Ok let's just admit it. Most of us want to eat amazing food while we are on vacation. For the few of you who don't, go ahead and look to the right and select a different blog topic to read about. For the ladies out there looking for a romantic vacation that will satisfy your husbands' hearty appetite and your craving for intimate, gourmet date nights, BINGO! Sandals Resorts presents Discovery Dining...

Each Sandals Resort offers multiple restaraunts, fine dining and dine anytime options. The Sandals Resorts brand includes more than 35 different signature restaraunts offering Italian cuisine, British pub food, varied Asian selections, fine French cuisine, and authentic Caribbean fare as well as seaside dining. And it is all included in your Sandals vacation package. If you're the person who is reserved about trying new foods or drinks because you may not like it, Discovery Dining was made for you. When all of the food and drinks you could order are already included in your vacation package, you are free to try everything with no risk! So experiment... you may just find that your new favorite cuisine is Thai food... or you never knew you would fall in love with a shrimp cocktail martini.

A note from Sandals Culinary Ambassador, four-time Emmy Award winner, Chef Walter Staib:

"I invite you on an epicurean journey that will tantalize your senses and amaze your palate. With Sandals Resorts exclusive Discovery Dining you will indulge in specialties from around the world. Our culinary philosophy involves taking the time to truly enjoy the moment, the aromas and the flavors that surround you - so take your time and savor every bite of our legendary dishes. And with our white-glove butlers and 24-hour room service in select suites, you can dine around the world, and around the clock-all included.

Together a spectacular dish, an intimate conversation, and a romantic setting, add spice to your lives and fill your hearts. Which is why at Sandals Resorts, we take pride in creating unforgettable moments with delectable gourmet experiences. After all, we believe life is meant to be savored."

In this seven-part blog series, we will take a look at several of the Sandals signature restaurants and their exemplary menus. Don't miss:

Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Italian Regional Cuisine
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Olde Country British Pub
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Unique Asian Fusion
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Fine French Cuisine
Sandals Resorts Dining: Discover Authentic Caribbean Fare and Seaside Dining (coming soon)
Client Review: Sandals Resorts Dining (coming soon)

Whether you are planning a Caribbean honeymoon, destination wedding, 25th wedding anniversary or you're just a beach-loving foodie, let me help you select the right Sandals resort for your vacation style. There is never any charge for my services. Click below to request your one-on-one vacation consultation or register to attend our next Sandals webinar.

   or Join a webinar: 

Sandals Resorts has released a vow renewal package that can be added on to any Sandals or Beaches stay. Couples wishing to renew vows benefit from a less expensive, more inclusive option than ever before. When combining the new ReTie the Knot ceremony with Sandals or Beaches other unique offerings, the possibilities are endless. 

Here is some basic information about the ReTie the Knot vow renewal ceremony as well as some ideas for creating wonderful memories of your vow renewal.

What's included:

For $300 the couple will receive:

• Personal pre-travel planning services
• Personal on-resort event planner and dedicated ReTie The Knot team
• Musical accompaniment (pre-recorded)
• Bouquet and boutonnière
• Celebration Cake
• 30 minute Charming reception with sparkling wine & cold hors d'oeuvres for couple and up to six guests
• Commemorative certificate and gift
• One (1) 5x7 Honeymoon Photograph
• Honeymoon dinner for couple at a resort specialty restaurant with white-glove service and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
• Decorated honeymoon room
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed a morning of your choice

An Intimate Celebration

We have planned several intimate, "just the two of us" vow renewal ceremonies for couples celebrating their 5 year or 10 year anniversary.The most touching is the military couple who had a quick, no frills wedding before a deployment, and now they get to have the romantic ceremony of their dreams. Others may be celebrating their overcoming an obstacle in their relationship by reaffirming their commitment to each other and taking a second honeymoon. 

