Friends Referring Friends

Welcome to the end of November!

Wow can you believe that next month is the end of 2012, it surely feels like this year has gone by far too quickly, especially for those of you who have been fortunate enough to countdown to your big day!

Our busy season has definitely begun at Pose Destination Weddings.
We have been Bon Voyaging many Destination Wedding groups that have booked through Pose over the last year, as they head off on their exciting adventures of attending a Destination Wedding.

We want to Congratulate all of our Destination Wedding Bride and Grooms who were married recently, we love receiving your feedback and seeing your beautiful photos from your big day so keep them coming!

This month we have decided to implement a new referral system at Pose Destination Weddings as our way of rewarding and saying thank you for referring a new Destination Wedding group booking to one of our representatives at Pose Destination Weddings. We like to call it "Friends Referring Friends" here is how it works;

"Friends Referring Friends"

Our business thrives on referrals from customers thrilled with our work. To show our appreciation, we’re offering $250 to anyone with a new referral that leads to the successful booking of a *Destination Wedding.
There’s never been an easier way to make your friends – and your wallet – happy.

*Destination Wedding = A minimum of 10 rooms booked under the group rate at the same resort.

If you have a Destination Wedding that you would like to refer please feel free to email us at info@posetravel.com or you can phone us on 1855 4 POSE TRAVEL (1855 4 767387)

Destination Wedding Music App

Hi there,

Welcome to October! The month that officially kicks off the start to the busy Destination Wedding season.

This months blog post we wanted to share with you a recent find we came across on the apple app store which is the "My WeddingDJ" app.
When planning your Destination Wedding you will come across the option as to whether or not you would like to hire a DJ for your reception, this is a personal choice and totally up to the bride and groom however if you choose not to hire a DJ the alternate option is to create your own playlists on your MP3 player and hire the sound system for the evening which is a very cost efficient way and also this option you will have all of your favorite music.

With this in mind we have found a fantastic app that will make the creating and playing of your own playlists so much more organized and easier to access.

Key Features;
- Helps you create a Music Plan using your songs and playlists
- Suggests parts of your wedding you need music for
- No awkward silences
- Fades gracefully for all pauses and stops
- Cross-fades between songs and when you skip a track
- Prevents accidental skipping or pausing
- Takes requests
- Waits between each song or playlist if appropriate
- Supports skipping multiple songs at once
- Allows modifying your Music Plan on the fly

Check it out:

Destination Wedding Group Activities

Hi there and welcome to Fall!

Can you believe the Summer season has come to an end? however if you are lucky enough to be attending a Destination Wedding coming up, then your Summer will definitely be extended in some beautiful tropical destination.

This months blog post we wanted to share some Mexican Destination Wedding group activity ideas that we recommend if you are thinking of something fun to organize for your guests.

A great idea for your Destination Wedding is to organize a planned activity or two for all of your guests, either pre or post wedding so that everyone can get to know each other better or just to have some fun outside of the resort.
These suggestions can also be a great idea if you are thinking about having your stag or stagette  party while you are down there.

1. Golfing
A lot of the resorts will mention they offer "free golf" however make sure to read the terms and conditions as there are some fees that are mandatory e.g. golf cart, clubs, shoes etc. There are also tee times that are only included in these special offers so be sure to read the fine print. They have some incredible resorts in the Mayan Riviera and Cancun so be sure to check them out: Grand Coral Riviera Maya Golf Course



2. Shopping Tour 
A great experience is to go to Playa Del Carmen and do a shopping tour of 5th Avenue, usually most resorts will offer this tour and the price will include your transportation, a meal voucher at a restaurant such as Senor Frogs and tequila tasting.


3. Adventure Day out - Xplor Park
This park is for adventurers it has everything from zip lining to ATV tours, swimming in the cenotes and rafting in the cenotes. This park has it all! Xplor


4. Swimming with the Dolphins
This is always a favorite amongst all of the ages and there are multiple locations to experience this amazing adventure. Swimming with the dolphins - Cancun



5. Coco Bongo
If your group likes to party then this is your place! You will see a Coco Bongo representative at most resorts (usually hanging around the pool on the party side) and you can negotiate a group rate where they will include transport, table service, drinks and a lot of fun to be had. You don't want to be getting up early the next day if you go here the night before. Coco Bongo


6. Spa day 
Why not relax and have a day in the spa, most resorts will have a spa on their premises so make sure you request a price list from the concierge and book with plenty of notice as this is something that definitely is popular amongst other guests.


