July 2022: The Hammontonian | Page 15

by GABE DONIO
Planning a destination wedding can be difficult , and that ’ s why it ’ s important to have someone with professional experience helping you through the process . The Hammontonian spoke with Heather D ’ Amico of D ’ Amico Travel about destination weddings .
How do you know if a destination wedding is right for you ? D ’ Amico said there were several ways to know , including if :
• You aren ’ t interested in the traditional high stress wedding locally .
• You are OK with not everyone coming to your celebration .
• You don ’ t have the budget but want the bells and whistles .
• You want to be the center of attention for more than one day .
“ People come to me overwhelmed with the intent of a destination wedding but they have no idea where to start . At the end of my initial consultations , it ’ s common for me to hear that the couple is relieved and less stressed already ,” D ’ Amico said .
Getting married in a destination location can be a good way to convince guests to take a much-needed vacation while celebrating your love and commitment to each other .
“ Traveling to your wedding will allow everyone to have an unforgettable experience . Many people won ’ t make the time or financial commitment to travel without a reason like this , and your wedding gives them a chance to have a vacation they might not have otherwise ,” D ’ Amico said .
“ Travel impacts people ’ s lives in a positive way , and you ’ re giving that gift to them with your invitation . It is also an amazing way to blend family and friends , “ she said .
Couples should plan their destination weddings 14 to 18

GETAWAY

months in advance , D ’ Amico said , although not everyone plans that far in advance .
“ It is nice to give people a year to plan and budget . However , we ’ ve planned wedding groups as close as six months prior to travel and they ended up with quite a large group !” D ’ Amico said .
The average number of rooms that travel is 20 to 40 , she said , with four-star hotels starting at about $ 200 per person per night .
“ You could never duplicate the value and inclusions you receive at these all-inclusive destinations in tropical locations anywhere else . All meals , alcohol , watersports and entertainment are traditionally included with popular resorts .”
THE HAMMONTONIAN | JULY 2022 | P . 15

Plan your destination wedding with a pro

CABO SAN LUCAS IS A POPULAR CHOICE FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING .
( PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTURO AGUILAR )
GORGEOUS FLOWERS AND LOCATION FOR YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING .
All-inclusive destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico are among the most popular destinations for wedding groups , according to D ’ Amico .
“ I think the most appealing part of those destinations is having an all-inclusive resort .
See WEDDING , P . 16