Lindsay and Steve’s Wedding at Ocean Sand Punta Cana

Congratulations to Lindsay and Steve who returned from their Destination Wedding at the Ocean Sand by H10 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic they have been kind enough to share some of their photos and kind words.

“Just wanted to let you know that the wedding was absolutely perfect. The weather was perfect and the day was flawless. The resort itself was really nice and the food was great!”

“Everyone had a great time on the wedding boat (la Barcaza) and the crew were fantastic!!”

“Thank you for everything that you did to help make this possible. I am so happy we did a destination wedding and there is no way we would have been able to do it without Karen at MyWeddingAwayTravel.com !!”

 

Lindsay and Steve treated their guests to a sunset cocktail cruise on the La Baracaza.

If you are looking for your Dream Destination Wedding, let us help make your Dream a reality.

email: karenlantigua@myweddingaway.com

www.MyWeddingAwayTravel.com

Photos by Destination Wedding Photographer Michael Weiler

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Sensatori Azul Wedding – Melissa and Chris

Congratulations to Melissa and Chirs, who were married October 24th 2011 at the Gourmet Inclusive Sensatori Azul all suites hotel located just 20 mins from the Cancun airport. Special experiences foster togetherness for families, couples and groups of friends. The 24-hour room service and full-service concierge fulfill all your food, beverage and activity requests

Melissa + Chris’ wedding

The Resort
Friends of ours are photographers and had been to a number of destination weddings, so we asked them to send us some slideshows of photos they had taken, and their opinion on the resort…they had fallen in love with the Sensatori Azul, as we did after checking it out.  It was a FABULOUS resort that I would recommend to anyone.  We loved it, and our guests raved…truly the best food I have had at a resort anywhere!!!  This resort was also highly recommended by previous brides, I see why!

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Our destiantion wedding travel specialist

I originally was with another popular DW TA company, and was not happy with how long they were taking to get back to me when we were deciding on a location.  I felt more like another number, didn’t want my guests feeling like that when it was their turn to deal with them….and wanted more personalized service.  I stumbled across the best kept secret in the business – Karen Lantigua with www.MyWeddingAwayTravel.com  I just can’t say enough good things about Karen and her services.  Talk about bending over backwards…I swear some of my guests want to marry her!!
Karen helped us get the place of our dreams, at the price of our dreams, with a lot of little surprises along the way (a bottle of prosecco here, private transfer there).
Thank you Karen….we all just love you!!

 

Colors
We chose a hot pink, tangerine and lime color scheme.  I was making a French memory board and had bought this ribbon that I loved, and it was the inspirational piece.  The hot pink varied at times due to the bridesmaids dresses being a magenta that was more on the purple side than pink.

 

Monogram
I googled wedding invitations, and this is how I stumbled across Meagan Clopton, Branchville Studio in Texas.  Meagan has some amazingly designed pieces, and she did our monogram…

 

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AND our amazing passport invitations that people are STILL talking about and asking if they could have a new one, as theirs is torn etc. from being carted around in a purse to show everyone they came across all these months. J
Meagan also threw in these really cute thank you luggage tags.  I decided to make my own labels and return labels out of our monogram (put our address around it…was a tough project), and I also did the RSVP cards.

 

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We decided to do a pre-travel mailing as so many of our guests had never traveled to an all-inclusive before.   We included a pre-travel brochure that I designed with the help of my friend Miriem, it included info. about what to expect at the airport, attire for the events/dinners, golf course information etc.  I included a luggage tag with a pics  from around the Mayan, and inserted them into ziplock holders that guests could remove and put their information on.  We then hot glued ribbon.
We also included a CD with music chosen by the wedding party and the parents to get the guests excited for the trip.  We also included the entrée selection card at this time, with instructions to email us with their choice

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Welcome bags….
I had one bag for each single, and one for each couple.  I had two kids out of our 51 guests, and they got special hair clips/coloring books/sunglasses/princess lanyards/hair ties etc. etc.

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Welcome bag

 

 

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Bookmarks
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SPF Chapstick
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Wedding week survival kits
These were fun to make, I made three different color lables for the tops to help me pack them once I got there.  The pink were for people we didn’t want to receive the condom (grandparents/kids), orange for singles, green for couples.  There are a few items inside the survival kits and that had slid down behind that you can’t see.  Here is a list of its contents.

