If you’re starting to plan your destination wedding, chances are there have been a few instances where you catch yourself questioning “what does that mean?” or “how do I know what to choose?” Fear not, because we’ve got you covered with this Destination Wedding Glossary, filled with vocabulary and definitions of everything you need to be aware of while planning your celebration abroad.
Adults-only – A property that only allows guests 18 years of age and older. Some resorts may have a different age limit, so check with your Specialist prior to booking!
All-inclusive resort – A hotel property where all food and beverage is included, and perhaps much more! There’s no need to worry about budgeting each meal and carrying your wallet throughout the property; at all-inclusive resorts, there’s no stress!
Blackout dates – A date range in which certain promotions are not available. These dates typically fall on or around major holidays or other peak travel seasons.
Cancel for any reason travel insurance – Our travel protection plan that allows you to protect your investment and have peace of mind that you are covered for the unexpected! This plan allows you to cancel or reschedule your trip for any reason prior to departure and covers other items during travel.
Certified Destination Wedding Specialist – Your personalized travel consultant who is there to eliminate the worry and stress for you and your guests as you book your travel and plan your wedding details.
Civil or legal ceremony – A ceremony that is legally binding in your destination and is performed by a government official or similar.
Couples only – A property that focuses on an intimate and romantic atmosphere for guests to relax and enjoy each other. Room occupancy is limited to 2 adults in a room.
Destination Wedding – Technically, a destination wedding is defined as marrying at least 100 miles from where the bride currently lives. But to us, it’s so much more. A destination wedding means celebrating your love with your closest friends and family in an unforgettable location.
Easy payment plan – Our exclusive process which allows you and your guests the flexibility of spreading out your travel payments over time and easing the burden of larger, lump sum payments.
European rates – Type of hotel charge which covers per night room rates and service charges, but not food and beverage.
Excursions – The fun activities you get to partake in while on location! Dying to see the ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico? How about snorkel in the world’s most-famous coral reef? These activities allow you to make the most out of your destination and have the time of your life.
Family Friendly – A multi-generational property that allows guests of all ages to enjoy all resort amenities and accommodations.
Group room block – A selection of rooms you choose to hold within a group agreement for your guests to book into.
Groups made easy – Our exclusive group agreement product, that gives you all the benefits of booking a group, while providing relaxed group agreement terms so your guests have more time to book!
High or ‘peak’ travel season – The most popular time to travel to any particular destination, where resorts are at their highest occupancy and prices are also at their highest. For Mexico and the Caribbean, this typically runs from late-December through April.
Onsite wedding coordinator – Your go-to contact at your resort who will help you implement all wedding details beyond your travel arrangements (i.e. ceremony décor, reception menu, etc.)
Low or ‘off-peak’ travel season – The time of year where resorts typically have the best prices to attract more visitors as they are at their lowest occupancy. For Mexico and the Caribbean, this runs from September to mid-November.
Non-motorized sports – Activities that do not require a motor to run. Examples can include kayaks, sailboats, paddleboats, windsurfing, etc. and can often be included at all-inclusive properties at no additional charge.
Petit fours – A small appetizer or treat provided by the resort; the name is French, meaning ‘small oven,’ and is often included in nightly turndown service or welcome baskets.
Preferred partner perks (PPP) – Our exclusive, value-added program through our Preferred Partner hotels & resorts that grant you extra amenities such as anniversary stay credits, room upgrades, spa discounts and much more!
Price match – Matching an apples-to-apples comparison of a competitor’s price, to ensure you receive the best rate available at the time of booking.
Private vs. Semi-private – A semi-private event is usually in a shared space such as a resort restaurant, where a section of the space may be sectioned off for your group, however other resort guests may be present. A private event is typically an extra charge and entails a completely secluded area to yourselves with no other hotel guests present.
Resort amenities – All of the luxurious services and conveniences at your resort that you’ll be able to enjoy. Everything from restaurants, pools, kid’s clubs, spa treatments and more can be included in this category.
Resort credits – Think of it as extra cash to put towards almost any service you’d like throughout your trip. If your resort offers this service, you could be able to use them towards a romantic dinner on the beach, special spa service or even a round of golf!
Room occupancy – The number of people who will be staying in the room. As different room categories have different requirements, our expert Specialists will help you and your guests choose the right room category to fit your needs!
Shoulder season – the time of year in between high season and low season. For Mexico and the Caribbean, this runs from May to August.
Symbolic ceremony – A wedding ceremony that is not legally binding, but more of a symbol of the couple’s love and devotion to each other. Many couples opt for this type of ceremony if they are getting married in a different country, and make it legal either before or after traveling.
Turndown service – A resort amenity provided at night in which a staff member prepares the bed linen for use at nighttime. Many resorts will include an added touch of chocolates or a romantic display of rose petals with champagne.
Wedding package – A complete collection of details for your big day ranging from your ceremony venue and its décor all the way to your reception linens and centerpieces. Wedding packages vary in price depending on their inclusions, however many all-inclusive resorts offer a base package that could be complimentary if you meet certain stay standards.
Wedding website – A customized website made for the couple to maintain all event details and share with their guests. Information can include the couple’s engagement story and photos, travel plans, a showcase of the wedding party and much more!
30-day group deposit – An exclusive product that allows you a 30-day grace period on your required group deposit, giving your guests time to reserve their rooms and place individual deposits, to lessen the total amount of deposit due.
Need to know the definition of a phrase that isn’t on this list? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