The renewal of vows ceremony typically begins with the bride and groom walking down the aisle together. The vows are very similar to traditional wedding vows, but they are adjusted to reflect that you are recommitting to love, honor and cherish each other forever. The ReTie the Knot package takes advantage of the gorgeous beach and gardens surrounding the Sandals resort or Beaches resort where the couple is staying. The bride caries a bouquet of orchids, and the groom wears a matching boutonnière. Of course, if you want to customize your ceremony decor, all of the Sandals wedding items are available to you.

The ReTie the Knot package includes a simple but elegant reception of champagne and hors d'oeuvres as well as a fondant celebration cake. The ceremony and reception included in the package is for up to 6 guests (in addition to the bride and groom), which is nice for couples with a few friends or family members in attendance. 

A Chance to Reconnect with Family and Friends

The vow renewal + family reunion group travel package is also very popular. Gathering the family for a beach vacation to celebrate a 30th wedding anniversary is a great way to reconnect with each other. If your group books 5 or more rooms, the Sandals Resort or Beaches Resort will add special group amenities to the ReTie the Knot package. Groups may receive a private group dinner, complimentary room upgrade and spa services for the bride and group, commemorative photos, and more. During certain times, Sandals has also offered free rooms as a group promotion. (Ask us if this is currently available!)

If you are looking for 30th wedding anniversary ideas, a 25th wedding anniversary trip, or an intimate beach vow renewal ceremony, click below to request your complimentary renewal of vows consultation. Or join our next webinar for more information on who we are, the services we provide and what the Sandals and Beaches resorts have to offer. 

 or Join a Webinar 

Sandals Royal Bahamian has been voted "Top Spa Resort" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, and this resort is considereed to be the most elegant resort in the Bahamas. I've written in previous posts about its European grandeour and old world charm. But with Sandals, always expect more...

Only Sandals gives you two vacations in one: Included with your Sandals Royal Bahamian romantic getaway is an exotic escape to Sandals Cay romantic offshore island. In addition to all of the amenities and activities offered on the main resort, you won't want to miss what Sandals Cay adds to your honeymoon or romantic getaway:

Transportation

Sandals operates a private water taxi between the mainland and the offshore island. In less than 10 minutes, you will arrive on your private island to a boardwalk leading to a gorgeous expanse of alabaster sand. Or travel on your own by kayak or sailboat. 

Beaches

Yes, two. Each side of the island boasts a white sand beach, an amazing view and plenty of spots for two to enjoy the sun and eachother's company. The view from the front of the island - the arrival side - looks back to the main resort. The water between the island and the resort's main beach is relatively shallow and many shades of turquoise. Chaise lounge chairs dot the sand in pairs, and beach service delivers cocktails from the bar. The beach on the back side of the island offers calm, shallow water that is good for swimming or even and improptude snorkeling experience.

Fishing

You won't find this in any of the Sandals official publications, but don't worry. Sandals loves it when guests make their resorts a home away from home. The edges and ends of the island are rocky, and the water is shallow. The fishermen will know this is perfect for a little flyfishing. Flyfishing for bonefish in the Bahamas is considered some of the best flyfishing in the world. Now, I'm not saying that Sandals Cay is among the world's top flyfishing locations, but it is perfect for the laid-back, selfpaced fisherman just enjoying a relaxing vacation on the water. 

I took this picture of some guests flyfishing during our last trip.

Offshore Island Beach Club

A lively, social pool is surrounded by oversized round lounge chairs for two. Enjoy the carefree swim-up bar or float your cares away in the soothing spa bath. Order a refreshingly tropical cocktail from the swim-up bar where a smiling bartender will probably already know you by name. 

Red Lane Spa Beside the Shore

Red Lane^® Spa transforms European spa regimens with island flair. And Red Lane Escape takes these unique treatments to Sandals Cay and imbues them even more with the unique island style that sets Red Lane apart from every other spa in the world. Every massage table is positioned along a secluded section of beach so you'll also be soothed by the sound of melodious waves. Whether a heart rock massage on a sea raft or a salt scrub on the beach, a Red Lane Escape is the beginning of a very special path to renewal.

