests have a more enjoyable experience
- Your guests are so excited to celebrate your big day in paradise and a vacation on top of it- how exciting! But the reality of it all is, your guests are caught up with their day to day life and booking and planning the travel can be an additional item on their to-do list. A destination wedding travel advisor will alleviate the travel planning stressors and provide your guests with tailored recommendations for their trip. They get to have a worry free vacation and the absolute best experience during their vacation and your wedding!
- It is a smart decision!
- As a wise proverb once said “work smart, not hard.” Planning a destination wedding requires meticulous attention to detail, and hiring a destination wedding travel agent is a smart decision. By leaving the travel planning to the experts, you’ll have more time to focus on other aspects of your big day, such as finding your dream dress, writing vows, or creating memorable moments with your loved ones. They will take your destination wedding dreams and bring them to life!
Top Locations for a Mexico Destination Wedding
At this point, you may be thinking that hiring a destination wedding travel agent sounds super helpful and an easy yes, especially among the many difficult wedding planning decisions that you have to make. Now another tough question- where should you have your destination wedding? Maybe you have decided on a location but you are still deciding between venues for the wedding. Great news- a destination wedding travel agent can help you narrow down your choices and help explain why a location or venue would be perfect for you.
Here at TIY Travel, we are experts in Mexico travel. While there are many tropical locations for a wedding, we believe Mexico offers a great combination of affordable and beautiful weddings with a fun travel experience for your guests. Here is TIY’s list of top locations for your Mexico Destination Wedding. Our top recommendation is to find a destination wedding travel agent that specializes in the region that you are interested in. Even if you aren’t sure exactly where, but you know the country or region, the destination wedding travel agent that is focused on the area will be able to help identify the location that is perfect for your destination wedding. Since Mexico is TIY’s region of expertise, here are our top 5 picks for a Mexico destination wedding.
Riviera Nayarit Mexico
Nayarit is a special state in Mexico filled with hundreds of miles of untouched coastlines, vibrant beach towns and lush tropical jungles. Whether you are looking to celebrate in an authentic beach town or have your beach destination wedding at some of the most luxurious resorts in Mexico- Nayarit is for you! Many of the towns and resorts are located less than an hour from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, making it a convenient and accessible destination. We highly recommend this state for the bride who wants a beautiful tropical beach wedding but wants something more unique and intimate than a large all-inclusive resort. Read our Nayarit Travel Guide here!
Jalisco Mexico
Jalisco is the state located to the south of Nayarit, yet has different things to offer for a Mexico destination wedding. It has remote beach towns that offer secludedness, but on the opposite end, it offers large all-inclusive resorts and hotels. Puerto Vallarta is a bustling resort town with beachfront resorts. And if you are looking for more of a city vibe, Tequila or Guadalajara are the cities for you! Jalisco is full of authentic Mexican charm and remote towns. Jalisco also offers very remote destinations to host your wedding, like Costa Careyes or Playa Colomitos. If you are looking for a magical Mexico wedding, this is the Mexican state for you. It can also be reached by Puerto Vallarta International Airport or Guadalajara’s International Airport. Read our Jalisco Travel Guide here!
Oaxaca Mexico
Oaxaca is even further south on Mexico’s Pacific Coast than Jalisco & Nayarit. This state is for the bride looking to get off the beaten path and blaze her own wedding trail. You have the options of having a beachfront wedding in Puerto Escondido or having a truly indigenous Mexican experience in Oaxaca City. Oaxaca is less traveled to than other popular spots for destination weddings in Mexico, so you can find very affordable venues. This is a destination that is guaranteed to wow your guests and be unlike any other Mexico destination wedding they have ever seen. Contact us to learn more about an Oaxaca destination wedding.
Quintana Roo Mexico
If you are considering Mexico for your destination wedding, then you have very likely heard of the popular cities along Riviera Maya- Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Punta Cana or Tulum. These cities are some of the most popular for travelers visiting Mexico and for destination weddings, due to the amount of large resorts in the region. If you are looking for the standard resort wedding at an all-inclusive resort- then this bustling region is for your dream wedding! A destination wedding travel agent can really assist you with picking the best region and resort for your wedding and likely get you extra amenities and perks. In addition, if any guests are interested in off resort excursions, the destination wedding travel agent can assist with all the planning. If you are looking for something more off the beaten path– we recommend checking out Nayarit!
Baja California Mexico
Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas have made the state of Baja California popular, but there are many beach towns and places to visit within this state encompassed by coastline. If you love the desert vibes of Baja California or live on the Pacific Coast, this state is perfect for your Mexico destination wedding. You can find all-inclusive resorts, boutique hotels, small authentic beach towns or a remote dessert for your intimate wedding. You really have a wide array of choices in this region. Working with a destination wedding travel agent will help you narrow in on the best venue and location for you. This region gives you the beach mixed with desert vibes and is a great choice for the active bride & groom.
