Destination I Do Destination I Do

The Caribbean is popular for many good reasons, and we've enlisted the help from a veteran expert wedding planner to explain why the Bahamas might be the perfect choice for your destination wedding. Our host and Editor in Chief of Destinationido.com, Jennifer Stein, is joined by founder of Chic Bahamas Weddings and Events, Marva Munroe, and they dig into everything you would want to know. From what Bahamian classics to include in your welcome bags and the must-do activities to how she works with couples from afar and why a day-of timeline is so critical to reducing stress. Marva talks about her love of the islands and you'll find out why Jennifer gives her the moniker - No Stress Express. If you're considering the Bahamas as your destination wedding locale, you won't want to miss this episode.
About Chic Bahamas Weddings & Events and Marva Munroe: 
Marva Munroe's passion for events started while working at The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board. For over 20 years as the Director, she oversaw the planning, design, and production of all kinds of events.It was there that she realized her love for the art of wedding planning. She found fulfillment in helping people visualize their wedding dreams and then make those dreams come true.So, in 2011, she took that love, along with her experience and knowledge, and started Chic Bahamas Wedding and Events. She has been blessed to plan exquisite, one-of-a-kind weddings in the Bahamas ever since.
To learn more about Chic Bahamas Weddings & Events and Marva Munroe, log on to https://chicbahamasweddings.com/ or follow her at @chicbahamasweddings_
More about Destination I Do
Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.

One of our host's biggest regrets after her own destination wedding was not hiring a professional wedding film maker. So you don't make the same mistake, we uncover all you need to know about hiring the right person to film your destination wedding in this episode. Our host and Editor in Chief of Destinationido.com, Jennifer Stein, is joined by co-owner of Royal Films, Richard Saenz, and they talk about red flags to look out for, mistakes to avoid, what you're missing out on if you don't hire a wedding videographer, how to fit it into your overall budget and so many more helpful tips.

About Royal Films:

Husband and wife team Richard and Tracy Saenz strive to capture authentic moments without much directing. You won’t have to worry about acting or posing towards the camera but simply enjoying your wedding day and living in the moment.

They film couples in real­ life situations and capture the milestones in an artistic manner. Their cinematic side comes from how they approach the day as they want you to feel like you are watching a Hollywood movie of your wedding. They accomplish this by using Hollywood-approved cameras, using the same filming and editing techniques they use to produce romantic feature films. In the end, they want to create a visual masterpiece of a wedding film that will be timeless.

To learn more about Royal Films, log on to https://royalfilms.net/ and follow them on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royalfilms/ or check out their videos on vimeo: https://vimeo.com/royalfilms

More about Destination I Do:

Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.

Not everyone is comfortable writing their own wedding vows, and that's okay. For those who don't deem themselves wordsmiths or need a little coaching on how to put together a great Best Man speech, this episode is for you! Our host, Jennifer Stein, is joined by Brian Franklin, professional speechwriter and co-founder of Vows & Speeches. They discuss how Brian went from a political consultant to the business of writing wedding vows. They cover important and helpful topics such as what makes a great wedding speech and how to deliver heartfelt and personalized vows with the help of his service.

About Vows & Speeches
Brian Franklin is the Co-Founder of Vows & Speeches and oversees all interviews and script writing.
A writer and communications/marketing consultant for over 25 years, most of Brian’s work has been as an award-winning political consultant and communications strategist (including speechwriting and debate prep) for federal and state campaigns.Knowing his skills as a writer and speaker, his friends and family would ask him for help with their wedding speeches—and he had the honor of officiating a few weddings himself. (It should be noted that they are all still married!)
In mid 2021, after interviewing Jon Macks, a speechwriter and a lead writer for the Tonight Show and other comedians for many years, Brian was inspired and started to look at the wedding industry as a possible career change, and ultimately, after getting some feedback on Clubhouse by other wedding pros, he and his wife Nicole formed Vows & Speeches. By early 2022, Brian was transitioned to Vows & Speeches full time.Brian has now written hundreds of vows, speeches, ceremonies, and other scripts, and been featured in Bridal Guide, Brides, The Knot, Destination I Do and many more respected wedding media outlets. For more information about Vows & Speeches log on to https://vowsandspeeches.com/ or @vowsandspeeches on social media.

More about Destination I Do

Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.

Our host, Jennifer Stein, is joined by two professional destination wedding photographers - Ash Baumgartner and Kristine Herman - to discuss what couples should look for in a wedding photographer, how to best work with them from afar and some easy to spot red flags to safeguard your special day away.