Stew Fish

Travel to Sandals Cay for a real taste of the Bahamas. Take in the vivid blue of the water and the symphony of ocean waves breaking on white sand just beyond the open walls of this authentic Caribbean restaurant. Satisfy your longing for the freshest seafood perfectly accompanied by a chilled, golden chardonnay. Stew Fish serves lighter lunch until 3:00pm, closes and then re-opens for elegant, romantic fine Caribbean dinner. Reservations are required for dinner, so be sure to make them as soon as you arrive on resort. 

Chic Nights

The evening doesn't end with dinner at Sandals Cay. After sunset, your private island transforms into a lively nighttime gathering place with tiki torches flickering across tented chaises and private beachside cabanas while blazing fire pits light up the starry night. 

Whether you are planning a romantic honeymoon or 25th anniversary trip, a relaxing Caribbean spa getaway, or a lively couples retreat with friends, the Sandals Royal Bahamian two-in-one vacation is really an exciting way to experience the Bahamas. We would love to help you plan your romantic Caribbean vacation. There is never any charge for our services. Click below to learn more about how I can take care of all of the details for you. 

Or you may prefer to join one of our upcoming webinars to learn more about the Sandals All Inclusive Resorts. Click here to register for a free webinar. 

Do you have a group of friends and family that likes to travel together? Now is a great time to plan group travel to a Sandals or Beaches all-inclusive resort. Any group booking 5 or more rooms qualifies for the below promotion:

- Family Reunion

-Birthday Celebration

- Destination Wedding or Renewal of Vows

- Golf or Tennis group

- Fall Break or Spring Break travel

- Friends and Family that love the beach!

** Groups traveling during September 1 - December  20th 2024-2026 will receive a 6th room free.

** Groups traveling during January 2nd - August 31st 2024 -2026 will receive 12th room free. 

Our agency specializes in group travel. We will work with you to plan your group's trip, ensure you receive special group amenities such as complimentary cocktail receptions, group dining and photo sessions. Then just tell your group members to contact us and we will arrange each individual's travel... and your room could be free!

Click below to request your free group travel quote:

WeddingWire, the nation's leading online wedding marketplace, is thrilled to announce that The Sand Lady from Royal Travel has been selected as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2013 for Best Travel Agents!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism.The Sand Lady’s selection as a Bride’s Choice Award 2013 winner was selected based on the positive experiences expressed by past clients on WeddingWire, the world’s largest wedding review site with over one million reviews.  While many industry awards are given by the host organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences planning their honeymoon or destination wedding with The Sand Lady. Our Wedding Wire reviews are available here.

The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2013 are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on professional achievements from the previous year. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.  As a Bride’s Choice Awards winner, The Sand Lady is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

“Each year, WeddingWire looks forward to celebrating the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Now in its fifth year, the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program continues to recognize  the elite wedding professionals who exemplify a commitment to quality, service and professionalism. These businesses were chosen by our bridal community for their responsiveness and dedication to their clients over the past year. We are honored to recognize The Sand Lady for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry.”

We are thrilled to be one of the top Travel Agencies planning honeymoons and destination weddings in the WeddingWire Network of sites, which include leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2013.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com/brides-choice-awards.

Sandals made a very exciting announcement today regarding opening a 14th resort on the very exotic island of Grenada - The Spice Island. We are SO excited about more rondovals, bungalows, and a new island to explore! Here is the announcement...

 November 8, 2012

SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL PURCHASES LASOURCE RESORT IN GRENADA
~ 14th Property Added to the Sandals Resorts Collection ~

Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, is pleased to announce the purchase of LaSource Resort in Grenada for an undisclosed sum. The agreement to acquire the resort was successfully reached after ongoing discussions with the Government of Grenada and represents the brand's first property in this Eastern Caribbean country.
 