7. Mayan Ruins - Chichen Itza 
These ruins are one of the 7 wonders of the world so it is a very popular tourist attraction, they are located in Tulum and are a must once in a lifetime (or more) see for most. Chichen Itza


8. Fishing in Puerto Morelos
If you are into fishing then this is also a popular activity amongst groups (great for a stag party)
Fishing


9. Diving or Snorkeling
The reef that runs along the coast is the 2nd largest coral reef in the world, the portion of this reef that runs in front of Puerto Morelos is a National Marine Park. Which is a great place to experience snorkeling or diving for any tourist or group. Puerto Morelos
 

10. Visit another resort for the day
If you are staying at a resort which has a sister/parent resort (part of a chain) then they will usually offer guests to "play" at their other resorts for the day at no additional cost (you have to organize your own transportation). This can be a great idea to try out some new restaurants, meet some new people or just have a change of atmosphere for the day.

Wedding Expo Competition

Hi there,

I hope you are all enjoying your Summer's so far and making the most of the beautiful weather you are getting.
I am sure if you have an upcoming Destination Wedding it is preparing you of how beautiful the weather is going to be when you arrive at your tropical destination to say your "I DO's".

This months blog we wanted to share our exciting news with regards to our upcoming promotion we will be having in January 2013 Wedding Expo's.
We know there is still a few months to go until January, however it will be a great chance to pass on this information to your friends and family who are wanting to have a Destination Wedding so they can enter to be in the chance to win our exciting competition.

Here it goes.......

Pose Destination Weddings + Travel are giving away 7 nights accommodation and return airfares for 2 at the luxury 5 star resort, Now Jade Riviera Cancun!
Courtesy of Westjet airlines (our preferred Airline) and The Now Jade Resort.

How to Enter:
Every New Destination Wedding Bride or Groom who requests a new Group Wedding Quote from a Pose Destination Wedding representative at any of the following Wedding Expo's:
January 06th - Okanagan Bridal Expo Kelowna
January 13th - Bridal Fantasy Calgary
January 20th - The Wedding Expo Calgary
Will go in the draw to win the above prize.

Blackout dates for travel do apply and you must be over 21 years of age to enter.
The winner will be drawn after January 20th, 2013

We are very excited about this competition and the great news is only New Destination Wedding Brides or Grooms can enter so it means you have a higher chance of winning!

Make sure to let your friends know of this amazing promotion as we would love to meet them at one of the above expos.

We also have another competition which is currently running on our Social Media Facebook page and once we receive 1000 fans who "like" our page we are giving away a digital camera to a loyal fan.
Make sure to "like" our page if you haven't done so already as you could be the one using this camera below on your next vacation or Destination Wedding.

How to pick a resort for your Destination Wedding

Today's blog we are going to give you a few helpful tips on trying to make your decision making a little easier when choosing the perfect resort for your Destination Wedding.

Let's say you were just recently engaged and you have decided to have a Destination Wedding, (of course the first thing you are going to do is contact Pose Destination Weddings  - 1 855 476 7387).
 A Pose representative is going to ask you a couple of questions to start the planning process they will ask....
"Do you know what you want your approx. budget per guest attending to pay? "
This budget means the price of your guest's return flights (Canada, USA), round-trip airport transfers in destination, 7 nights accommodation at an All Inclusive and all applicable taxes and fees.
The average budget per guest staying at a 4.5 - 5 star in Mexico is approx. $1500 (however we always aim to find the cheapest deal.

Another question will be.....
"Do you have any resorts in mind?"
This is one of the reasons why having a Destination Wedding Specialist is crucial.
A lot of people have traveled to an All Inclusive before and perhaps purchased an amazing "last minute deal" so they assume that this is always the cost of that specific resort/location, this is not always the case.
Last minute vacation deals are offered at a low cost due to the fact that a resort is at low occupancy rates, and the airline also is not at full capacity so they offer a special, let's face it having someone filling that space is better than not making any money at all for these companies.
What a Pose representative would suggest is that yourself (bride and groom) sit together one evening and create a "wish list" for your resort. Every bride/groom' needs and wants are completely different to the next so write down exactly what you want in a resort.
Here are some questions to consider;

