Secrets’ Sanctuary Cap Cana – the World’s Newest Great Romantic Destination

Secrets © has long been a staple in the Mexican Destination Wedding playground, but more recently, they have been branching out to Jamaica, and most recently, the Dominican Republic with the opening of Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana on the east coast of the island, only 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.

Photograph courtesy of Secrets ©

In the short time it’s been open, it’s already established itself as one of the Dominican Republic’s best 5-star hotels, and made Beverly Clark’s Elite Wedding Collection (2010 edition), for its commitments to excellence in providing a top quality romantic experience for its guests.

This private island provides a stunning ceremony site for destination weddings! Photograph courtesy of Secrets ©

Located in Cap Cana, the eastern most part of the island, the resort is situated on three kilometres of top quality beach, with crystal-clear turquoise waters washing up on its sugar-white sandy shores. Its picturesque location makes it ideal for wedding celebrations, honeymooners, or couples just wanting a romantic escape.

Bali style beach beds have been scattered along the property - ideal for romance. Photograph courtesy of Secrets ©

The property features 176 suites and villas, designed in Spanish colonial style and with impressive views of the sea. It is literally an “adults-only” playground with something for every traveller. It also has a great selection of restaurants and bars, a world-class spa, an on-site casino, and a spectacular pool. As an added plus, it is close to Punta Espada, a Jack Nicklaus signature designed golf course, and Las Iguanas, opening in 2010.

The spectacular views from their oceanfront suites are incredible! Photograph courtesy of Secrets ©

Secrets is well known for its concept of Unlimited Luxury, but that does not even begin to cover what you will experience during your stay. Whether you wish to be indulged at the Spa, or feast on gourmet food and premium beverages, the staff at Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana is there to wait on your every need. Inquire now, while it’s still a “secret”…

The Marlin Restaurant is just one of the options available for a wedding reception. Photograph courtesy of Secrets ©

To begin planning your dream destination wedding or romantic escape at Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana, contact us now at info@delsoldestinationweddings.com.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@delsoldestinationweddings.com.

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Breakdown Of A Wedding Budget

Setting up your budget is one of the most important tasks for a couple starting to plan their wedding. Ironically, it is often the task that is put off the most, or worse yet, completely ignored. Perhaps it is because it seems to be so overwhelming or maybe it is because people don’t like looking at the numbers. Whatever reason, setting up your wedding budget should be one of your first tasks before anything else. It will give you a guideline of how much money you have to spend, and therefore, give you a realistic idea of what you can and cannot do.

It is critical that the budget is established before you commit to anything else. This means sitting down with everyone involved, be it just the two of you, or including both sets of your parents as well, and figure out how much money you are willing to spend on the wedding. Anyone who is contributing should be at this meeting, or at least have sent their information ahead of time of what they are willing to contribute. If people are offering to pay for certain aspects, such as your dress, or the alcohol at the wedding, still make sure that they give you an actual number to work with. You don’t want to make any assumptions, only to find out their idea and your idea of dollar amounts don’t mesh. By the end of this meeting, you will have a better idea of what you can spend, which will guide you through the rest of the wedding planning process. Too many times, couples forget this critical step and end up deeply in debt when they come back from their honeymoon.

Your budget will let you know what is realistic when you start meeting with vendors. There is no point of looking at a photographer that starts at $5000 when your budget only allows you to spend $2000. Of course, there is some flex room. If you find an awesome deal on your dress, then that may allow you to spend a little more elsewhere, such as on your flowers or your DJ. The other way it can work is if there is something really important, even essential, such as having your reception at a specific venue, then you can allot money for that. But on the flip side, when you overspend in one area, it means cutting back elsewhere in order to make that happen. This is where a wedding planner can prove to be extremely useful, as they are usually masters in manipulating the budget, and can sometimes even save you money through relationships they have established with quality vendors in the area.

An average breakdown of wedding budget expenses is as follows:

• Food & Beverage 30%
• Flowers & Décor 15%
• Wedding Planning 10%
• Venue Rental 8%
• Extra Cushion 8%
• Dress & Accessories 6%
• Lighting & Sound 5%
• Tipping 5%
• Photo & Video 4%
• Cake 3%
• Printed Materials 2%
• Transportation 2%
• Hair & Makeup 2%
  

There are a number of factors that will affect your budget. For example, the number of guests you have for your wedding will really set the tone and narrow down what you can and cannot afford. If you have a smaller number of guests, you will most likely spend less on food and alcohol OR be able to spend more per person on food. Another item to consider is in relation to the size of your wedding party. The more attendants you have, the more you will have to spend on flowers (e.g. bouquets and boutonnieres) and gifts for each member of the wedding party. Many wedding planners have spreadsheets that allows you to break the budget down even more, including adjusting the budget to reflect the number of guests you plan on having as well as the number of attendants.

Your budget is critical to the success and enjoyment of your wedding. No one wants to get married with the knowledge that they are going hugely into debt hanging over their heads. Creating and sticking to your budget will keep you grounded and make your wedding something that you can relax and enjoy, knowing that you planned smartly.
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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@delsoldestinationweddings.com.

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Sheraton Kauai Resort

The beauty and romance of Kauai make it the perfect place, not only for a honeymoon, but for a destination wedding. Once the playground of Hawaiian Chiefs, the picturesque blue waters of the Pacific and the golden shoreline along with warm sunny days and mild evenings still make the Sheraton Kauai Resort the perfect place to play, relax, and get married.