  • Condom (that pretty much covered the “fun” part of the label”)       ;)
  • Kleenex
  • Gum
  • Bath & body works hand sanitizer
  • Emergen-C x 2
  • Inside The “First Aid” box
    • Safety Pins, hand wipes, bandaids, pepto bismol tablets (that I printed direction labels for)
    • Advil, mints

 

 

 

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MAC Lipglass
My MOH is a MAC makeup artist.  We used their program “back to MAC” and took back 6 empty containers and received a free lipglass each time (anyone can do this, not just employees).  I had quite a few empty containers of their products, but she helped with most, and we were able to get 21 lip glass’ absolutely free!!!  We picked out neutral shades for the most part, but told the girls to swap ‘em up with each other if they wanted.  I had some darker skin colored ladies, so we just gave them a more suitable color for them, they loved it.

 

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Postcards
We asked our guests to pick one to mail to us with their favourite memory of our week spent in the Mayan Riviera.  We are then going to put it in our guest book.

 

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Welcome booklets
We made these to make sure our guests had all the information needed to enjoy the week, including hotel amenities, map including our ceremony location and receptions, schedule of events, names of guests and their relation to us so they could write down each other’s hotel numbers. Also included was a  map of the Mayan, how to get around if they wanted to go into town, photo share page and some simple Spanish basics.  I

 

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Handing out the welcome bags at our welcome dinner…

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Welcome Party Pashminas
We had a welcome party – dinner at a restaurant and a smors bonfire on the beach.
I gave out the pashminas down on the beach, and had glow bracelets for the guests to put on…the pashmina’s were a HUGE hit!!!  All the woman had them on all week!
 

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fun with pashminas AND glow sticks….lol

 

The Dress

I got my dress at Beckers Bridal in Toronto. It was the first store, 5th dress, and the ONLY one I ever loved.  J
It is the Tirso by Pronovias.  I didn’t want a head vale, and loved that it had one over the shoulder.
I received so many complements on my dress…not only from guests, but all the people on the resort!
It was the perfect dress for the perfect setting.

 

 

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Shoes
I wanted green shoes, BAD.  I couldn’t find any, so took a chance with dyable ones.The plan was to only wear them down the aisle, and change into the flip flops, but I forgot, and well, the dye was off the heals (that were in the sand) in about 2 seconds.

 

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I bedazzled the flops myself was so much fun, anyone need anything bedazzled? Lol….send it over!!!

 

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Hair Flower
I decided I didn’t want to worry about real flowers drooping throughout the night, so I chose this beautiful piece.

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Garter
I had a pink garter with a “C” for chris charm that dangled from it.

 

Jewellery
While I was getting my nails done at the salon on our wedding day, Chris had his brother deliver this diamond tennis bracelet with a lovely card.  I cried for about ½ hour!!   I ended up wearing it down the aisle, and had earrings that were simple j earrings with diamonds all down them, and wore simple diamond studs in my second piercings on my ears.

 

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My bouquet
I LOVED my bouquet….with my bride/groom in green theme, it looked amazing!!!  I paid a little extra to have it larger than pictured, and ended up with a very large bouquet that was beautiful!!!  (and very heavy)!!!

 

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Wrapped in the ribbon on my bouquet was a charm of my nana who passed on a few years ago.  This was the perfect way for me to include her in our special day…a lot of my family didn’t know I had this done, and were brought to tears when they saw it.

 

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The Guys
We ordered linen blend suits from, and loved the quality.

The ties were custom made in our colors.  My dad’s tie was also ordered from the same company.
We had linen shoes for all the guys in a shade darker beige then their suits.

 

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Bridesmaids
The girls wore silk wrap dresses in Magenta from Butter by Nadia.  The maid of honour had different shoes, basically in our colors and a bit of gray, the 2 bridesmaids wore a gray satin.

 

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Jr. Bridesmaid/Flower Girl
Chris’ sisters were our jr. bridesmaid and flower girl.    I purchased flip flops and bedazzled them myself.  The bukets held rose petals and the girls carried them.

 

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Hair done at resort’s spa

 

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Itinerarys
I did up itinerarys with appointments etc. for our day!  We had one for the girls and the guys.

 

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Congratulations Melissa and Chris!

 

For more information on Customized Destination Weddings contact us at www.MyWeddingAwayTravel.com

 

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Alina and Owen’s Destination Wedding-Riviera Maya

Congratulations to Alina and Owen

Owen and I got married in Mexico this past May.  We and our 40 guests had the most amazing time. Karen was so awesome!  She went above and beyond what we expected and she even threw in a couple extras without us knowing.  Whenever I had trouble communicating with the resorts coordinator(s) Karen would send e-mails and help in any way she could.  She even sent us reminders and updates every week leading up to the wedding.  Karen was helpful, knowledgeable, patient and professional while helping all 42 of us book our trips.  As well, she even helped us book a side trip for 30 people!  What a relief that was.  We highly recommend her services to anyone thinking of booking
a destination wedding.

