Over the years, the global wedding industry has evolved rapidly with intimate destination wedding celebrations becoming the norm, phasing out over the top celebrations that one would typically associate with lavish wedding celebrations.

The Destination Wedding Planners Congress hosted by the Los Cabos Tourism Board and Mexico Tourism Board, scheduled to take place from April 10 to the 12, in Los Cabos, Mexico, will be highlighting the top trends and challenges in the Destination Wedding Industry and will have powerful, cutting-edge conference sessions that are designed to help you grow your business.

Key players in the industry have successfully identified the top five challenges in the industry as follows:

•    Longer stays with fun trips and relaxation
•    Bigger budgets but smaller, curated guest lists
•    Exclusive, experiential celebration
•    Customisation and Personalization is key
•    Accessibility of the destinations

“When couples choose a destination, they want reassurance that they and their guests will have a relaxing and fun time. The couples usually arrange pre-or post-wedding events or trips to this end,” said Anna Sourbati, owner, The Event Company, Greece.

Ülkü Bora Karadaglilar, director of sales, Çiragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, stated: “Organising pre-and post-wedding events such as welcome dinners, cocktails, high teas, brunch, to experiential activities that explore the venue, its location, and the destination - our clients want to cultivate a total experience for their guests.”

“When couples pick a location, they select a destination that is close to their hearts, which either reconnects them with their roots by choosing a culturally or historically relevant destination; or a destination that is meaningful to their story such as where they fell in love or first met,” noted Debra O’Brien, director of group sales, Key Accounts, Belmond, USA.

Desy Setiawati, director of sales, Bulgari Hotel Bali, too has seen a marked increase in the popularity of intimate and customised weddings in exotic locales. “Apart from intimate weddings in exotic settings, customisation of the décor is a focal point of the weddings today”.

“Luxury venues located on ‘relaxed’ destinations are gaining popularity as our clients plan smaller weddings just for immediate family and close friends and seek entertainment and services that will ensure their guests have an enjoyable vacation. These types of weddings have healthy budgets,” noted Iris Ortiz, Destination Weddings manager, Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, Puerto Rico.

“Finding a venue or ceremony area that has a breathtaking view or a magical sunset is important, but so is its ease of access,” noted Sourbati.

Top five challenges in the Destination Wedding Planning business:

•    Communication
•    Co-ordination with vendors
•    Different cuisines
•    Multicultural ceremonies
•    On ground logistics
   
However, to ensure that these ceremonies go off without a hitch, there are key challenges that need to be met and remedied by wedding planners. However, knowledge is power and being equipped with possible predicaments as well as solutions; is half the battle won.

Some of the key challenges include “Local restrictions, on-the-ground logistical arrangements and coordination with vendors,” said both Dinesh and Ruwanthie Wanigarathna, co-founders, DR Creations Photography. Moreover, couples’ guests too could be from various countries which compounds the organisational complexity as “they all have different cultures and thus need special cuisine,” said David Germain, regional director Africa and Americas, Seychelles Tourism Board.
Finally, even wedding planners have challenges in dealing with their peers, as when “two wedding planners are involved such as the native and the local planners, the ideas and egos could clash, causing delays and impasse,” noted Ozlem Guensi, assistant director of events, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Turkey.

It is to highlight and bring to the forefront these trends and issues that the Destination Wedding Planners Congress plays a pivotal role.

Ackash Jain, director, QnA International, said: “We have teamed up with the best creative partners in Los Cabos, Mexico to showcase the destination at its best; highlighting what it can offer to the planners looking to host destination weddings in Mexico. With Aeromexico offering fantastic connections to the destination and networking functions in marvellous venues such as Cabo del Sol, the San Carlos Canyon and Acre, Bar & Restaurant and the two-day of the congress, taking place at the Los Cabos Convention Center - the 600 destination wedding industry experts are primed to explore the best venues to host a destination wedding – big or small. Also, when it comes to décor, we have teamed up with the top designer and planner from Los Cabos- Del Cabo Weddings to create a magical experience. With Cabo Collective as our photography and videography partner and catering for opening cocktail from Eat Cabo and the two-day conference, Gala and closing cocktail by Chef Casianos, the wedding industry experts are in for a real Mexican gastronomic experience. Cabo Fine Entertainment is the official entertainment partner ensuring the guests are treated to a magical experience of Mexico and with the transportation services arranged by Mexico Planners by Transcabo, the arrival to Cabo will be as seamless as possible."

"And that’s not all. We have got some of the finest artists from Mexico joining the event including the Symphonic Orchestra of Baja California Sur at the gala dinner in San Carlos Canyon and Cabo Strings, Luna Itzell and Totoy during the congress, all bringing their A-Game to Los Cabos, Mexico.” - TradeArabia News Service