• What does their wedding package look like at this resort?
• What do the wedding locations look like? ceremony/cocktail party/reception
• Are we beach people? and if we are what is the ocean like at this resort? is it swim able?
• What style is the resort? modern/contemporary
• Is it a larger or smaller resort? if a larger resort do they offer shuttle services? 
• Is there an adults only section? 
• Is this resort child friendly? 
• What kind of restaurants do they offer? Do you need reservations? 
• How old is the property? 
• Do you know someone who has been to this resort? - (perfect for asking a testimonial)
• Is there a nightlife at the resort? 
• Do they offer Wi-Fi at the resort and how much? 
• How far is this resort from the airport we will be flying in to? 
• Is there exercise facilities available?
• Is there a salon/spa services available? 

Once you have told your Pose representative what you want in a resort and of course more importantly the budget per person they will be able to work with you and recommend resorts that will be suitable to you and your guest's needs. 

Always remember at the end of the day the most important aspect is that you are getting MARRIED! and no matter what, the day will be perfect. If you are in the company with loved ones, close friends and family then the chances are the resort won't be the reason why the vacation was so amazing it's the company that made it amazing.

Is a Destination Wedding Ceremony Legal?

When planning a Destination Wedding you have to decide if you want a legal/civil, religious or symbolic wedding.

Here are the differences:

Only a civil ceremony is legally recognized. A religious ceremony has no legal bearing and does not replace in any way the binding legal civil marriage. A renewal of vows or religious ceremony is a symbolic ceremony. It is performed by a non-denominational minister. (Please note that Catholic ceremonies cannot be performed outside the church). The bride and groom will receive a symbolic marriage which is not legal.

When we speak with our brides and grooms we always ask them which ceremony they will be choosing for their upcoming Destination Wedding.
There are a few requirements to consider when you are deciding between a legal and non-legal wedding so we thought we should give you some information on what you need to do in order to have a legal wedding in your chosen destination.

Mexican Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)

• Valid passport
• Tourist Cards (blue sheets that you receive at the airport)
• Apostle certified birth certificates for Bride & Groom
  • If applicable, final Record of Divorce
  • If applicable, Death Certificate
• Health certificate and blood test provided by a Mexican Official (additional cost)
• Bride & Groom must arrive four business days prior to the ceremony (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count).
• Name, addresses, nationalities, ages, occupation, relationships, copy of a tourist card and a valid identification of the 4 witnesses.

  Dominican Republic Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)

• Birth Certificate of Bride and Groom or certified copy of Birth certificate. If parents’ names are not shown on the certificates, please indicate them separately.
• Notarized Declaration of Single status for the Bride and Groom. If previously married, submit two copies of the Divorce Decree or Death Certificate. There is a mandatory waiting period for women, 10 months before they are legally allowed to remarry.
• A photocopy of Bride and Groom’s Passport
• Photocopies of all Witnesses Passports. Cannot be family members. If necessary, resort will provide witnesses.
• Bride & Groom must be in the country 3 business days prior to the wedding.

Please note: The Dominican Republic is now a member of the La Hague Convention, please have your official documents apostatized by your Secretary of State Office.

Jamaican Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)
 
In order to get legally married by a Marriage officer recognized by the Jamaican Government, the following documents are required to be sent via courier to the Wedding Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the couple’s arrival to the hotel:

• Notarized copies of the Bride & Groom birth certificate
• Notarized copies of Bride & Groom official ID ( Passports)
• Notarized copies of Divorce decrees or death certificates (if applicable)

Cuban Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)

Documents required by The Holiday Place 12 weeks prior to departure:

Proof of Identity: A copy of Birth Certificate and copy of the passport which is valid for at least 6 months  upon your return.
Divorced: A copy of the original Decree Absolute stamped with the seal of the court where it was issued.
Widow(er): A Copy of the marriage certificate and death certificate of husband or wife is required.
Name Change: A copy of Deed Poll under which change has been done.
Adoption: A copy of the adoption certificate is required.

*Important Note: All documents stated above except passport and birth certificate must be translated into Spanish first and legalized at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and then the Cuban Consulate.
All original documents must be presented at the resort. 

Bride & Groom must be in the country 3 business days prior to the wedding.

Weather Patterns: Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica

Hi there,

Welcome to May! just to think only one more month and we are already half way through 2012.

