TRAVEL | 4 Reasons to Plan Your Wedding at Sandals Resorts | Pretty Pear Bride

TRAVEL | 4 Reasons to Plan Your Wedding at Sandals Resorts

As an east coast transplant to the midwest, I am always thinking of warmer places. And today I’m thinking back to one of my favorite places that I’ve visited this year. It was for our Aisle Society retreat and it was at the amazing Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals South Coast resort. It was so much more than what I was expecting, the service, the food, the environment……fabulous! I’m also sharing my 4 reasons that I learned that make a Sandal’s Resort a must for planning a wedding. Another place my friend told me about was the Portrush Atlantic Hotel in Northern Ireland where they host the most amazing weddings! They have facilities like a coast restaurant, golf and much more so it’s also a great place for a holiday too.

I have been to Sandals resorts before, check out my past visit here, but I never really got to know their wedding background and all that they do for a couple planning a wedding. Often times people think of Sandals as a honeymoon destination but they offer so much more in the destination wedding industry. They have recently launched their Aisle to Isle Wedding Program and I was able to see some of their amazing wedding setups and reception locations before they officially launched, and let me tell you, they are exquisite. Check them out for your self! So that’s my first reason….

#1 Location, Location, Location

Sandals Resorts launched Aisle to Isle, a new destination wedding experience this month, actually today (Aisle Society experienced an exclusive sneak peek of this at Sandals South Coast earlier this year). Aisle to Isle was designed in response to a proprietary study by the company that revealed that millennial brides seek inspiration and information above all else when planning their wedding day. It features eight, all new décor inspirations, enhanced options for food and beverage and new ceremony and reception venues, Aisle to Isle was created to give brides endless choice.

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Sandals Resorts has created eight new inspirations influenced by the tropics, gardens, romance, passion, the islands, sophistication, nature and sand and sea. Each offers creative suggestions for brides and grooms to plan their dream wedding in paradise from tabletop, floral accompaniment and setting, to runners, chair selection, altar and more. Complementing the design inspirations are enhanced food and beverage options including themed bar design, custom cocktails and expanded menu selections. Along with the ever-popular beach, garden and gazebo locations, exciting new ceremony and reception venues will be available as part of the Aisle is Isle launch, including off-site locations for exclusive photo shoots; a dedicated, newly renovated chapel at Sandals Montego Bay; the first-ever over-the-water chapels in the Caribbean, located in Saint Lucia and Jamaica; and the chance to elevate a beach or garden wedding with a twilight-timed nuptial and unity sand ceremony.

Newly Renovated Chapel and Bridal Suite at Sandals Montego Baby

Over the Water Chapel in South Coast

Of course we had to throw a mock wedding!

#2 Wedding Entourage

Many Sandals’ brides report they are choosing destination weddings because they turn a traditional five-hour celebration to a days’ long affair. Sandals is making planning this extended experience easier, offering couples their own “weddings entourage,” a team of expert planners who will assist with resort selection, venue scheduling, on-site logistics and the numerous details throughout the wedding stay. This team will also have suggestions for welcome celebrations, spa days, groomsmen outings and other activities; and the more guests that join the celebration with booked rooms, the more bells and whistles – tangible rewards – couples will earn. For example, couples who have 12 booked guest rooms will receive $1,000 towards a catamaran cruise, a room upgrade and a two-minute wedding trailer video.

All weddings at Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, whether five guests or 50, include a one-hour cocktail reception, bride and groom signature cocktail, a pre-travel surprise gift, the ‘Wedding Entourage’ of expert planners, white Chivari chairs, manicure, 30-minute foot massage, personalized wedding website, personalized gift registry, honeymoon dinner, breakfast in bed and 1 5×7” wedding photograph. As an incentive to indulge in every aspect of the Luxury Included offerings at Sandals and Beaches, wedding couples are also given additional incentives for extending their time in paradise Couples who stay six nights or longer, receive resort credits valued at more than $1,500; and any couple staying three or more nights may opt for Mokara orchid-inspired free wedding that includes Mokara bouquet, boutonniere and cake topper.

The new Aisle to Isle program has expanded its photo and video resources in response to this being one of the most vital elements of the entire wedding experience. Couples can choose from a number of new photo and video packages including drone capture; a wedding day photo booth, island photography tours to some of the Caribbean’s most iconic locations or elect to bring their own choice photographer. Sandals South Coast features: All 372 rooms and suites at Sandals South Coast are ocean-facing, 9 restaurants, 7 bars including the new Jerk Shack and Sushi on the Sand and a 50-acre property on stunning beachfront setting in Jamaica’s South Coast region.

#3 Amazing Accommodations

Over the Water Bungalow

I was also blown away by their 12 over-the-water bungalows accessible via a heart shaped pier that will open in December 2018. Yep we got a sneak peak of those too and can I say A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

#4 Entertainment, Food and Hospitality

Over the Water Bar

Sandals’ first dedicated over-the-water bar called Latitudes, where guests can enjoy their cocktails in hammocks suspended above the Caribbean Sea -Over-the-water wedding chapel with breathtaking 360-degree, panoramic water views and a glass floor aisle.

The the quality of drinks is, undoubtedly, a crucial aspect of any cocktail bar. Sampling the array of offerings at this venue, I was impressed by the exceptional craftsmanship and innovative flavor combinations. Each cocktail was a work of art, both visually and in terms of taste. This aspect alone makes it a must-visit for anyone who appreciates fine mixology.

They are truly considered leaders for destination weddings, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have completely unpackaged their offerings, transcending inspirations into experiences. From personalized wedding décor to authentic events, Sandals’ latest Aisle to Isle concept is fully customizable and will deliver any couple’s dream wedding in paradise. With a fully equipped Wedding Entourage of experts on hand, couples can rest assure that their wedding planning process will be seamlessly executed from their very first call to their walk down the aisle and beyond. With 18 resorts on seven stunning islands, Sandals and Beaches offer an array of breathtaking venues to stage couples’ grand event, including over-the-water chapels and unique island locations. Whether orchestrating a Retie the Knot vow renewal or the perfect proposal with their Engagement Concierge, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are the experts in celebrating love.

And of course I can’t just share images with you….I’ve got an amazing video that really makes you feel like you are there. Visit Sandals today to start planning your Aisle to Isle Wedding and find your happy place!

Aisle Society at the South Coast from Aisle Society on Vimeo.

*Sandals South Coast sponsored our stay in Jamaica. All opinions are the author’s own are not endorsed by Sandals, Aisle Society, or their affiliates.

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Shafonne Myers is a certified wedding and event planner who longed for bridal inspiration that looked like her. She has created a website and magazine that brings bridal inspiration to plus size brides. She does speaking engagements educating the world about plus size brides and self confidence.
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