(These require passwords, either contact bride/groom or Pauline at shine@shinetravel.ca)

A Destination Wedding happens when you travel to a special place (usually somewhere hot and sunny) for your wedding. It might be just the two of you (aka "eloping"), or you might include a group of friends and family. It's an appealing option if you want to do something different, forego the hassles of a large, upscale wedding and include a vacation/honeymoon all in the same week.
 

The primary reasons that couples choose a Destination Wedding are to save money, avoid the major hassles of family squabbles and planning details, and of course, to have a memorable and unique wedding. Besides a beautiful location, many Destination Weddings are a bargain compared to the cost of hosting a big, expensive event back home.

Destination Weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties will book far in advance of the wedding date. The earlier you begin planning your Destination Wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests ... we're here to help you find that ideal location.

(quotes taken from current and previous Destination Wedding brides)

"My fiancé and I did not want the major interference of our families and planning that we have seen stress people out and not even enjoy their wedding. We wanted to just have a great time, have fun and have everyone else enjoy as well."

"It was a second marriage for both of us and we didn't want to do the "real" wedding thing all over again."

"We had been living together for over 5 years, we just wanted to get married. We wanted to elope, but then I knew my parents and his parents would be disappointed, so, we asked them if they would be interested in going to DR...everyone was excited, a trip and wedding...why not??"

"I am a cheapskate at heart, and couldn't stomach spending money on some of the typical wedding elements that had no real meaning for me."
 

"The idea of lots of wedding guests staring at me (no matter how lovingly) gave me the willies."
 

"I've never been the 'traditional' type of person and have always dreamed of going away to a warm and tropical place to marry the man of my dreams. My theory is that it's my wedding and anyone that wants to be there can be. I wanted something that was completely stress-free."

"I am an uptight hostess - I would have fretted over how to please every single guest."

"From the time I was a kid, I always dreamed of a wedding on the beach..."

"We decided to have a DW because we didn't want anything extravagant and we love to travel. We picked the destination we did because we had been to the resort before and loved it so it was the perfect place to go back to."

"We decided on a DW as it was SO us. We go away every winter and this was just a way to tie it all together. We knew if we did this our closest friends and family would be there so that was a bonus but we would of done it if it had been just the two of us. We are both laid back people who usually go with the flow so the little quirky things that would happen along the way wouldn't bother us and the big traditional things weren't important to us."

As an independent travel consultant for - Travel Professionals International, my focus is to help those travelers who enjoy All Inclusive Vacations, particularly weddings, groups and families, enjoy their time in the sun. I always work hard to find the right resort in the right destination that has the amenities and activities that each group is looking for, ensuring that every member of every group has the time of their lives.

I have always enjoyed traveling, and my family has often travelled with me: we love the sun, the beach, the sounds of salsa, and just being a part of another culture. Cuba has frequently been the destination, and I know most parts of it very well, but we have also experienced the joys of the islands of Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua and St. Lucia (just to name a few) as well as Mexico. I'd love to help you plan and book your next vacation, whether it is for a dream wedding, family reunion, Girls or Guys Week, or simply for that long awaited week’s blissful vacation.

Cheers,

Pauline Blacoe (aka Shine)

Congratulations to the following couples, on their recent Destination Weddings:

Stephanie and Luke - June 2, 2010

Melia Las Dunas, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

Lani and Ryan - July 5, 2010

Majestic Elegance, Punta Cana