About Ashley Baumgartner:
Raised by her grandparents and married to her college sweetheart, Ashley has always been an old soul and a romantic at heart. In fact, she might have been the only eleven-year-old in her neighborhood with a subscription to Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. There was something about the attention to detail, the stories behind a celebration, and the natural elegance of every event that captured Ashley’s spirit and swept her off her feet. It didn’t take long for Ashley to turn her love of weddings into a career. Now, there is nothing she loves more than connecting with clients over the story of their own wedding day. When she’s not behind the camera, you can find Ashley spinning her heart out on the Peloton bike, cheering hard for her favorite sports teams, or raising a little gentleman of her own. And, of course, there’s nothing like dancing the night away to make her feel alive. You can find Ashley on social media @ashbaumgartner or on her website: https://ashbaumgartner.com/
About Kristine Herman:
Blending a documentary and editorial flair, Kristine crafts authentic images and lets the emotions draw you into her photography. Storytelling and her love of travel is the heart behind who she is as an artist. She has been able to help her clients feel incredibly at ease behind the camera as well as capture the details throughout the day. She focuses on providing an elevated experience through digital and film. Kristine is based in Northern California and has traveled worldwide for weddings.
When she is not photographing weddings, you will find her hanging out with her husband and two dogs, traveling the world, snowboarding or finding her new favorite fashion piece. You can find Kristine on social media: @kristineherman_ or on her website: https://www.kristineherman.com/


More about Destination I Do:
Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.

All-inclusive resorts can provide a stress-free destination wedding experience for both you and your guests. Not only in regards to planning a wedding, but while guests are on property, they are able to indulge in the destination and the resort without you lifting a finger. In this episode, we’ll explore why choosing an all-inclusive resort for your destination wedding is a game-changing decision with Daniela Ocampo Morales, Regional Weddings Senior Manager for Palladium Hotel Group. She joins our host - Jennifer Stein as they talk all things - all-inclusive. They’ll discuss the convenience factor, as you and your guests can enjoy a plethora of activities, dining options, and entertainment on-site, ensuring everyone has a memorable experience beyond your destination wedding day.Palladium Resorts, with their breathtaking locations in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and more, can be your perfect choice for turning your wedding into an unforgettable adventure. In this episode, we'll uncover why Palladium Resorts stands out as the ultimate option for your destination wedding.From pristine beaches and lush gardens to elegant ballrooms, Palladium Resorts offers a range of breathtaking settings to exchange your vows. You'll be delighted by their experienced wedding planners who will transform your dream into a reality, making sure every detail is perfect.

More About Palladium Hotel Group
Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel chain with fifty years of experience and owned by Grupo Empresas Matutes (GEM). The chain has 48 hotels and more than 14,000 rooms in six countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily (Italy) and Brazil and operates 10 brands: TRS Hotels, Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotels, Palladium Boutique Hotels, Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, Ushuaïa Unexpected Hotels, Ayre Hoteles, Only YOU Hotels, Bless Collection Hotels as well as licensed brand Hard Rock Hotels in Ibiza and Tenerife. The Palladium Hotel Group hotels are characterized by their philosophy of offering customers a high standard of quality in its products and services and excellent value.

www.palladiumhotelgroup.com.

More about Destination I Do
Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.

Do you find yourself utterly confused about what the roles are for a wedding planner versus an event designer and a wedding coordinator at your venue? It may feel like your on-site wedding planner at your venue isn't doing their job - but IS it their job? Listen to this super informative episode to get to the bottom of things. Our host, Jennifer Stein, dives into this subject with master destination wedding planner JoAnn Gregoli from Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli. She's been planning weddings for 30+ years and had a lot to say about what each person does and (more importantly) doesn't do. She gives us the details on the differences of a wedding planner/coordinator at a venue and what their job responsibilities are compared to a hired outside wedding planner. She also discusses what an event or wedding designer will and won't handle for your celebration. By the end of the episode, you'll be totally informed and a lot less frustrated! Plus you'll hear some war stories from the OG destination planner herself.

More about JoAnn Gregoli:Planning social events was a big part of JoAnn Gregoli’s life upon graduation from college. After receiving her degree in Public Relations, she joined a PR firm where she planned events for many major corporations, as well as private events for corporate clients. By far, one of her most memorable and touching projects was assisting brides who lost wedding venues after the attacks on NYC on 9/11. With the assistance of The Knot and Brides magazine, she was able to relocate over 200 brides to new venues around the city.

The Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) awarded JoAnn the title of Professional Wedding Planner and she was appointed the New Jersey State Coordinator of ABC. She completed the ABC’s Course and earned the distinction of Master Wedding Planner. She was also appointed the New York Metro Coordinator for the Association. Visit JoAnn's website by visiting: https://elegantoccasionsbyjoanngregoli.com/ or follow her at @joann_gregoliDuring the Covid pandemic, JoAnn created a non profit Sewing Angels to help the front line workers and battered women’s shelters with making and distributing much needed PPE!

More about Destination I Do: Destination I Do was established in 2004 and has been publishing real destination weddings, helpful content about planning your wedding away (or honeymoon) and giving advice and inspiration for every couple who is dreaming of their perfect celebration away from home. To learn more about Destination I Do, log on to https://destinationido.com/ and follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationido/ or @destinationido on any other social media platform.