When planning a Destination Wedding with our beautiful brides and handsome grooms there are a few important factors to consider, such as; Weather conditions for the week they will be traveling and getting married, is their preferred wedding date available, is the price for their guests coming in within budget and so on.

We decided over the next few months we will write about these important factors when considering your Destination Wedding, cause let's face it, we all endeavor the same questions and concerns.

Here is some relevant weather information when it comes to looking at having your Destination Wedding somewhere tropical.

Mexico has a varied climate depending on the regions. The rainy season runs from May through October with the west coast vulnerable to hurricanes in September and October. While the north western region of Mexico is arid, the climate of the south eastern coast is tropical due to surrounding warm waters. Higher elevations (the central plateau) enjoy spring like weather almost year round. 


Mayan Riviera: Average Rainfall / Month

The climate in the Riviera Maya is hot and humid, but the humidity is not as high as in other areas. The average annual temperature ranges from 25 C to 30 C. Offshore water temperatures range from 

26 C in January to 29 C in August. May through November is the rainy season.

Temperature in Celsius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	27	28	29	30	30	30	30	31	30	30	28	27
Minimum	20	20	20	22	22	23	23	23	23	22	21	20
Rainfall (mm)	90	120	50	170	200	370	140	120	360	90	80	60

Puerto Vallarta: Average Rainfall / Month

Puerto Vallarta enjoys a typical tropical climate, with near constant temperature. Puerto Vallarta usually experiences 322 days of sunshine a year and average temperatures between 20° C and 30° C. Rainfall is heavier in June and October. Even during the rainy season precipitation tends to be concentrated in large rainstorms with insignificant precipitation on most days.

Temperature in Celsius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	26	26	27	27	29	31	31	32	32	31	29	27
Minimum	16	16	17	18	21	24	24	24	24	23	20	18
Rainfall (mm)	28	18	7	7	12	206	334	327	347	123	19	20

Dominican Republic

Humid tropical but still pleasant thanks to the winds coming from the North-West and mountainous rises present on the island. The water temperature is usually between 27°C and 30°C. The rainy seasons are from May to August and again later in October.

Temperature in Celsius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	29	29	30	30	30	31	31	32	31	31	31	30
Minimum	20	20	20	21	22	23	23	23	23	22	21	20
Rainfall (mm)	63	57	54	72	188	140	145	177	181	187	100	84

Punta Cana: Average Rainfall / Month

Punta Cana has a warm semi-tropical climate but is tempered by eastern winds. It rarely rains during daylight hours.

Temperature in Celsius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	26	28	27	28	28	29	29	29	29	28	28	26
Minimum	18	18	19	19	20	22	22	23	22	22	20	18
Rainfall (mm)	80	20	90	110	190	180	170	170	200	170	120	70

Jamaica

Mountain breezes and northeast trade winds create a pleasant year round climate. You will find a tropical climate at sea level and temperate climate in the interior mountainous region of the island. The average temperature oscillates between 19C and to 32C. Of course the higher the altitude the cooler it will be.

There are two distinctive rainy seasons: the first from May to June and the second from September to November. You may experience short but refreshing afternoon tropical showers all year and bring a sweater for the evening during the winter months.

Montego Bay: Average Rainfall / Month

Montego Bay's tropical climate is very pleasant however it can get colder in the mountains. The annual average temperature is 27° C.

Temperature in Celcius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	27	27	28	29	30	31	31	31	31	30	29	28
Minimum	22	22	22	23	23	24	25	25	24	24	23	22
Rainfall (mm)	60	40	50	60	140	130	70	130	150	180	130	90

Ocho Rios: Average Rainfall / Month

Montego Bay's tropical climate is very pleasant however it can get colder in the mountains. The annual average temperature is 27° C.

Temperature in Celcius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	27	27	28	29	30	31	31	31	31	30	29	28
Minimum	22	22	22	23	23	24	25	25	24	24	23	22
Rainfall (mm)	60	40	50	60	140	130	70	130	150	180	130	90

Negril: Average Rainfall / Month

Negril has a tropical climate with average temperatures varying from 25C to 28C. Afternoon showers are frequent but short and refreshing.

Temperature in Celcius	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Maximum	30	29	30	31	31	32	32	32	32	32	31	31
Minimum	20	22	20.5	21.1	22	23	22.6	26.7	22.6	22.6	21.8	20.5
Rainfall (mm)	23	15	23	30	102	86	86	89	97	178	76	36