Destination weddings have always been tantalizing for couples looking to make their special day extra special. And honestly, given how crazy and sometimes dismal things have been looking on a social and political level at home, who can blame anyone for wanting to take their impending nuptials to sunnier pastures?
To that end, we reached out to Megan Velez, vice president of product at Destination Wedding Travel Group, which is home to GayDestinationWeddings.com, to find out where couples are going to take their vows.
PGN: What are the most popular destinations for LGBT weddings?
MV: Couples are looking for outside-the-box locales for their celebration by working with destination-wedding experts that can help guide them to find exactly what they’re looking for. It’s been exciting to see the diversity and creativity of couples’ chosen destinations. With same-sex marriage becoming globally accepted, places like South Africa, New Zealand, Spain and Ireland are becoming popular choices for LGBT couples. Sandy beaches will also always be a favorite, so it’s no surprise that Mexico and The Bahamas continue to be favorites.
PGN: What are some of the hottest trends for gay and lesbian couples planning their weddings?
MV: While this is the age for the LGBT community to celebrate marriage equality, we’re finding that most weddings, whether they are LGBT or not, are following the same trends: Expect to see customization and personalization with things like monograms, specially made favors and other details that speak to the couple’s personalities. We’ve also seen LGBT couples choosing to ditch traditional ceremony standards; for example, we had a couple who opted to “walk down the aisle” in a spiral circle of chairs for their intimate celebration so they could feel closer to all of their loved ones.
PGN: Has the shifting political landscape of LGBT rights domestically and internationally had any effect on how people plan their weddings?
MV: The changing political landscape of marriage equality has influenced the overall growth of LGBT weddings, but we would also credit it to the increase in same-sex wedding inspiration in the media, as well as across social-media platforms. Even if couples have been together for years, they are now taking this step, as there is a desire to celebrate among family and friends.
PGN: What are people most interested in having you do for them when they reach out to your company?
MV: With our site, they are guaranteed that the destinations are highly vetted and welcoming to all couples, so our first hope is to serve as a resource that will guide them in selecting the location of their dreams for their big day. Couples these days are busier than ever, so most come to us with the hope that we’ll take the lead on booking their travel and celebration details, from start to finish.
PGN:How do you go about staying on top of what people are looking for in a wedding?
MV: We make sure the line of communication between our customers and ourselves is always open; we welcome feedback of any kind to ensure we have a firm grasp on their needs. We also stay on top of wedding trends throughout the year by monitoring social media, as well as the media.