Sandals Resorts Chairman, Gordon "Butch" Stewart commented, "After looking to expand here for more than a decade, we are delighted to confirm the acquisition of our first ever resort in Grenada and are incredibly proud to have found the perfect location to add to our brand.  We are confident that guests will continue to be impressed by our tradition of exceeding expectations through innovation and unwavering service, which has become our standard across the Sandals Resorts brand. We are eager to make our debut and share with guests not only the beauty of our new resort, but to share the beauty of Grenada, its culture and its people."
 
The property, which is located on the exclusive Pink Gin Beach and surrounded by the azure waters of the Caribbean on three sides, will become Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa and will open following certain enhancements customary to the Sandals Resorts brand.  Once complete, the resort will have added nearly 100 rooms to offer a selection of 200 guestrooms, private cottages and bungalows, many of which will be concierge and butler-level suites, including the brand's signature Rondoval suites. According to Stewart, each of the resort's "magnificently-appointed" luxury accommodations will be "extremely spacious" and all will feature room service.
 
The resort's enhancements will also include some of the brand's signature dining establishments such as the beachfront Neptunes, the delectable gourmet pastries and coffee creations of Café de Paris, authentic Caribbean and Creole cuisine at Spices, and other popular restaurants with Japanese, Italian and French influences. Other amenities will include an expansive new infinity pool and swim-up bar; a fully-equipped fitness center, a full-service Red Lane® Spa, plus a number of entertainment lounges including a library and piano bar.
 
The newly announced property will be the fourteenth Sandals Resort in the Jamaican-based company's portfolio.  Stewart credits the government of Grenada not only for their investment in the Sandals brand, but also for their effectiveness in bringing this partnership to fruition. "This has been nearly a 12-year search to grow our roots in the Spice Island. It is our distinct pleasure and honor to foster the expansion of tourism to this jewel in the Caribbean," Stewart said.
 
Further details regarding investment, expected launch date and other confirmed information will be released in the coming days.

When I met Mindy at a local wedding show, she was already planning her honeymoon to the Caribbean. I wished her luck in planning her wedding, and I did not expect to hear from her again.



Several weeks later, I received a call from John, Mindy's fiancé. He explained that Mindy works a fast-paced, high-stress job and is on the road much of the time. He is a small business owner, and they were overwhelmed by the whole wedding planning experience. They had decided to consider a destination wedding because they wanted a beautiful, intimate wedding, and they wanted the planning to be easy and stress-free. So I told John about the Sandals WeddingMoon® (destination wedding + honeymoon all in one package), and within a day or so we had planned their destination wedding and honeymoon at Sandals Grande Antigua.

I always recommend that honeymooners - and especially those getting married on resort - book one of Sandals Love Nest Suites. These suites are Sandals most romantic, intimate accommodations, and staying in a Love Nest Suite makes for a very special, unique honeymoon experience. John and Mindy chose the Ultra Luxury Ocean Villa with Private Pool at Sandals Grande Antigua.

Once their suite was booked, I scheduled their wedding for 11am on their third day on resort at Mindy's request. She wanted to get married as soon as possible and enjoy the honeymoon. We went over some of the custom wedding options, made sure the appropriate legal documents were received by Sandals wedding department, and the planning was complete!

Mindy and John returned from their destination wedding two very happy clients - as I knew they would. Sandals always takes such great care of my brides and grooms. The most common comment my clients make is that the service that the Sandals staff provided went far above and beyond their expectations. Below is Mindy's account of her experience with Sandals wedding staff.


Mindy says that the wedding staff was absolutely fabulous, and that in some ways they were the best part of getting married at Sandals. As soon as the couple arrived on resort, two girls from the wedding department took them to the court house to fill out the remaining paper work. The wedding staff knew Mindy and John's travel schedule, made the appointment with the court house ahead of time, and had them back on resort in no time. Then, they had their official wedding planning appointment with the wedding staff. They went over many options and customizations for the wedding ceremony and reception. Mindy was able to select options that reflected her style.

