REAL TALK FROM THREE DESTINATION WEDDING PROS
When it comes to planning a destination wedding, there’s no shortage of inspiration—but what about real, behind-the-scenes insight from the agents who plan them every day? In this candid roundtable episode of the BAI Podcast, three of our top travel advisors—Taylor Paffett (Vibe Thrive Travel), Julia Mauro (Destination by Design), and Tim Hamel (Blu Lux Vacations)—sit down to dish on the realities of planning a destination wedding, from choosing resorts to navigating vendor confusion and shady contract clauses.
If you’re newly engaged or knee-deep in research, this episode is your reality check, support system, and planning primer all rolled into one.
TRAVEL AGENT VS. WEDDING PLANNER
One of the biggest misconceptions couples have? That their destination wedding travel agent is also their wedding planner.
Spoiler: We’re not—but that’s not a bad thing.
While a wedding planner focuses on design details like décor, florals, and day-of coordination, a BAI destination wedding specialist handles everything that comes before that: choosing the right resort, securing your group contract, setting up your room block, and being your advocate throughout the entire process.
Need a third-party wedding planner? BAI can connect you with our trusted vendor network in Mexico and the Caribbean—people we’ve worked with for years.
LET'S TALK DEPOSITS: NOT ALL AGENCIES PLAY FAIR
One of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of booking a group destination wedding is the room block deposit. At Be All Inclusive, our standard practice is simple:
- Your deposit goes toward your reservation
- If your reservation is less than the deposit, we refund the difference
- And if you earn extra incentives? You get that money, not us
But that’s not true for all agencies.
“We recently saw a major agency keeping thousands in earned perks from a couple,” Taylor explained. “They wrote in the fine print that couples could only be refunded up to the value of their own reservation—keeping the rest for themselves.”
At BAI, transparency and fairness are non-negotiable. It’s your money. You should keep it.
HOW MANY RESORTS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?
When it comes to resort recommendations, it’s all about balance. Some couples want three solid options. Others need to see six or seven to feel confident. There’s no magic number—but there is such a thing as too many choices.
“We try to tailor it to the couple,” Julia said. “If they’re unsure of the destination, we’ll send 1–2 options per location. But once they hone in on where they want to be, we narrow it down further so they don’t feel overwhelmed.”
Feedback is key. If none of the resorts feel right, don’t ghost your agent—communicate! It helps us refine the list and find the best fit faster.
ASK THE QUESTIONS, ALWAYS
Destination weddings are amazing, but they’re also complex. Contracts, deadlines, group perks—it’s a lot to navigate on your own. That’s why working with an experienced, transparent team like BAI makes such a difference.
“There’s no such thing as a dumb question,” said Tim. “Ask everything. We know this stuff inside and out, and we’re here to help.”
Whether you’re dreaming of a beachfront ceremony or just trying to decode resort pricing, this podcast episode gives you a front-row seat to the process—and the pros who make it happen.
DESTINATION WEDDING PLANNING, EXPLAINED
Watch the full roundtable episode on YouTube to hear the full conversation, unexpected stories, and expert insights that could save you stress, money, and confusion down the line.