Alpaca Your Bags Travel: Destination Wedding & Group Travel Experts

20/08/2024

Was it easy? No.
Was it worth it? 1000%

Taking that leap means I now get to be a small part of so many big celebrations through my job. ❤️

If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain, take this as your sign: embracing change can open doors to amazing opportunities. Go for it!

02/05/2024

From neighborly hellos to heartfelt 'I dos' in Costa Rica— Eryn and Adam's journey has been nothing short of incredible! We're thrilled to have helped make the destination wedding dreams of this fun-loving couple a reality.

Make sure to check out their full journey in our latest blog post. Link in bio!

📸 Meric Moments
⛪️ Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica
✈️ Your Bags Travel

24/04/2024

Starting the wild ride of wedding planning? Let Emily and David's journey guide you.

And if you've got burning questions about destination weddings, drop them below. We're all ears!��

📸 EM Photography
✈️ Alpaca Your Bags Travel
⛪️ UNICO 20º87º Hotel Riviera Maya

19/01/2024

Excited and honored to be one of the chosen few attending Classic’s “Save the Date” event for destination wedding pros! Follow along next week as I visit six resorts and see what’s coming trends in 2024 and 2025! Thank you to for the invite, for hosting and for getting us where we need to go! I’ll end the week with 2 nights at the stunning for a fun post fam with See you soon, Cancun!

30/06/2023

You're engaged — yay! — and thinking a destination wedding might be the route to take. You're excited and can't wait to celebrate somewhere beautiful abroad. ☀️

But first things first: What's this talk about potentially needing a "destination wedding travel advisor?"

Chances are, you’re choosing to plan a destination wedding because you and your fiancé want to focus on your love for each other and celebrate your commitment with your closest loved ones.

You’re not usually planning a destination wedding, so you can feel stressed out and overwhelmed with managing international travel arrangements for you, your partner, and 45 guests!

So let's talk about how a destination wedding travel advisor (like yours truly 🤍) can help with that!

29/06/2023

As summer approaches, AKA the busiest travel season, it's so important to be well-prepared for your upcoming trips! As experienced destination wedding and celebration travel advisors, we wanted to offer our 7 best tips to help you navigate the upcoming high season. ✈️ 🌍 Swipe to learn what they are!

And let us know if you have any questions about traveling in the summer in the comments below and we'll answer! ⬇️

22/06/2023

So, so excited for all the upcoming weddings we have this year! Send a 🥂 in the comments to congratulate all our fall 2023 couples as they prep for their destination weddings! 💍✨

2023wedding

17/05/2023

Hurricane season is just around the corner (June - September), so here is your reminder to be mindful of where you book your honeymoon to avoid hurricanes as best as you can!

If you have no idea where to start, swipe through to check out these 5 low hurricane-risk destinations that will serve as a perfect spot for your romantic getaway with minimal risk.

But if that's not enough and you feel like you need a helping hand, we're here to help you plan your hurricane-resistant, all-inclusive honeymoon! Book a free, no-pressure discovery call with us by clicking the link in my bio!

16/05/2023

I'm excited to announce that I've been selected as a hosted buyer for the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals event in Punta Cana from June 5th-8th! 🤩

As a Platinum member, I'm excited to learn from some of the best wedding planners from around the globe, discover new opportunities for our couples, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends for next year. Oh, and to work on my Wedding Tourism Specialist certification, which I'm so pumped about!!! 🥳

05/05/2023

Let me introduce you to one of my absolute favorite destinations: Puerto Vallarta 🌴

As a destination wedding travel advisor and frequent visitor, I can confidently say that Puerto Vallarta is a must-visit destination. I've visited multiple times and always leave with unforgettable memories.
(In fact, I'm currently in PV right now, so be sure to follow along on my stories this week to get to know the town even better!)

A huge draw of Puerto Vallarta, and why it's just so special, are the incredible excursions and day trips that you can take while you're here. That's why I've put together a list of the top 5 experiences that will make your stay unforgettable.

From tequila tasting to hidden beaches, PV is a city that truly has something for everyone.

Click the link in my bio to visit the blog for alllll the details. And then let me know what excursion sounds the most fun to you. 😍

02/05/2023

Our team here at Alpaca Your Bags Travel may have different opinions about our favorite destination locations, but everyone can agree that Puerto Vallarta is a gem of a city. 😍 (P.S. I'm headed there TODAY! So make sure to follow my stories if ya wanna see why we love it so much!)

Located on the west coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is one of our all-time favorite destinations for so many reasons. Not only does it boast stunning sunsets and intimate beaches, but it also has a lush mountainous backdrop that takes our breath away every time we visit.

Puerto Vallarta is also incredibly LGBTQ-friendly, with the world-famous Vallarta Pride celebration taking place each spring. 🌈 It's a city all about love and acceptance, and we can't get enough of that positive energy.

In fact, I've celebrated some of my most special milestones in Puerto Vallarta — from birthdays to anniversaries and more.

Fun fact: I was even there during the wild ride that was the weekend of March 13, 2020. (You know, the "weekend that changed the world forever" 😅)

Swipe through and discover more about this amazing beach town that's captured our hearts at Alpaca Your Bags Travel.

And if you're dreaming of a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta or simply want to learn more about what it would be like to have your destination wedding at this dreamy location, let's chat!