No matter the destination that you decide upon, a travel agency specializing in destination wedding travel planning is guaranteed to find you the most unique & beautiful spots, great deals and plan the perfect destination wedding.
Top Venue Recommendations for a Destination Wedding
When you first meet with your destination wedding travel agent, you may have ideas of what type of venue you are envisioning or the exact place you’d like to have your wedding. Whichever phase of destination wedding planning that you are in, your destination wedding travel agent is there to meet you where you are at and help you pick or plan for your dream destination wedding location.
Villa or Private Home
Villas can be a really intimate and unique venue to celebrate your perfect destination wedding. They also give you the opportunity to have your close friends and family stay on site with you, adding to the intimacy and special moments you have with your loved ones. Villas can also be a stunning option. You can have your choice of a beachfront villa, a hacienda in the mountains, or a stunning villa on a cliff overlooking the water. Whatever your vibe- you can find a villa that fits what you are looking for. Villas are a guaranteed way to provide a unique experience for your guests that leave them in awe.
Since there are thousands of villas across Mexico and their services are not standardized, a destination wedding agency can really provide recommendations on the best villas that will not only look beautiful but also provide you and your guests with a seamless and amazing wedding experience.
All-Inclusive Resort
When people initially think of destination weddings, they likely think of all inclusive destination weddings Mexico at resorts. These are oftentimes marketed as the ideal destination wedding, as it offers ease and simplicity for your travel group. It is the “one stop shop” option for planning destination weddings all inclusive packages. This is a top choice for the bride and groom looking for a beautiful yet convenient wedding. Somewhere that the entire wedding can enjoy, kick back and relax in paradise. An all-inclusive wedding travel agent can help with all!
Boutique Hotel
Boutique hotels offer a fabulous alternative for the wedding that is looking for a more romance travel group vibe that feels intimate and exclusive. Boutique hotels can be a great spot for the actual wedding, or a beautiful spot for everyone to stay at, while the wedding is at an event space. Boutique hotels offer the convenience and comfortableness of a resort, but they encourage your guests to explore the town they are visiting and see more of the country. Boutique hotels are for couples looking for a dream destination wedding in Mexico that makes them and their guests feel special and not like another wedding in the books.
Entertainment Space
Many people only think to hotels and villas for wedding venues in Mexico, but what about something a little different?! Across Mexico, you can find beach clubs, polo fields, golf courses, restaurants and more to host your wedding! Depending on group size, these locations can offer a great venue for all different sizes of weddings. I had my wedding ceremony on a polo field and then bused everyone to the beach club for the reception! Why not mix it up and do something fun for your Mexico wedding day. A destination wedding travel agent will have few ideas up their sleeves for off the beaten path wedding venues.
Destination Wedding Travel Agent vs. Destination Wedding Planner
While both roles are intended to help you plan and organize your dream destination wedding, they are focused on completely different tasks. Destination Wedding Planners are there to ensure your actual wedding and ceremony are perfect, and they have relationships with flower vendors, musicians, catering and more. Destination Wedding Travel Agents/Advisors are there for you and your guests for any travel planning needs and for destination wedding ideas. They have special relationships with hotels, resorts, transportation services, activities, tours & more! Ideally, the two roles go hand and hand and work together to leave you even more time to focus on the love surrounding your wedding day.
How to get started working with a Destination Wedding Travel Agent & How to Plan a Destination Wedding
At TIY Travel, we specialize in Mexico travel and can recommend top locations for your Mexico destination wedding. From the beautiful beaches of Riviera Nayarit and Jalisco to the vibrant charm of Oaxaca, there’s a perfect spot for every couple. We are here to guide you through the entire planning process, helping you find the most unique and stunning venues for your special day. Looking for some assistance with planning your Mexico Bachelorette Party? Read our guides or reach out today to learn more!
- Schedule a Call– Let’s chat wedding dreams, location and budget. TIY will provide you with several options to choose from.
- Say Yes to the destination! After deciding on your location, we will work with you or your wedding planner to confirm all bookings. We will help you add all information to your wedding website.
- Enjoy the time leading up to your wedding– We are available for you and your wedding guests bookings, questions and recommendations. We will handle all the travel, so you can focus on your wedding day!
- Dream Destination Wedding Weekend– spend your weekend creating memories you will cherish for your entire life. If anything comes up, we are here for you! Looking for some help planning your dream honeymoon? We’d love to get you on a rejuvenating and romantic honeymoon.
Don’t let the excitement of planning your dream destination wedding be overshadowed by unnecessary stress. Take it from someone who learned the hard way—I regret not hiring a destination wedding travel agent. Let us make your dream wedding come true by turning your vision into a seamless and unforgettable reality. Schedule a call with us today, and let’s embark on this journey together!
