Destination Weddings are "in" right now and for good reason! They can actually cost significantly less than a traditional domestic wedding and packages often have so many more inclusions to "wow" your guests! Imagine celebrating in a tropical paradise with your friends and family without the stress!
I specialize in working within your budget to provide you with options that check off as many boxes as possible, keeping the price affordable for you and your guests.
With an extensive education in travel and tourism and years of experience in both the travel and event planning industry, you can trust that you are in good hands! I will offer you options that are trusted according to my high-standards. I want you to feel safe, comfortable, pampered, and confident when traveling with your guests!
I will only recommend locations where I would feel comfortable with my own travel plans. Over the years, I've helped thousands of clients and have built strong relationships with the resorts and management along the way!
While planning a wedding in a tropical destination might come with a bit of "island time," I don’t keep my clients waiting! Thanks to my strong relationships with top suppliers, my requests are fast-tracked, meaning less waiting for you!
I am selective with the number of weddings I commit to each year, and plan deadlines strategically to ensure urgent matters are handled promptly and set realistic expectations for response times when immediate action isn't possible. I know plenty of questions come up during the wedding planning process, and I’ll always be here to help you get the answers you need!
Wedding planning can be an emotional journey, I totally understand! When those moments hit, I'm here to help you navigate any challenges before, during, and after your big day. In fact, I'm even available for on-site coordination, if needed.
Think of me as your bestie, therapist, friend, third wheel, guest liaison, and advocate all in one!
I take the time to truly get to know you and your fiancé! For me, it's much more than a job, it's about the connection with my clients and having the honor of being a part of this special moment in your lives.
I hope you know how special you are to me, and I want you to be confident that you chose the right partner to help you on this exciting journey!
All great relationships start with a conversation, so let’s talk! Before your consultation, you'll complete an intake questionnaire to share your wedding vision. This will help make our meeting more productive and get you thinking about what your dream wedding looks like. Many of our couples feel a sense of relief after our first meeting, often expressing that they already feel less overwhelmed.
After our chat, the decision to move forward is entirely up to you! Since I don’t charge a planning fee, I kindly ask that you sign a simple agreement stating that you’ll work exclusively with me. Because I only take on a limited number of weddings each year, this ensures a reserved spot on my calendar. From there, we will collaborate to narrow down options that align with your wishes, vision, and needs for your wedding day.
From here on out, our goal is to find the perfect match for you! Remember how overwhelming it felt to search for the best wedding destinations? Now, you’ll receive a curated list of options that are not only realistic for your celebration but also fit your budget, vibe, and guest needs.
With your detailed feedback, we can refine the list by eliminating options or suggesting others. Once you’ve narrowed down your top choices, I will provide more information, answer any questions, and connect you with the resort’s wedding team. You can trust my process to ensure that the right decision is made and won't find yourself wondering “What if?”
At this point, we've taken what could have been months of stress and turned it into pure excitement! Depending on the resort and the estimated number of rooms, the deposit can vary from $100 per room to a percentage of the total cost. Don’t worry if you don’t have an exact headcount yet—most couples don’t at this stage. I’ll assist you in determining the best room block request and explain what happens if you need more or fewer rooms. This way, you'll be able to offer your guests guaranteed rates and room availability.
Regardless of which company you choose for your wedding planning, make sure they have experience navigating the legalities and requirements that vary by supplier, resort, and group size. Missing deadlines or misinterpreting terms can lead to costly mistakes and confusion for your guests. I’ll work to maximize your benefits and secure the best rates possible. With my expertise and strong partnerships, you can rest assured everything will go smoothly. I know there’s a lot to take in, but I’ll make sure you’re well-informed and breezing through the process. Once you sign on the dotted line, it’s time to exhale and start the countdown!
When you choose to work with me, you're selecting a premium planning experience that puts both you and your guests first. From the very beginning, I'll help create materials to compliment your save-the-dates, ensuring your guests have all the details they need and know how to contact me directly—taking the stress off you. I can provide a custom wedding website or a link to add to your existing site, along with a personalized guest letter to keep things simple and clear.
