Throughout our various travels we have seen some stunning sunsets and captured some gorgeous photos to remember the amazing moments. Here are our Top 5 Favorite Beach Bum Sunsets! Enjoy and be inspired! If you love sunsets we can recommend the best destination/resort in order for you to enjoy that perfect sunset each evening of your Beach Bum Vacation!
Kauai Sunset by Beach Bum Melissa
Montego Bay, Jamaica Sunset by Rich Miller, photographer to Beach Bum Marcie
Amazing Sunset in Ocho Rios, Jamaica captured by Beach Bum Nanda's clients
Italian Sunset on the Amalfi Coast by Beach Bum Becky
Sunset in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico by Beach Bum Jennifer
Beach Bum Becky has been working with an amazing destination wedding couple, Ryan and Denielle, for the last year to plan the wedding of their dreams in sunny Playa del Carmen, Mexico! They contacted Becky for vacation plans about a year and a half ago and had such a wonderful Beach Bum Vacation experience, that they didn’t look back when it came time to plan their day in the sun! When they called to share the news of their engagement, Becky was thrilled that they contacted her again for help with planning their destination wedding and the most amazing day of their lives in Riviera Maya, Mexico! They immediately started making plans just days after Ryan proposed to Denielle, because running off to get married in paradise was the perfect fit for this adventure-seeking couple. Beach Bum Becky said, “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with Ryan and Denielle, as well as their family and friends. On April 20, at 4:00PM, in the company of 45 of their closest family and friends, they will celebrate the beginning of their new life together at The Royal Playa del Carmen and I will be able to witness it myself, as they are sharing their amazing day with me as well! I am so excited to be there for them in person along with my husband.”
Denielle and Ryan were gracious enough to share some of the more intimate details of their big day with us before they leave and will be telling us all about the experience when they return! Check out their BEFORE the “I Do” and the advice they share with other couples! Thank you to Beach Bum Becky and The Royale Playa del Carmen for taking such great care of our clients on one of the most important days of their lives!
Why did you choose a destination wedding vs. a traditional “at home” wedding? We, by nature, are travelers, as are most of our friends and family. We never saw ourselves doing a traditional wedding and figured that a vacation with those closest to us would be more fun and memorable.
How long have you been planning a destination wedding? A little over a year.
What is the date of your wedding?
April 20, 2012
Why did you choose to work with Beach Bum Vacation? Becky had arranged travel to the Caribbean for us before, and we loved her, so we figured she would be the best resource for us for our wedding.
Which resort did you choose and why?
We chose The Royal Playa del Carmen. We love the layout of the Royal, the cost was economical for our guests, they had great wedding packages, and I’d heard good reviews.
What were the three most important “must haves” when planning your destination wedding? Must Have #1: Ability to have a private reception.
Must Have #2: Cost-efficient for our guests.
Must Have #3: Beautiful location.
How many guests were invited vs. how many are coming to celebrate your destination wedding?
# of Guests Invited – 150
# Actually Attended – 45
Are you bringing your own photographer or using the resort photographer?
We are using a local photographer down in Mexico.
Did you do a resort package or customize your own?
We did a resort package, but catered it to what we needed.
Regarding your wedding package – did you choose extras to add to the package (if any – reception, cocktail hour, upgraded flower, food or music options, things like that)? Private reception, cocktail hour, and DJ services
Where on the resort are you planning your wedding (beach, sky terrace, garden) and why did you choose that location?
Oceanfront Gazebo for our ceremony, which offered more privacy than the beach. Our reception will be on the beach.
What are you most looking forward to on the day of your wedding?
Marrying the love of my life in front of our closest loved ones in paradise!
What advice would you give to a couple planning a destination wedding?
Start planning early, research your options, and look for ways to cut costs.
Congratulations to the happy couple! We wish you many years of happiness and joy and of course, more Beach Bum Vacations!
When a couple considers taking the destination wedding plunge and gets married away, there are several factors that must be considered. Generally the first few steps include choosing a location and resort. It is not as easy as it sounds and allowing a Beach Bum to take you through our step-by-step process will eliminate much of the stress that can come along with making that decision, simply by talking to one of us and filling out our online questionnaire. If you are not currently working with a Certified Travel Concierge, MEET THE BUMS HERE and choose the Beach Bum for you! In deciding on a country and resort, couples must consider all of the pros and cons that come along with a legal ceremony (civil) or a symbolic ceremony (non-legal). Please note, couples can LEGALLY tie the knot in ANY country but each country’s requirements and applicable fees must be factored into the decision, so there is a level of comfort prior to heading south of the border for the big day!