Last, the wedding staff took Mindy and John around the resort and made several suggestions for the location of the wedding ceremony. At each site, they showed pictures of past weddings so that Mindy could get an idea of what the area would look like when it was set up for a wedding and what her ceremony pictures would look like. Mindy and John chose a gazebo near the water so that the ocean would be in the background of their pictures.

The next day, Mindy and John were able to hit the beach and relax knowing that all of their wedding planning was taken care of.


When the wedding day came, one of the girls from the wedding staff came to help Mindy get into her dress and escorted her to the ceremony site. John spent the time before the ceremony with the clergyman who was to marry them. Mindy's assistant and the clergy worked together to make sure that Mindy and John did not see each other before she walked down the isle.

The couple was very impressed with the clergy. He took time before the ceremony to get to know John and kept them smiling and comfortable during the ceremony. The two girls from the wedding department served as their witnesses to the marriage, and Mindy was touched that one of them cried during their vows.


Mindy points to the fact that one of the wedding staff used Mindy and John's video camera to capture the ceremony for them as an example of how committed the staff was to making their wedding day perfect. Sandals does offer videography services through their wedding photography department, so this may not necessarily be an option for all couples, but it is a good example of the level of service that the wedding department provides.

Mindy and John were also very impressed with their wedding photographer. After capturing the ceremony, he spent another 2 hours with them making portraits at different locations around the resort.

Mindy says that her destination wedding was perfect. She would not have changed a thing, and that Sandals wedding staff was wonderful. They were "Johnny on the spot" and made sure that everything was in order and went smoothly so that Mindy and John could enjoy every minute that they were on resort.

The couple decided to have a wedding reception at home. They still got to eat, drink and dance with their friends and family. But Mindy laughs and says that planning the wedding and the honeymoon took 15 minutes (that's a slight underestimate) and planning the reception took forEVER.



Mindy and John have several engaged couple-friends who are at various stages of the wedding planning process, and they say that they keep telling them… You should just go to Sandals!

Thank you Mindy and John for sharing your special day with me.

If you are interested in learning more about a Sandals destination wedding, please click below to request your complimentary destination wedding consultation.

We are fortunate enough to have a Fall Break during the school year, and this year my family (including my 13 year-old son and The Sandals Dude) led a group of 7 families to Beaches Turks and Caicos all inclusive resort. Kids of all ages had a blast, and the parents had some much-needed relaxation and social time. It was definitely a week of fun in the sun! Here are some of the ways that our group spent their time at Beaches Turks and Caicos.



When we arrived, the Beaches Turks and Caicos staff met our group at the airport and drove us to the resort together. We had a private group check-in, which was welcome after the day's travel. Then everyone was off to their rooms to change into beach attire and explore the resort. The kids were so anxious to see it all!

 

Each family chose how they wanted to spend their days. Most of the kids were between ages 6 and 13. The older kids would buddy up some days and play at the water park together. Some of the younger kids took part in the Kids Camp program activities such as beach volleyball, baking cookies with Cookie Monster, beach soccer, scavenger hunts, Elmo's birthday party, glass bottom boat rides, and pizza making. Some of the adults were found relaxing by the pool or on the beach, sipping cocktails and spending time reading alone or catching up with one another. Others went sailing and  SCUBA diving around Turks and Caicos's world-famous coral reefs. All of the adults enjoyed the water slides at the water park, and some were even seen attempting the surf simulator. Each of the families spent time having fun together and making memories in paradise.

Some evenings families would enjoy the time together alone. Other nights we would see the families getting together and enjoying each other's company over dinner. One night we made reservations for our family and two others to have dinner at Kimono's the Teppanyaki-style Japanese restaurant. The kids loved the silly jokes and songs that our chef told while he cooked dinner at our table.



One of the girls even got to try it out herself!



