How To Safely And Easily Plan A 2021 Destination Wedding & Honeymoon

We are all dreaming of white sand beaches and azure waters…it’s been a minute since most of us have travelled! With things to re-opening in the travel industry, we are heartened to see how destinations and resorts are handling the new normal.

This means it’s safe to look towards destination wedding planning. We spoke with Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, director of romance for Sandals Resorts (the company is currently rolling out the re-opening of their resorts with most now back for business and all available for booking) who believes now is the perfect time to plan a dream wedding on location. “There honestly has never been a better time for a destination wedding! There are a few things that top the list of couples who are looking ahead to plan. They are looking for locations offering privacy, luxury and stringent health and safety protocols—at Sandals we have all that and more.”

Read on to learn more from Donaldson-Brown about how Sandals is making destination wedding planning easy and breezy for guests.

Can couples have a destination wedding in 2021 and beyond?
“Absolutely! Couples are continuing to plan their special day with us, and our resorts offer the picture-perfect backdrop. As the experts in love and romance, we are proud to be a brand that consumers trust and are therefore projecting well for 2021 and beyond. Our resorts were built for couples in love, on expansive grounds and have a plethora of outdoor, picturesque open-air spaces to host the most memorable ceremonies and receptions. With our industry-leading Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness implemented across our resorts and our Weddings Concierge taking care of every single detail, the planning process has never been easier. Whether you’re looking to elope, have an intimate mini-money or micro-wedding our team is here to make dreams come true.”

What steps have resorts made to ensure guest safety? “Health and safety have always been top priority at Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and we have enhanced our already industry-leading health and safety measures and implemented the Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness. These protocols involve several pre-emptive measures for cleaning and sanitation that encompass 18 key touchpoints. This begins the moment guests arrive at our airport lounges, through the entire on resort experience, from arrival to dining, activities, fitness centers and butler service. When it comes to weddings, Sandals has gone the extra mile to ensure your celebration is worry-free through the Weddings Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness. We continue to work within current guidelines and are committed to updating our health and safety measures to make sure no one’s plans to the altar will falter. We have also implemented social distancing measures and limited capacity at venues and all staff is outfitted with masks and protective gear.”

When it comes to wedding planning how are you helping couples to do that in a seamless, virtual experience?
“You can literally dream up your wedding day from the comfort of home as we have every planning tool imaginable to make it happen. You can find your perfect location with our resort website’s 360-degree digital resort tours and photos which allow guest explore our various resorts and a variety of romantic luxuries. There’s also the Sandals’ Virtual Wedding Design Experience, where couples can  “meet” their wedding planner while being transported virtually to a customizable wedding showroom of décor options. Brides-to-be can also browse through a hair and makeup look book and so much more through The Ultimate Digital Wedding Planning Tool. Couples can meet with their planners as often as they need in order to make the experience as seamless as possible. To top it off, we recently announced a huge stress reliever for couples who are getting married now through next year: a complimentary wedding ceremony live stream service! All your guests can join you from anywhere in the world and watch your day.”

 Any tips for couples thinking of booking a 2021 or 2022 wedding?
“We are seeing more and more couples choose a destination wedding because of the ease and convenience. My biggest tip is to really take advantage of all the incredible services we offer. And if you want to check everything out in real life ahead of your wedding  I recommend the Test Drive Your Weddingmoon program we now offer where you can have a preview of everything your wedding and honeymoon will entail and consult with your planner in person to finesse all the beautiful details.