Beach Bum Vacation’s Destination Wedding Specialists can guide and support you through the unique requirements of each country and match you up with a country and resort that meets your expectations for the perfect ceremony and fits what you are looking for based on the amount of time you wish to spend in a country before you are husband and wife, as well as, help you decide if having a symbolic ceremony is for you versus a legal ceremony. The Beach Bums often are asked “What is the difference between a Civil and Symbolic Wedding in another country?” It’s a great question! The short answer is: “A CIVIL ceremony is legal and recognized in the United States, as well as, the country in which you marry, and SYMBOLIC is not recognized.”
Destination Wedding Couples have to decide for themselves if it is important to them to be LEGALLY married on their wedding day or if they are OK with possibly getting married at home privately and quietly in their church or with the Justice of the Peace, and then just having a ceremony on their chosen anniversary date at the resort. No one will be the wiser, which is why it’s good to consider both options, especially for Mexico and Punta Cana and other countries where the hoopla for legalized ceremonies can overshadow the fun of planning! However, in countries like Antigua, Jamaica, Bahamas, and St. Lucia, it is so simple to be legally wed, there is no reason to get married at home first.
A symbolic ceremony allows the couple to experience their wedding just as they would if they were being married civilly/legally, and most couples do not share with their guests that they are having a symbolic ceremony; because to them, it is the OFFICIAL ceremony and as real to them as it would be if were legal. This will be the day they celebrate as their wedding anniversary regardless of when they “legally” tie the knot at home. There is a lot to be said for choosing this avenue to get married, especially when documents must be translated (Mexico and Punta Cana), blood tests are required (Mexico) and it’s difficult to confirm a local judge (Punta Cana). Many couples also have their own priest, minister, rabbi or friend perform the ceremony, write their own vows and have a lot more flexibility to customize their ceremony without the legal vows/language instituted by the country. In addition, residency requirements tend to be less strict allowing for less time between the arrival date into the country and their wedding. Couples just need to arrive in time to finalize wedding details, instead of meeting residency requirements. This makes for a more relaxing overall wedding experience.
Wondering what kind of wedding ceremony is best for you? Just ask your Beach Bum! Knowing a country’s legal procedures is part of the free services we provide and we want to ensure you have everything at your fingertips to make the best decision for you! The Beach Bums are here to guide and support you all the way down the sandy aisle!
“Upon arrival at Sandals Emerald Bay we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by Jeremy Mutton, the General Manager of the resort. He personally drove just Karen and I to the resort. Wow! When we reached the resort grounds, the manager over the butlers was there to welcome us and whisk us away. Sandals Emerald Bay is as close to heaven as I could ever imagine! The water in the ocean is the brightest turquoise we have ever seen and the resort is amazing. We were upgraded to a Walkout Palm Bay Oceanview Luxury Suite that was gorgeous, we were conveniently located to everything! It was spectacular!
Becky, there is no question in our minds that the service we received is because of the things you and Beach Bum Vacation do for us. The friends we met fromMontreal and Texas all have your name and number now. They saw the special treatment we received and I am certain you will hear from them when they book their next vacation. Thank you for arranging our Beach Bum Vacations each year. As I have always said, you are the best!”
In Planning the Ultimate Family Vacation: Part 1 we shared steps 1-4. Beach Bum Lisa breaks it down step by step and walks you through the rest of the journey.
Step 5 – Evaluating Recommendations
Your Beach Bum will provide 3 top recommendations based on your wants and needs. You will want to look at your options based on their quality, value, inclusions, experiences they offer, and then of course, budget. Do not just look at the number, as you may not be comparing apples with apples. All- inclusive resorts are not created equal. Many resorts offer so many amenities: Sesame Street characters, surf simulators, water slides, game rooms, catamaran cruises, toys, teen clubs, kids clubs, monitors, 24 hour room service, changing tables, and more! It is so much fun to look through this information and think of the possibilities! I know when I chose the resort for my personal family vacation, we made sure to think about our kids’ ages AND what we, as parents, wanted. This is a vacation for the entire family, not just the kids.
Look for quality inclusions. The resort may offer an amenity, but is it good? Look for trusted brands such as: Fisher Price, Crayola, National Geographic, Sesame Street, Golf pros, Nike, Xbox, and the list goes on! For younger kids meeting the Sesame Street characters is an incredible experience. My kids are super pumped for our next vacation to Beaches Resorts, because Super Grover is going to be there!