Ideally located on the south shore on Poipu Beach, the Sheraton Kauai Resort is one of Hawaii’s top resorts on the beach. If you are looking for a place where you can hear the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, consider staying in the Ocean Wing. Renowned for its unspoiled white sand, swaying coco palms, brilliant sunshine, and breathtaking sunsets, this is the perfect place for those seeking relaxation and tranquility. In 1992, the resort underwent a 45 million dollar construction and renovation after the hurricane. With its 20 acres of lush oceanfront gardens, 394 rooms, including suites, facing the ocean or vibrant tropical gardens, pools, and sparkling waterfalls, the property offers a charming backdrop for both wedding ceremonies and receptions. The hotel offers a professional wedding coordinator who can help the bride and groom plan a wedding for two or a gala affair in the tropical gardens or on oceanfront property with beautiful views of the Pacific. The Sheraton Kauai offers a number of reception options in one of four elegant restaurants to a romantic private dinner for two.

Once the nuptials are done, couples can enjoy an array of on-site activities. They can sunbathe on the un-crowded crescent beach or snorkel in the clear waters offshore. There is ample room on the property for peaceful strolls either alongside the beach or ocean or through lovely gardens. Guests can enjoy Hawaiian nightly entertainment at the Point or indulge in cultural activities including hula lessons, and arts and crafts. The Friday night Hawaiian luau located on the lawn right beside the ocean is a must!

In addition, the newlyweds can explore major scenic points on the Garden Isle. Places to be sure to visit are the spectacular and colourful Waimea Canyon and the breath-taking Na Pali Coast with its 14 miles of vertical seamounts. Other Kauai attractions include helicopter tours, kayaking Hanalei River, Hanapepe Salt ponds, Kilauea Lighthouse, Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto, Zipline Adventure, and National Tropical Botanical Gardens. The resort is an easy one-hour drive to Kauai’s north shore attractions including the pretty little town of Hanalei and the beautiful resort area of Princeville.

The Sheraton Kauai is the perfect place for those seeking tranquility, and experience filled with an abundance of romance, and a lifetime of memories.

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Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca

Hawai’i: The Perfect Location For Your Destination Wedding

I’m sitting on our lanai watching the waves crash on the shoreline below while a giant sea turtle “surfs” in on the next big wave. The sweet scent of plumaria blossoms fills the air from the various trees scattered around the resort property. The sun shines brightly overhead in the clear blue afternoon sky, but the gentle breezes of the tradewinds keep things from getting too warm. Basically, I’m in paradise – AKA the islands of Hawai’i!

Many people who have been to the islands will tell you that Hawai’i is exceptionally beautiful, although each island is different. It is also recognized as one of the most romantic places on earth, with pristine beaches, spectacular waterfalls, and gorgeous scenery in abundance on each of the various islands. Its culture dates back for centuries, complete with kings and queens, making it rich in history and tradition, with many of the old ways still honoured in song and dance passed on from one generation to the next. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, the people of Hawai’i welcome you with open arms and the “spirit of aloha”. It is the paradise that most of only dream of.

Hawai’i is the ultimate location for a destination wedding, but ironically, it is often overlooked with couples choosing instead the more popular wedding locations of Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. When paradise is so near at hand, it has to make you ask the question, why would you go elsewhere? Probably the biggest reason we hear is that Hawai’i is so expensive. For many years, that has been true, but with the changing economy, like anywhere else, Hawai’i has had to become more competitive and adapt in order to attract tourists.

Here are some of the advantages of choosing Hawai’i for either your destination wedding or honeymoon:

• More and more direct flights are available year-round to Hawai’i from cities in Western Canada (versus the multiple stopovers required for some of the Caribbean destinations).


• Hawai’i has a moderate climate all year-round, but it’s best time is from May through October when the Caribbean is in the middle of their rainy seasons, not to mention the middle of the Caribbean hurricane watch.


• As Hawai’i is part of the United States, its’ hotel accommodations are on par with the rest of Canada and the continental United States. While most people would never consider staying in less than a four-star resort in Mexico or the Caribbean, you can still find really nice (and quite AFFORDABLE) three-star accommodation throughout Hawai’i.


• As it’s part of the United States, it is easy to arrange to get married in Hawai’i. No blood tests required! All you have to do is book your appointment ahead of time, and appear together to get your license and take an oath. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
  
  
• Whether you’re looking for a beach, a canyon, gardens, a waterfall, or lagoon, Hawai’i has endless options in terms of perfect locations for your ceremony site. It all depends on what you want.


• It has an abundance of in-season tropical flowers, including orchids, plumaria, ginger, and hibiscus, that can be used in stunning bouquets and centerpieces at very reasonable costs.


• Hawai’i has a long history of rich cultural traditions that can be incorporated into your wedding celebration to make it a truly memorable and unique experience for your guests. Some ideas include a conch shell blower, hula dancers, and possibly even a luau for your reception.


• Hawai’i has never really gotten into the whole all-inclusive resort thing, but multiple timeshare and/or condominium properties have been established throughout the islands at very reasonable rates. These condos are often perfect for individuals or groups of any size, sometimes even accommodating one more families in one unit. Better yet, many of these have kitchens within the units, allowing guests to keep their food costs down and not eat out every meal.


• As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to spread, the potential effects it might have on east coast of Mexico and the nearby Caribbean islands is causing many couples some concern who have weddings planned in those locations. Not an issue for Hawai’i.

Hawai’i has been doing destination weddings even before the concept took off. In recent years, it has been overlooked in favour of Mexico and some of the other Caribbean destinations, but I believe it’s time for us to take a second look and realize the treasure of opportunity that exists for couples wanting to get married in tropical paradise. Hawai’i is a contender, and is worthy of some serious consideration for your dream destination wedding location.

If you are interested in looking at Hawai’i or another location for your destination wedding, please contact us at for additional information at info@delsoldestinationweddings.com

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@delsoldestinationweddings.com.

You are welcome to publish this article in other blogs or e-zines, but please ensure the signature file above is printed along with the article.