After dinner most nights the tweens of the group would meet up at Club Liquid or the XBOX® Game Garage. Club Liquid is a "night club" for teens and tweens before 10pm. A DJ plays music, the lights spin and no alcohol is served. At the XBOX Game Garage, kids of all ages get to play the most popular XBOX and Kinect™  for XBOX360 games - or even test some games prior to release - on one of dozens of game systems.

Some nights the adults would meet up in one of the bars or lounges on resort to hang out or even sing Karaoke. One night was family Karaoke night in Cricketer's Pub - the Irish Pub on-resort. This was a huge hit with the kids and adults! The Pub also hosted a Texas hold 'em tournament during our stay.

One day I scheduled a group snorkeling trip for any of our travel buddies that wanted to snorkel an off-shore reef. The Beaches water sports desk setup a special trip for our group, and off we went in search of the gorgeous fish living in the reefs of Turks and Caicos. Some of our group had not snorkeled before, and the Beaches staff took special care to show them how all of the equipment worked and encourage them as they got in the water to try it out. One of younger members of our group had some trouble coordinating the mask and snorkel, so one of the Beaches staff dove in and let him hitch a ride on his back. The staff member swam all around the reef letting Lee tag along and look at the fish. Everyone snorkeled for about 30 minutes, then we headed back to the resort.

At the Beaches resorts, every group is offered a group photo session and private group dinner. We chose to do both of these in the same evening. Just before sunset, our whole group met on the beach. The Beaches photography department sent several of their professional photographers. Each family had a family photo shoot with one of the photographers. Then, we took one big group picture. Each family received a complimentary 5x7 group photo to commemorate the trip, and several families chose to purchase pictures from their individual photo shoots.

             
After the photo shoot, we reconvened for a private group dinner. The Beaches staff went all out! They chose the perfect location. It was a large wooden deck-area over-looking the ocean. There were several tables set with white linen, fine china and crystal. Tiki torches were lit around the perimeter of the area, and a bar was set-up on one end where a bartender was mixing cocktails and drinks for the kids. The sounds of the ocean, the mood reflected off the calm waves, and the starlight above were the perfect setting for great conversation and an amazing plated steak dinner. There was also a kids menu for the children to pick from should they not want the steak. But the steak was SO good!! We had our own, very attentive waitstaff that served dinner, poured wine and cut an amazing cake for dessert. The group lingered for a long time talking and taking in the perfect Caribbean evening.

When we returned home from our trip, I received notes from several of the families about how much fun they had. We will definitely do this again! Here are some of their comments:

"This vacation was WAY better than paradise!" - Lee (age 6)
Lee's mother also shared that when they got home Saturday night and pulled into the garage, Lee wouldn't get out of the car. He was crying. She asked him what was wrong and he said, "I want to go back to Turks and Caicos."

"The time of our lives… Nothing could compare." -The B Family

"This is the best fall break ever!" - Brooke (age 12)

"This is by far the best family vacation we have ever taken. I felt so relaxed and pampered all week. The food was amazing with such a wide variety. The resort grounds, including all pools and beach areas, were so beautiful that we took tons of pictures before we left. My kids loved the waterpark and water sports available. We are saving now for our next trip to Beaches! We will definitely be back!!" - The S Family

"We had an awesome time, but it went by way too fast!" - The L Family

The Beaches resorts love to host a group, and they offer many special amenities to groups of 5 rooms or more. Whether your group is a family, a social group, guests of a destination wedding, or even a corporate meeting or incentive group, Beaches is the perfect place to convene, relax, and catch up. If you have a group that would like to travel together, click below to request your complimentary consultation with The Sand Lady.

[This is the forth entry in a 4-part blog series on the Sandals WeddingMoon®. Previously, I talked about planning steps for "Before the Ceremony,"  designing the ceremony and reception in "Your Wedding, Your Style," and what to expect on "The Wedding Day." Here I will discuss your Sandals Honeymoon. This blog series is intended to give a general overview of the many options Sandals offers through the WeddingMoon® product and show how a Sandals or Beaches all inclusive destination wedding can fit most any bride's style and any budget. It is not intended to be a complete guide to planning your destination wedding. That's where I come in! So at any point, please click the Plan My Wedding link on this web page to send me a note and request your complimentary all inclusive destination wedding consultation.]