We stayed at Hotel Catalonia Yucatan in the Mayan Riviera. The resort was beautiful, clean and well worth the money. There was always something to do and see and the variety of restaurants was spectacular.  As the bride I spent quite a bit of time in the spa, and all the services there were fantastic.  The staff did a fantastic job with the ceremony and reception set-up. We were extremely happy with how well everything turned out.  Even the hotel staff said that our wedding was amazing (tip – pay the extra money for a DJ, they make a huge difference).
Even though it was sometimes challenging to communicate with the resorts wedding coordinator(s), they really came through for us on the wedding day. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful the whole week was and how much they miss the resort.  As a gift to our bridal party we treated them to the “Tulum Extreme” side trip.  What a great trip!  It was day jam-packed with zip lining, repelling, under ground swimming and historic site seeing.  We highly recommend this side trip, everyone loved it.

Thank you to Karen and all the staff at Catalonia Yucatan, you made or wedding week one we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Alina & Owen

Jorge Rios Photography

 

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Iberostar Grand Hotel Bávaro #9 All-Inclusive Resort in The World – Trip Advisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice

Picture your Destination Wedding and honeymoon at this beautiful resort voted #9 -ALL Inclusive Resort in The World – Trip Advisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice Awards.  Iberostar Grand Hotel Bávaro located on the east coast of the Dominican  Republic. Where luxury quality and the best value for your dollar are  paramount.

Welcome to paradise to the umpteenth degree, where luxury is a standard.  Iberostar Grand hotel Bavaro where Five-star doesn’t begin to describe this wedding location. It’s an adults-only resort where only the very best is included. From the “Grand Star Service” with butlers at your beck and call to a concierge service that’ll make you a reservation at one of the four a la carte restaurants.  The Greco-roman style with wooden decks throughout the hotel and a replica of the Spanish Galleon as a music bar are nothing short of spectacular.

When you’re on vacation, your hotel room becomes your home away from home. That’s why Iberostar Grand Bavaro takes care of  having everything you’re used to like plush pillows, comfortable sheets, a cozy atmosphere, even a balcony or a terrace. From standard rooms to ocean view  junior suites to superior junior and presidential suites, you surely won’t be homesick. Amenities range from indoor or balcony jacuzzis, a dining and an outside sitting area complete with comfortable couch or even a swing. Plus, of course, the comforts of home like an iron board, a safe deposit box, a mini-bar, a hair dryer and satellite television. And don’t forget, room service is available 24 hours a day.

  • 260 Garden or Ocean view Suites
  • 13 Grand Oceanfront Suites
  • 01 Presidential Suite

Satisfy your every gastronomic desire at Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro. This opulent five-star all-inclusive resort boasts four a la carte restaurants, one international buffet and a seaside restaurant offering all day dining.  Linger on dish after dish of succulent foods, from Japanese cuisine like teppanyaki to an all-American feast with rib-eye steak and pork chops. And enjoy a fine wine
to wash it all down. If you’re not in the mood for a specialty restaurant, enjoy the variety at the buffet. From meats and seafood to salads and desserts, it’s all there for you to enjoy one bite at a time

 

Say ‘I do’to Iberostar Grand Bavaro. Because of the natural beauty of its surroundings, it’s the perfect place to pledge your love. The décor, the beach, the food, all make it the ideal place to get married. A wedding coordinator will take care of everything from the bride’s bouquet and the groom’s boutonnière, to the cake, and even reservations to an a la carte restaurant.
Congratulations!

Wedding Events

  • Weddings and vows renewal: Whether you’re getting married or renewing your vows, Iberostar is the perfect backdrop to all that romance. Think ocean views and a beautiful sunset.
  • Honeymoon: Rekindle your love under moonlit skies and breathtaking sunsets. Not to mention the romantic , candlelit a la carte
    dinners.
  • Banquets: The bridal party and its two stars can enjoy a huge catered feast of appetizers, entrees and let’s not forget desert. Bon
    appétit.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro Wedding Package

