Travel Bulletin heard exclusively from Donna Grasby on the current weddings and honeymoon market, and how the UK trade can optimise their place in the market.
This month, I am excited to be attending a wedding fayre ? I?m hoping it will be a great way to meet new brides and grooms to be! We see more couples are choosing to get married abroad as couples are looking for something exciting for their big day, something different but also saving money at the same time and let?s not forget the best thing of all: the better weather. 340,000 destination weddings take place each year and the destination wedding market accounts for $16 billion in annual spending. I want a slice of that market, please!
I have enjoyed piecing a honeymoon adventure together for a great couple who are planning a month?s adventure in the USA. They will visit places on their bucket list, starting with Las Vegas and moving on to San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and the Grand Canyon, all from the comfort of their Mustang ? what an amazing adventure to start their married life.
Hen and stag parties abroad are so popular and I love that Jet2 have the Vibe hotels that accept groups, which makes our job so much easier to find the perfect place to party.
I visited the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort and Spa in Dominican Republic in March and loved to see the variety of wedding settings available for couples ? my favourite being the Sea View Gazebo, perfect for couples who are designing a sophisticated ceremony, and ideal for those wedding photos on the beach. Happy couples have their own dedicated wedding planner, too.
My personal favourite destination for a honeymoon is the Maldives. I chose Meeru Island for my own honeymoon and we were not disappointed. With the Jacuzzi in our room and an island you can cycle around in less than 20 minutes ? what more could a bride and groom want for their honeymoon?
