Secret #2 to Stretching Your Budget
Secret #1 was all about identifying your budget and allocating it across your wish list. Our post was steeped in organization and prioritizing. Secret #2 is where you get to step back and let the experts at Shaadi Destinations guide you!
Secret #2 | PICK THE RIGHT RESORT TO MAXIMIZE YOUR BUDGET
You may know the story of how Shaadi Destinations was started. Our founders were actually planning their own destination wedding and considering locations across Mexico. After over one year of research and countless in-person trips to various resorts, they realized the system was broken. They had to rely on agencies that didn’t understand Indian weddings nor did they realize how much room revenue an Indian wedding would bring to a hotel. So it was no wonder these same agencies didn’t understand how to negotiate accordingly. It didn’t help that working directly with the resorts was just as futile with slow communication, a language barrier, and the fact that hotels don’t want to take direct clients as they end up having to take on so much of the work that an agency would otherwise take on managing the group.
Heena and Anish trusted Shaadi Destinations to negotiate a complimentary reception event at Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres which allowed them to splurge on their floral at their wedding ceremony; Courtesy of Lunic Photography
After years of research, relationship building with resort teams, key hires within our team, and hours upon hours upon hours of negotiations, we are now the most equipped team in the country dedicated to helping Indian brides and grooms navigate destination weddings in Mexico and the Caribbean. We are honored to work alongside the most wonderful resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. There are soooo many options out there that it might get a little overwhelming. But we wouldn’t worry too much about it. YOU HAVE US. Based on your priorities and budget and the vision that you have for your wedding events and venues, we will help you narrow down your Resort options.
As amazing as all our partner resorts are, some of them might offer different things depending on your group size and the season that might be just what tips the balance. It could go from free event hours including Indian meals cooked by Indian chefs to extended vendor catalogs (almost like that secret menu at In and Out!) to free kids and teens to free airport transfers to thousands of dollars off pre-built packages, and more.
Seema and Sagar knew that Shaadi Destinations would be able to get them extra perks like free event hours, extra menu items, and vendor discounts - all exclusive perks SD couples typically earn! Courtesy of Andre Gouin Photography
Let’s set up a couple of examples: If decor is what’s most important to you, you would probably want to go for a resort that gives you free event hours or totally free events. Based on your final number of room nights you end up booking, you’ll qualify for a huge savings in food and beverage costs. Considering that most US-based weddings spend 30-40% of their budget on food and beverage costs, this is a substantial savings that will allow you to save a ton on your wedding or invest substantially more into decor and florals!
With a resort so naturally beautiful, you don’t need to overdo it! Plus, add in all the free events and room credits Shaadi Destinations clients get here at Generations Riviera Maya! Courtesy of Biyani Photo & Cinema
If food quality is what’s most important to you - you might want to look into the Resorts who have an Indian chef onsite or one where Shaadi Destinations has negotiated the privilege of allowing a qualified Indian chef from the US to enter the facility to cook with the staff on property. Some resorts even have on-site Indian restaurants included in the nightly rate for guests who are traveling from India.
The list of criteria and how it can impact your final budget goes on and on. But thankfully you don’t have to figure all of this out alone. Once you’re ready to get started, book a consultation call and we will get you to where you want to be! You will be blown away how we can demonstrate what a $60,000 wedding can look like across resorts and just how extremely different the final look will be based on the perks we have exclusively negotiated for our clients at each resort.
Stay tuned for Secret #3!
With all of their Shaadi Destinations exclusive perks at Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, Lira and Omesh could focus on what they prioritized! Event perks negotiated means more room for wedding extras like excursions and photoshoots! Courtesy of Ialam Photo
Shaadi Destinations is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for South Asian couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of.
We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Shaadi Destinations will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.