  • Fruit basket and bottle of champagne the day of your arrival
    to the hotel.
  • Special gift in the room.
  • Invitation for a Romantic Dinner in one of our specialty
    restaurants.
  • Wedding Coordinator services.
  • Variety of Flowers including roses.
  • Translation on the Ceremony.
  • Tables and chairs on the Ceremony.
  • Wedding Certification in Spanish.
  • Wedding certification expedition by certified mail.
  • Decorated Cake for 15 pax.
  • 02 Bottles of Champagne.
  • Judge Services.
  • Dinner in one of our Specialty Restaurants (only for clients
    of the hotel), more than 20 pax require set menu.
  • Live music at the Ceremony.
  • Late check out for the bride-grooms (subject to availability).
  • Breakfast in bed on the morning after the ceremony.
  • 02 Caribbean Massages for ½ hour for both at our magnificent
    Spa.
  • 14 photos 5×7 (taken only during the ceremony).
  • Bouquet in Roses for the bride.
  • Boutonnière in Roses for the groom.
These package services are valid for 15 people

For information on weddings and honeymoons at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro please complete the

Contact Us form.

 

Let MyWeddingAwayTravel.com assist you for all your destination wedding planning needs Contact Us at

1-855-862-3980

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Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall voted best hotel in Montego Bay

The IberostarGrand Hotel Rose Hall was voted best hotel in Montego Bay in 2011 by Traveler’s Choice Award. With only one Destination Wedding a Day, you will feel special. This magnificent property has it all, great reviews, gorgeous tropical grounds on a white sand beach caressed
by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, excellent restaurants, luxurious accommodations, just read the reviews!  It is perfect for a
sophisticated beach wedding and classic dinner reception,with the easy beats of reggae to carry your outdoor reception into the night. The Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall has it all.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall sits 21 km east of Montego Bay in Rose Hall,  Jamaica, close to a lot of different areas popular with the tourists. So no matter what kind of traveler you are, you’ll have lots of activities to choose from. For a little shopping, there’s the Shoppes at Rose Hall including  duty-free stores, souvenir shops as well as resort wear boutiques. For a little adventure there’s horseback riding in the quaint fishing village of Sandy Bay and ziplining in Montego Bay. And for something a little more romantic, there’s a champagne sunset sail along MontegoBay’s coastline with views that will blow you away.

Stepping into the adults-only Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall is like walking into a palace where you’re the king or queen. From the majestic décor to the opulent accommodations to the ultimate in fine dining, it’s truly the best of the best. Not to mention the “Grand Star Service” where guests can enjoy the services of a butler and not one, but two concierges at their beck and call.
What’s more magnificent is the pool area. Imagine an infinity pool overlooking  the ocean, lounges and daybeds inside outdoor cabanas and waiters surrounding you in case you needed a drink to cool off. If you want to spoil yourself, overindulge and enjoy the good life, there’s no better way to do it than staying at Iberostar Grand Hotel.

The accommodations at Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall are even more comfortable than the ones back home.

We’re talking a choice of large standard, oceanview or oceanfront suites complete with their very own balconies and swings. Plus, flat screen TVs, DVD players and a king size bed begging you to jump in. You can also choose from a pillow menu of seven different types of pillows ranging from soft to firm. The bathrooms are outfitted with a whirlpool, slippers, bathrobes and of course little extras like brand-name toiletries, hairdryers, irons and iron boards and safe deposit box.

Being on vacation means trying new things and at Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall you’ll have your chance over and over again. With fourà la carte restaurant offering Italian, Japanese, Surf and Turf and Gourmet cuisines, tasting new foods is not a problem, it’s actually a challenge. Choose from delicious meals like fried squid, duck teppanyaki, grilled NY strip steak and mullet medallions.
You can also treat yourself at the buffet or the snack bar which have everything from pizza and pasta to fish and steak. Wherever you make your reservations, you’ll be treated to a gastronomic experience like no other.

At Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall fun is always right around the corner. From swimming laps at one of our many pools to catching a live show to taking dance lessons or even trying out your favorite water sport, you’ll always be entertained. Plus, couples will be able to reconnect at our nightclubs, relax together at our mesmerizing beaches and rekindle the romance in our lovely suites. Best of all, this lovely resort is adults-only so you’ll have peace and quiet wherever you venture out.

Even if you’re on a vacation you can still maintain your exercising routine. And now fun can be part of that routine. From water volleyball to tennis to basketball and scuba diving, you’ll be sweating and burning those calories away in no time. Best of all, you’ll be enjoying yourself. If you rather stick to your routine, you can work out in our state-of-the art gym. You’ll have everything you need from treadmills to stairmasters and dumbbells. If you get sore, try getting a full-body massage at our world-class spa.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall is truly the best value for your perfect vacation in the Caribbean. Thanks to the all-inclusive model, you get more for your money. Besides the four specialty restaurants you’ll also have access to four more at the Ibeorstar Rose Hall Suites and three more at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach. Not to mention 24-hour room service on top of a specialty menu for breakfast.  Premium alcohol and soft-drinks are also included. In your large accommodations you’ll find a whirlpool along with slippers and robes, plus you’ll have a choice of seven different types of pillows. All-inclusive also means butler and concierge service along with at least one free round of golf at a nearby course. All you have to do is strap on your Iberostar bracelet and have access to it all.

