Of Love & Travel-Interview with Romance Travel Expert-Carolyn Vaught

Since Wedding Tango is all about what can go wrong with a destination wedding, I thought it would be fun to interview Romance Travel Expert, Carolyn Vaught, about how brides can find their "happily ever after" in an exotic location.

How did you get into the destination wedding/travel business? Travel has always been a big part of my life.  My first real adventure was a 3-month rail and youth hostel trip through Europe when I was 19.  After working in administration in a continuing education department where I coordinated the university's residential travel programs, I went to work for various tour operators.  One was a small company offering high-end adventure travel in India, Nepal and South America.  The other was a large student travel company.  On a lark, in 2005, I purchased a franchise with a new company called All About Honeymoons & Destination Weddings.  When that company folded a few years later, I joined one of my AAH colleagues in the agency she opened, called Divine Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.  What is really ironic about my ending up in "the wedding business" (as some of my friends refer to it) is that I was never interested in weddings and didn't have one myself.  My husband and I were married at City Hall in San Francisco and then took off for Tahiti on our honeymoon, which was the only part of the marriage ceremony that interested me.  I love working with couples arranging destination weddings, but my focus is primarily on locating the perfect destination and resort or venue, and handling the travel logistics for them and their guests so they can enjoy making the fun decisions about colors, flowers, decor, menus and such with the on-site wedding coordinator.

What was one of the more memorable weddings you handled?Well, while our company has handled many exotic destination weddings for Hollywood and sports celebrities, the one most memorable for me was a couple planning a wedding for September of 2014.  They decided against Cancun because they had been warned by friends about the possibility of a hurricane.  They opted for Cabo San Lucas, which traditionally had a reputation for dodging hurricanes and the worst tropical storms.  Their wedding day on September 13th was gorgeous, the day was perfect, the photos were beautiful.  The next day, Hurricane Odile hit.  The resort was badly damaged, all guests spent the next several nights sleeping in the ballroom with rationed food and water and no air-conditioning.  There were no flights out for several days because of damage to the airport, and most roads were impassible with lots of downed power lines.  As miserable as it was, the silver lining was the hotel staff who stayed at the resort to tend to guests, even though some of their own homes had been devastated.  The resort manager found milk and treats for the small children, and kept everyone safe.  The bride texted me a photo of their demolished bridal suite.  So sad!  I was on the phone with the bride and her guests throughout the ordeal, and was able to coordinate with their families, my travel suppliers, the tourism board, the travel insurance company (ALWAYS buy travel insurance!), and others to keep them updated.  The worst part of disasters like this is simply not knowing.  Some of the guests wanted to make it to a port and try to get a ferry to another location.  This was not only dangerous because of a lack of infrastructure, debris, and downed lines, but also because of the possibility of looters or worse.  Luckily, everyone remained calm and reasonable, and were safely evacuated by the Mexican military with the cooperation of US airlines.  The couple shared their stories with me over lunch after they returned, and sent me a Christmas photo card of their wedding with the stunning beach and sunny skies behind them.  What they marveled at was the dedication of the staff and the assistance of many locals. They will definitely have a unique wedding story to tell their grandchildren!

Name one of your must-haves for travel.  I would say number one is flexibility, followed closely by a good sense of humor.  These two things can pretty well get you through any situation.  I know people who recommend good shoes or quality luggage, but for me the intangibles are the key to successful travel.  No trip will be perfect.  There will be small and sometimes big challenges.  If you're lucky, no hurricanes, but weather is always unpredictable, so learning to take things in stride lets you enjoy the adventure without stressing over inconveniences.

  

When choosing a destination wedding planner, what should couples look for?A love of the job and passion for tending to the details.An interest in and concern for YOUR wedding and/or honeymoon and appreciation for this once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully!) event.  Look for someone willing to take the time to get to know you and accommodate your likes and dislikes.

Experience--in travel generally, in "romance travel" in particular, connections and resources to guarantee you are getting the best value but more importantly support throughout the process--before, during and after travel.

First-hand familiarity with the regions you are considering and the specific resorts, hotels, and local resources, in order to coordinate the destination wedding of your dreams.

What is your favorite romantic locale?

 I'm partial because it was my honeymoon destination, but Tahiti is hard to beat on so many counts.  With its French influence and spectacular scenery, how can it not be a top romantic location?  [For a legal wedding, it can be a challenge because of the amount of red tape and time required.  I always suggest a symbolic wedding in Tahiti after having a legal marriage performed at home.]  However, what is perfect for one couple may not be for another.  Tropical places like Tahiti, Fiji, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, or Bali are always popular, yet I continue to get requests for Irish castles, Tuscan villas, French vineyards, and Greek Islands. And one couple chose Antarctica, so I guess there is something for everyone in this diverse and fascinating world. 

Anything you’d like to add? Who can argue with Audrey Hepburn's observation that "Paris is always a good idea," but really there is so much out there to explore.  Don't stop with Paris.

Those of you who are already-weds don't forget, it's never too late for a second honeymoon!

For more information on planning a destination wedding or honeymoon, check out DivineDestinationWeddings.com or contact Carolyn directly at Carolyn@DivineDW.com