By JUDI
KOSKI
Formerly the exclusive domain of celebrities and the
ultra-rich, destination weddings have become accessible to
couples of all ages looking to add an exotic twist to their
special ceremony.
It can turn their wedding day into an unforgettable
mini-vacation for the newlyweds and guests. An all-in-one
destination wedding and honeymoon may also cost less than
traditional weddings. What couples need to know, is the
importance of getting travel advice from the experts.
Northern Life reporter Judi Koski spoke with All Seasons Travel
Centre owner Harold Huhtanen, who has been working in the
travel industry for over 30 years, about destination weddings.
Certified travel consultants, Anca Rintala (manager), Louise
Pearson and Samantha St. George also offered the following
planning advice to couples.
Q. What exactly is a destination wedding?
A. It really is what a bride and groom want for themselves.
People decide to go away to get married and have family and
friends join them out of the country, usually in the
Caribbean.
Q. Why plan a destination wedding?
A. Not having the hassles of a wedding at home and not having
to go through the all the trapping of a local wedding. It's a
wedding and honeymoon all-in-one.
 
Q. What are the most popular destinations?
A. Most of the Caribbean and Mexico with destinations such as
Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Cuba, Punta Cana, Varadero and
Cancun.
Q. What are the advantages to booking with a travel
agent, versus  planning all travel and resort details
themselves?
A. There is no savings booking on their own. A travel agent
takes the stress out of dealing with all the different family
members needs while travelling, as well as collecting the
money. Also, should a problem arise, we have customer services
to help us solve the problem, and we use companies that have a
lot of buying power so they get things resolved faster and
better. And, people certainly don't get the customer service
from booking online. We really do stop the headaches from
reaching the bride and groom. After all, it's their day.
Q. How far in advance should couple plan a destination
wedding?
A. Some people plan a year in advance. They need lead- time
because only so many weddings can be performed in a week,
especially if they have a specific resort in mind. Deposits can
be as low as $250 per person, and the balance depends on if
there's an Early Bird Booking or some other special.
Q. Do you offer the best prices for travel packages?
A. We are very competitive.  The consortium we belong to
gives us extra buying power, and we work with all resorts.
Q. What is included in a traditional wedding package to
the Caribbean?
A. Each hotel is different. Some include free weddings (you
just need to pay the minister fees); most include the wedding
co-ordinator; a cake and dinner for a certain number of people.
They're really all different with each hotel.
Q. Does All Season's Travel plan many destination
weddings? What size of groups have you booked?
A. Yes, we have planned many with groups of often 10 to 20
people, several times per year. Groups are a minimum of 10
adults and destination weddings are growing in popularity every
year.
Q. How do you make planning and co-ordination of the
wedding simple and stress- free?
A. We compare the hotels and prices and provide what we think
is the best match for our clients. They don't have to go back
and forth or try to get a group rate. The wedding itself is
planned by a wedding co-ordinator at the destination and they
take the stress out of the planning at the other end. We give
the client the name, e-mail address and the telephone number of
the wedding co-ordinator.
Q. What are the legal requirements for getting married
out of the country?
A. Each country is different. It's best to check with the
travel agent, however passports are a must, and if married
before, proof of divorce. When they book a cruise they have to
get married in port.
Q. What makes this company unique or stand
out?
A. Our customer service and dedication to our clients. We also
have very knowledgeable staff. And, it's rewarding to hear when
a client is totally satisfied with all we have done for them
and they have a great holiday. All Seasons Travel Centre is
located at 1102 the Kingsway. For information on booking a
destination wedding, or any other vacation call
705-560-1225.