Whether you’re getting married or renewing your vows, Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall can make it happen just the way you want it. Our coordinator will take care of every last detail to make it a very special day for you and your loved ones. From the bride’s bouquet and the wedding cake to pictures of the ceremony and music, it will all be taken care of. Congratulations!

Wedding Packages

GRAND PROMISES” – LEGAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY

The Wedding Package Includes
Minister Fees
Arrangements for Marriage
License and of official Certificate
Wedding organization and personalization of our wedding coordinator
Room up-grade on category reserved (upon availably)
Cured meats, cheese & crackers and a bottle of red wine
Frontera Merlot on your arrival.
Wedding dress pressing services for bride and groom
Decoration of the wedding venue
Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonnière
Natural floral centerpiece for the head wedding table
Natural flower arrangement for the Arch
Traditional white frosting
Wedding Cake decorated with fresh flowers
Champagne Freixenet Carta Nevada toast after ceremony

Sound system with microphone and CD Music for the ceremony
Wedding dinner at one of our A La Carte Restaurants
A bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro and strawberries with chocolate in your room on your wedding day.
Breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding
Special decoration in the room the day of the wedding
Free access to our hydrotherapy services in the wet area at our luxury spa.
Special Spa Bridal Package (includes test hairstyle, hairstyling for ceremony, manicure & pedicure)
50 minutes Swedish massages for the couple
Surprise gift
12 pictures of the ceremony (from Photoshop)
One romantic dinner during your stay
Late check-out on departure day

Our wedding package is from 2 up to 10 people. When the group is larger than
10 people every extra person has a charge.

For information, availability and pricing please complete the Contact Us form.


“GRAND ROMANCE” – RENEWAL OF VOWS OR BLESSING CEREMONY*

Minister Fees
Wedding organization and personalization of our wedding coordinator
Room up-grade on category reserved (upon availably)
Cured meats, cheese & crackers and a bottle of red wine Frontera Merlot on your arrival.
Wedding dress pressing services for bride and groom
Decoration of the wedding venue
Bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonnière
Natural floral centerpiece for the head wedding table
Natural flower arrangement for the Arch
Traditional white frosting Wedding Cake decorated with fresh flowers
Champagne Freixenet Carta Nevada toast after ceremony
Sound system with microphone and CD Music for the ceremony
Wedding dinner at one of our A La Carte Restaurants
A bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro and strawberries with chocolate in your room on your wedding day.
Breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding
Special decoration in the room the day of the wedding
Free access to our hydrotherapy services in the wet area at our luxury spa.
Special Spa Bridal Package (includes test hairstyle, hairstyling for ceremony, manicure & pedicure)
50 minutes Swedish massages for the couple
Surprise gift
12 pictures of the ceremony (from Photoshop)
One romantic dinner during your stay
Late check-out on departure day

Our wedding package is from 2 up to 10 people. When the group is larger than
10 people every extraperson has a charge.

For information, availability and pricing please complete the Contact Us form.


“Promises”
Basic Legal Ceremony

Package includes:

Minister Fees
Arrangements for Marriage License and official Certificate
Wedding organization and personalization of our wedding coordinator
Room up-grade on category reserved (upon availably)
A bottle of red wine Frontera Merlot on your arrival.
Bride’s tropical bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
Tropical Flower arrangement for the Arch
A bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro and chocolate courtesy in your room on
your wedding day.
Romantic dinner at the Italian Restaurant Terrace on your
wedding day.
Special decoration in the room the day of the wedding

50 minutes Swedish massages for the couple

Late check out on departure day (upon availability)

Our wedding package is only for 2 people.
For each additional guest, there is a per person charge

Due to the high amount of requests for wedding dates, we kindly ask you to request your date as soon as possible.
We have a policy of having only one wedding per day, as we believe it should be your special day. In order to
reserve & confirm the date, we require written confirmation prior to your arrival, always depending on date availability.

For information, availability and pricing please complete the Contact Us form.

Let MyWeddingAwayTravel.com assist you for all your destination wedding planning needs Contact Us at 1-855-862-3980

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