Behind the scenes, I work hard to prevent drama and headaches, treating every guest as though they’re on their own personal vacation. You’ll have access to a custom shared planning link to stay on top of travel dates, room selections, and trip status. Meanwhile, I’ll handle all guest communications, including payments, travel insurance, transportation, and essential travel tips.
My mission is to ensure every guest is happy and excited for your big celebration, so you can enjoy the day without worrying about the logistics. I'll be here from start to finish, making sure the entire experience is smooth and stress-free for everyone involved!
Still not convinced a destination wedding is the right fit for you? If you’re looking to host an incredible celebration in paradise, let’s explore the possibilities together. Compared to a traditional wedding, a destination wedding allows you to offer an event with all the bells and whistles at a much lower cost, with experiences that last far beyond just a few hours! These are memories that you and your guests will truly remember forever. Whether you envision saying "I Do" barefoot on a beach, in a stunning Overwater Chapel, or maybe ending the night with a stunning fireworks display, a destination wedding opens the door to endless possibilities!
We can also add incredible experiences for you and your guests before or after the wedding. Together, we’ll create personalized itineraries filled with activities like welcome cocktail parties, golf outings, rum tastings, spa days, catamaran cruises, and more. Your guests will be grateful for the unforgettable memories and the opportunity to travel, especially if they wouldn't have otherwise planned a vacation.
You're not just choosing my services for you; you're also choosing a travel advisor for your guests! Here are some additional benefits of working with me:
- Custom Wedding Webpage - I’ll create a custom webpage to take the stress out of the unknown for your guests. This page will provide essential trip details, resort information, deadlines, and booking information. You can link this to your official wedding website, link to your save the dates, or have it as a standalone site—whichever works best for you!
- Invitation materials - I’ll design materials to send to your guests with all the wedding details that you can include with your invitations. This can include rates, deadlines, and other key information. Guests will be directed to me for any questions, so you won’t have to handle the inquiries yourself.
- RSVP Management - To keep you up-to-date with the status of your guests, I will create a unique link to connect you with everything you need to know about your guests. You will have real-time access to the status of each person's detailed travel plans. No need to spend time tracking these details on your own - that's what I'm here for!
- Guest Communication - I understand that the more support I provide, the better the experience will be for everyone. My goal is for your guests to feel valued and well taken care of, ensuring they have a stress-free and memorable time celebrating with you! I want this to be the best trip they've ever been on. You can expect your guests to receive helpful touch points such as payment reminders, travel tips, immigration assistance, and documents. I take pride in being friendly, responsive, organized, and transparent. Building relationships with you and your guests is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job!
- Travel Management - As the main point of contact for all of your guest's travel arrangements, I will assist them with selecting flights, and get their transportation between the airport and resort arranged. You won't need to worry about anything for your guests!
- Wedding Liaison - I can handle the legwork in connecting you with the wedding team at each resort. I'm always happy to sit in on sessions with the team. I'm happy to be as involved in that process as you would like me to be.
- Industry Status - You will benefit from my exclusive connections, preferred status, and top industry relationships. I visit the resorts I recommend frequently and have built relationships with resort management. There’s a lot of work happening behind the scenes, and you can trust that every detail will be carefully managed. I trust that you and your guests will be in great hands!
Des stumbled upon destination wedding planning as a natural extension of her event planning experience when she was asked to assist with a special proposal, and then help that same couple plan their destination wedding. That’s when Des realized she had found her passion—helping couples plan their dream destination weddings!
With her keen attention to detail, impeccable organization, and unwavering commitment to bringing her clients vision to life, Des has built a reputation as a trusted and reliable planner. She prioritizes clear communication with her clients, taking the time to listen closely to their desires, needs, and expectations to ensure every detail is carefully planned and executed.