The Honeymoon

All Inclusive
The Sandals and the Beaches resorts are Luxury All Inclusive resorts. The price of your stay includes airfare; transfers to and from the airport; unlimited gourmet dining; unlimited premium brand liquors, beer, wine and champagne; water sports such as SCUBA, snorkeling, sea kayaking, wind surfing, waterskiing and more; golf; taxes, fees, gratuities and much more.

If you are like most couples, wedding planning means lots of thinking about budgets. And by the time the wedding day arrives, you are sick and tired of thinking about money. With an all inclusive honeymoon, you get a "two-for:"

1. When you look at your wedding budget, you know exactly how much the honeymoon will cost. You pay for your honeymoon before you travel (like most any other trip), and after that you do not have to pay for ANYthing else. Compare this to a cruise. When cruising, you have an on-board charge account that all bar drinks (including sodas), tours, gratuities, etc. will be charged to. Before you leave the ship at the end of the cruise, you will be asked to settle that account by paying cash or placing it on a credit card. I've known honeymooners that spent almost as much to get off the boat as they did to get on. You don't want to leave your honeymoon feeling disapointed that you spent more money than you planned to.

2. While you are on your honeymoon, you don't have to think about or discuss money. I tell honeymooners, you certainly don't want to be discussing what you can afford for dinner tonight. You want to be in the moment, making the most of your special time together. Compare this to a honeymoon in Paris. When traveling in a big city, each night you will choose a restaurant for dinner. You want to dine in romantic, gourmet restaurants, and you want him to be able to order a steak for dinner without worrying about how much it will cost.

As you've seen throughout this blog series on the Sandals Destination Wedding, the Sandals and Beaches resorts offer a fabulous destination wedding option. But what makes this option absolutely perfect is that they are also the resorts I recommend to honeymooners. I recommend a Sandals honeymoon because first, I am 100% confident my clients will have a honeymoon that exceeds their expectations. And because at Sandals, LOVE is all you need - everything else is included.

Sandals Love Nest Suites
You want your honeymoon to be the most romantic time you have spent together. There should be plenty of time spent relaxing and connecting with each other. A Sandals Love Nest Suite is the perfect setting to ensure your time away together is memorable.

The Love Nest Suites are the most sought after rooms at each Sandals resort, and they boast amenities such as private plunge pools and hot tubs, outdoor grotto showers, expanded marble bathrooms, private balconies and verandas with amazing views of the Caribbean Sea, and of course Sandals exclusive Personal Butler Service.

Click here to view some of our favorite Love Nest Suites. (Don't worry. The link will open in a new window so you can easily come back!)

Personal Butler Service
Your honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you deserve the best of everything. I sell Sandals Personal Butler Service to my honeymooners because it is an unimaginably supreme standard of service and luxury where your every need is anticipated. Sandals Personal Butler Service is unquestionably my personal favorite inclusion that the Sandals resorts offer, and your honeymoon is the perfect time to experience it.

If you're like many of my clients, you're thinking, "I'm not high maintenance. Why would I need a personal butler?" Check out my blog series here to find out why your honeymoon is not complete without Sandals Personal Butler Service. You will NOT regret it.

Even More Romance
So if that wasn't romantic enough for you, or even if your budget just won't allow for a LoveNest Suite or Personal Butler Service, you can add on several extra romantic activities to your Sandals honeymoon.

To my clients who would like to leave the resort and see more of their island where they are staying or who would like a little adventure during their honeymoon, I recommend the off-site tours offered by Sandals sister company Island Routes. With Island Routes you can chose to go zip lining through the jungle, bicycle through a volcano, swim with dolphins, ride horses on the beach, or take a romantic sunset catamaran cruise. You can read more about Island Routes tours here, and once we've booked your trip, I'll take care of booking your tours for you as well.