If you have three children, be prepared that not all hotels will accommodate you in one room. I know this can be quite frustrating. However, trust your Beach Bum to recommend the best resort/room scenario for your family. You may have to book at least two rooms or you may have to get a higher room category. Note that even if you book two rooms, you can reconfigure your sleeping arrangements however you would like while are on property. You’ve heard it before- size does matter. Take a close look at the room size. A common mistake families make is thinking they won’t spend any time in the room. YES YOU WILL! So unless you want to be living on top of each other, pay attention to size and what your Beach Bum recommends. The extra money is worth its weight in gold.
Budget-wise, all inclusive is the way to go. All inclusive resorts have so many activities and amenities included that make it the best value. My best advice is to spend your money where your priorities are. If you want to do a lot of activities; pick a resort that has a lot of inclusions and is located in an area where you can easily get off the resort and experience local culture, tours and excursions. If you know your kids will be spending their time at the beach; pick the hotel with the great beach and the other amenities will just be bonuses.
Step 6 – Booking your vacation
Your Beach Bum will walk you through the stress-free process and send over a secure reservation link for you to submit. Your Beach Bum Travel Concierge will receive the information, put a reservation on hold, and then call or email you to get your approval on the itinerary/price before a deposit is charged. A low deposit is required upfront, making it easy to secure your vacation, and final payment is usually duel 45 days prior to departure! Beats paying everything up front!
Step 7 – Preparing for the trip
This is equally as exciting as planning, but can be stressful as well. Refer to Part 1 for ideas on ways to prepare for the trip with little ones. Plan when you are going to tell the kids if you haven’t already. This is like Christmas for you. I was so anxious to tell my kids; I could barely sleep the night before.
The best advice for preparing to travel is to plan with the same philosophy as any other trip: anything can happen. Flexibility is key. Moms probably know what I’m talking about. Should you take pajamas for every night? Probably not, but you need more than one. Should you take more than 1 swim suit? Yes, as one will inevitably end up destroyed somehow. Ladies, on a family vacation try not to bring a ton of shoes. These will weigh you down, and your kids will do that enough! Make sure to check airline websites for baggage fees. This is the place to check for most up-to-date information. Rolling clothes helps save space as opposed to folding them. Younger kids often like to travel with their own bag. I encourage you to let them do this as it is exciting to have your own bag. Make sure they know up front though that the bag is their responsibility. Do you need a medicine cabinet in your suitcase? No, but some helps. What is your favorite tip when preparing for a family vacation? Leave a comment below and be entered to win a Cheeseburger in Paradise gift card. We will randomly select a winner on April 5th!
Step 8: Traveling
Relax and enjoy! Let go of strict rules and normal inhibitions and just go with it! If you are going to the Caribbean and/or Mexico, this is the mecca for ultimate chill so take advantage! Beach Bum Lisa tip: I do recommend keeping routines for little ones though. If they normally take an afternoon nap, try to stick with it. But don’t force it to be at the same time and be prepared for them not to sleep. That quiet time still helps. Younger children do better with routine, especially on vacation when things are already different. Part 1 has some great tips to refer back on. Prepare your kids about what’s to come. Let your kids know that after you land at the airport, you will have to be transferred to the hotel. Otherwise they will expect the pool to be outside the airport.
This vacation is an opportunity to reconnect as a family. Don’t just go to the pool every day. Converse with each other and enjoy activities together. Create memories! I can guarantee that teens will remember climbing a waterfall or swimming with dolphins but they may not remember lying out by the pool. Don’t get me wrong, make time to get your Vitamin D on! Don’t be afraid to send your kids to the kids’ club. They have wonderful activities and staff for all ages: little ones on up to teens, and it will give parents a chance to be together. Take pictures. Have your kids take pictures. It’s so fun to look at the world through their eyes. We bought our kids digital cameras before we left. My son’s camera was full of pictures of the room and the view from the room. He still talks about sleeping in the bed that folded up (pull out sofa). I’m so excited for you! Family vacations are so much fun! Now I’m ready for my own! We’re going to Beaches Turks & Caicos next, and I can’t wait!! Super Grover, here we come!
Now you’re fully prepared to plan your Beach Bum Vacation, and we’re here to guide you all the way to the beach! Get in contact with your favorite Beach Bum today! Don’t forget to comment below for your chance to win! What is your favorite tip when preparing for a family vacation?
