THE CERTIFIED WEDDING PLANNERS AT MARRIOTT
REVEAL THE LATEST TRENDS IN DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Bethesda, MD — March 22, 2012 — The Certified Wedding Planners at JW Marriott, Renaissance, and Marriott Hotels & Resorts plan thousands of weddings each year. These men and women are on the front lines of the wedding planning business and have identified some noticeable trends with regard to destination weddings. Most of the planners agree that one of the most notable trends is the addition of "afterglow parties" following the reception which are usually held in a different space and enable guests to party long after the reception is over.
Nedra Peterson, Senior Catering Sales Executive at The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa, notes that destination weddings tend to be smaller and more intimate, with about 50 to 70 guests total. "We are finding that the typical destination wedding client is often a couple who has a connection to the destination and who want to incorporate that into the story of their wedding." Ms. Peterson notes that destination weddings often include the bride and groom's thoughtfully arranged itinerary so that friends and family get to really experience the area with tours, biking, golf, etc. Typical destination wedding events include welcome receptions on the day of arrival, afterglow parties with drinks and snacks following the wedding, and a post-wedding brunch so that all guests can gather together one last time before departure.
Joe Ibarra, the Wedding Event Manager at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Oahu notes a marked increase in Indian and Korean weddings as well as commitment ceremonies. "'We are also seeing an increase in 'afterglow parties' to extend the socializing phase of the event," notes Mr. Ibarra.
Tracy Flanagan of A Dream Wedding; Maui Style LLC who works at the Wai [Back to Press Releases Main]
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