For Des, it’s more than just a job—it’s about building meaningful connections with couples and being honored to be part of such a special chapter in their lives. In fact, Des wants to be more than just your destination wedding planner; she aims to be your lifelong travel planner. There’s nothing more rewarding to her than having couples return to book major life milestones like anniversaries, babymoons, and family vacations. For Des, it truly doesn’t get much better than that!
When you go with a large agency, an online company, or book directly with a hotel, you’re just another number. But to me, you're so much more than a number. You matter!
You deserve more than a one-size-fits-all experience—you deserve personalized service, exclusive perks, and the assurance that everything is tailored just for you. Thanks to my industry status and strong personal relationships with representatives at top properties worldwide, you won’t ever be treated as just another number before, during, or after travel!
So many of my couples tell me that a weight is lifted after our first conversation, and I absolutely love that! It means I’m doing my job right. I understand that this process can feel overwhelming, but I’m here to guide you through every step!
The first thing you can do is fill out my inquiry form. From there, we’ll find the best way to connect—whether by email, phone, video chat, or even in-person if you're local. We’ll have an informal chat about your vision for the big day, and I’ll walk you through the process. We’ll get to know each other better, and you can decide if we’re the right fit.
Not at all! This is completely normal and expected! The best way to begin is by dividing your list into "definitely coming ," "might come" and "probably won't come."
From there, we’ll determine the minimum and maximum number of rooms needed. With that information, I can guide you through the logistics and help you explore your options. The recommendations I make will vary based on the resort you pick, as their terms all vary. But you absolutely don't need to know a firm number until later in the process!
Depending on the property, you’ll have a few options to choose from and I'll help walk you through all of them. Generally, group rates will be equal to or better than the published rate at the time of booking. As prices increase over time, your rates will be locked in! If there’s a price drop, some properties allow for rate adjustments.
Additionally, some resorts offer discounted group rates, special promotions, and lower deposits for your group. I will ensure you receive the maximum group benefits, including free room credits and private events. You can rest assured, knowing I work for YOU, not the resorts. I’m committed to securing the best for you and your guests.
I absolutely do, years of experience! I have varied group experience, not just with destination weddings, but also planning corporate and fundraising events for my work with non-profit organizations like golf groups. As a certified Groups Specialist, I have the training and education necessary to navigate the challenges of working with larger groups.
It is so important to choose an expert in groups and contracting or it can cost you a lot of money if deadlines are missed or terms aren't understood!
Absolutely! Elopements have a special place in my heart, and I love the intimacy that comes with planning a special getaway just for the two of you. I have a carefully curated list of properties with elopement packages designed to make you feel just as special as if you had a hundred of your closest friends there!
And smaller groups often enjoy more flexibility! For instance, with a flex group, you and your guests can experience the best of both worlds: the benefits of traveling together while still having the freedom to customize your plans. I'm happy to walk you through all of the options!
While we do our best to estimate the room block size, it's likely you may need to adjust the number of rooms as we go. Outside of penalty dates, you can reduce your room block at no additional cost. I’ll ensure you fully understand the contract terms and establish clear deadlines. If additional rooms are needed, we can increase the block based on hotel availability.
Keep in mind that group rates may not always be guaranteed, and terms can change depending on group size. This is just one of the many reasons it’s important to work with experienced group experts!
Beware of some planners whose service and response times drop once you’re booked. That’s not the case with me! In fact, that’s when I really start working hard behind the scenes for you.
While you’ll begin working with the wedding team at your resort, I’m always happy to join those planning sessions with you if you prefer. I'm here to act as a liaison between you and the resort so if you have any questions or don't understand something, I'm happy to help get clarification for you.
I’m also here to assist with your wedding website, save the dates, and provide a link to my RSVP/planning system, giving you real-time access to status updates.
I’ll manage all your reservations, along with guest bookings, confirmations, special requests/dietary needs, questions, and travel documents. My goal is to make your entire journey as stress-free as possible!