Your Sandals or Beaches honeymoon includes unlimited gourmet dining at as many as 15 restaurants (depending on which at which resort you stay). However, for the couple who wants an extra special dinner celebration one night, I recommend Sandals romantic candlelight dinner for two. Have a sunset dinner under the stars served by a waiter in white gloves, on a table specially decorated with tropical floral arrangements and candle lights. The resorts book a limited number of these each night, so be sure to let me know early that you'd like to add this special event to your honeymoon.

Whether you want more information on planning your Sandals or Beaches WeddingMoon® (destination wedding + honeymoon) or you are interested in a Sandals honeymoon, just click below to request your complimentary planning session.

[This is the third entry in a 4-part blog series on the Sandals WeddingMoon®. Previously, I talked about planning steps for "Before the Ceremony" and designing the ceremony and reception in "Your Wedding, Your Style." Here I will discuss what to expect when you arrive on resort and Your Wedding Day. In a subsequent post, I will describe "The Honeymoon." This blog series is intended to give a general overview of the many options Sandals offers through the WeddingMoon® product and show how a Sandals or Beaches all inclusive destination wedding can fit most any bride's style and any budget. It is not intended to be a complete guide to planning your destination wedding. That's where I come in! So at any point, please click the Plan My Wedding link on this web page to send me a note and request your complimentary all inclusive destination wedding consultation.]

The Wedding Day

When you arrive on resort
Each Sandals and Beaches resort has an on-resort wedding department. I have visited with wedding staff from several resorts, and I speak from experience when I say Sandals Wedding Department staff are passionate wedding professionals and they provide impeccable service. I consider it a huge honor to help you plan your destination wedding, and I take my role very seriously. I have absolutely no hesitation with turning my brides and their bridal parties over to the Sandals Wedding Department staff when they leave the states.

Once you arrive on resort, you will have a pre-arranged meeting with the wedding department staff. This is usually scheduled for your first full-day on resort. During this meeting, your wedding coordinator will review the plans that we made before you left for accuracy and to ensure everyone is "on the same page." They will have already scheduled an appointment for the bride and groom to go to the local municipality and complete any necessary legal documentation. The resort staff will accompany you to this appointment.

Choosing a location
Also during your meeting with your on-resort wedding coordinator, she will take you around the resort and make recommendations for where you might have your ceremony and your reception. You will make the final decision on location once you have seen the options in person. However, if you would like to get some ideas before you go, I have pictures from each resort that we can look at. Below are just a few of my favorites.

Spa options
The Sandals and Beaches resorts each have an immaculate, world-class spa that offers massage and other body services, hair and makeup as well as manicure and pedicure services. If you want to get your hair or make up done for your wedding day, or if you and/or the groom and bridal party need some extra pampering to prepare for the wedding, we will book these services while we are planning the wedding. The spa also offers trial hair and makeup appointments. By booking your spa services during the wedding planning process we will be able to choose the appropriate appointment times to coordinate with the rest of your wedding day schedule.

Photography and Videography
Each of the Sandals and Beaches resorts has a professional photography department staffed with Kodak-certified photographers and videographers. Sandals offers several wedding photography and videography packages as well as a la carte options. Additionally, a few of the wedding themes include photos and a video of your wedding day. Many of our brides and grooms choose videography for their destination wedding, and then they have a reception with a larger group of family and friends once they return home. The video of your wedding day produced by Sandals is perfect to be shown at the party! No matter the package you choose, a highly experienced Sandals wedding photographer will capture your wedding day. Below are photos from some of our real Sandals weddings.

Now, let's not forget one of the most important parts of your wedding - The Honeymoon! Look for the final entry in the blog series on your Sandals or Beaches Honeymoon. If you're considering a Caribbean destination wedding, just click below to let me know that you'd like more information on how we plan your dream wedding!