Click the link in our bio and let's start planning your getaway to paradise. 🏖️

27/04/2023

Meet Rena and Torrey, a beach-loving couple who knew from the start that their dream destination wedding had to be in Jamaica. 🏖️ They wanted a ceremony overlooking the sea and adventurous activities for their guests, like snorkeling and zip-lining.

That's why we recommended the stunning Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, and it ended up being the perfect fit for their medium-sized wedding! 🌴 Check out our blog (link in bio) to learn more about their unforgettable experience! And maybe even get inspired for your own beach wedding. 😉

Travel Advisor:
Resort:
Photo Credit:

13/04/2023

If you know you're meant to have a destination wedding and want to tie the knot in a breathtaking location, but having sand between your toes makes you cringe, I've got good news for you! ⬇️

You don't have to limit yourself to sand and surf just because you're having a destination wedding.

There are SO, so many amazing and unique venue options available that will make your wedding day unforgettable. 🤍

Imagine saying your vows in a stunning vineyard, having a romantic garden reception, or even a mountaintop ceremony with breathtaking views... The possibilities are endless, and I'm here to help you find that oh-so-you location that reflects your personality and style.

At Alpaca Your Bags Travel, we've worked with jaw-dropping destination wedding venues that aren't beachfront — ones that will definitely inspire you to think outside the box and ones that won't have you rubbing sand off your feet all day long. 😉

If you're ready to plan your destination wedding travels, let's chat! I've got plenty of ideas brewing already!

10/04/2023

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the consequences of my own actions" is the LAST thing you want to say on your honeymoon. 🫢

→ Swipe to learn why it can make all the difference in the world to hire a travel agent for your honeymoon!

P.S. I'd love to know if this is helpful and interesting for you and if there are other topics you want me to cover when it comes to planning destination honeymoons!

P.P.S. We're just a message away if you're ready to take the stress off your plate and plan a relaxing getaway as a newly married couple!

05/04/2023

A little humble brag: our individual trip packages, like honeymoons, anniversary trips, and family vacations include EVERYTHING you need! Yep — airfare, transportation, hotel, and insurance — it's all included.

Of course, we get that sometimes you want to take charge and book directly with an airline or your travel agent. If you're using a group rate, for example, booking your own airfare makes sense.

That all being said, while booking air is very commonplace these days, there are some tried and true tips from experts like myself.

Even if you think you've got it all figured out, there's always room to learn something new, right? Trust me, you won't want to miss these tips. Swipe to learn more! ➡️

HASHTAGS

03/04/2023

FYI/PSA/ICYMI: Passport processing is delayed again! So if you have spring or summer plans, make sure to check your passports to make sure it's not expired.

As of March 24

✅ routine shipping is 10 to 13 weeks
✅ expedited shipping is 7 to 9 weeks
✅ and you can get your passport expedited at an agency if you have international travel within 14 calendar days

💡 Pro tip: I always recommend sending your application or renewal documents by ExpressMail or any kind of *trackable* method, just in case your documents get lost! Never send by regular mail, it's too risky for a document that is so important. It's also a good idea to check the box for *return* ExpressMail postage.

No one wants to wait on ol' snail mail, let's get your passport in your hands as soon as possible!

Questions? Let me know in the comments!

29/03/2023

This one was an adventure! Picture this: the sun is shining, the waves are crashing on the shore, you’re in a stunning destination location, and your loved ones are gathered around you as you prepare for the destination wedding you’ve been planning for the past year.

Sounds like a dream come true, right? But what happens when an unexpected force of nature gets in the way? Just ask Madeline and Drew, who faced Hurricane Fiona just three weeks before their 115-guest wedding at Cana Bay Beach Club.

Picture this: the sun is shining, the waves are crashing on the shore, you’re in a stunning destination location, and your loved ones are gathered around you as you prepare for the destination wedding you’ve been planning for the past year. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But what happens ...

24/03/2023

It's time to plan your DREAM destination wedding. You and your partner have discussed alllll the things and you're PUMPED about your plans... Until you start sharing the news with your family. 🙃

Objections come at you from all directions:

🚫 "But what about grandma? She can't fly that far!"
🚫 “How much is this going to cost me?”
🚫 “I’m not comfortable traveling internationally. What am I supposed to do?!”
🚫 “You’re so selfish!”

Ummm… Wait, what? 🫣 Safe to say you didn’t see these objections coming.

Or maybe you're in another boat: one where you're actually aware of how your family will react, so you feel like you can't even bring up a destination wedding as an option!

At Alpaca Your Bags Travel, we want you to have the wedding YOU want. But we also understand destination weddings can be intimidating for your family — especially if no one close to you has planned a non-traditional wedding.

As a former destination wedding bride + a wedding travel advisor, I have the professional AND personal experience to know how to navigate these uncomfortable situations.

I also know the way you talk to your family about your wedding plans can make a big difference in how they react to the news.

So swipe through and choose one of these 3 different approaches to discuss your destination wedding plans with your family!

Don't forget to save this so you can practice. 🤍

Of course, if you need extra support, we're here for you. So click the link in our bio if you want to chat about it. 🤍

22/03/2023

"When is the best time to book my flight for an upcoming destination wedding?"

As a wedding destination travel advisor, this is the most common question I get from wedding groups and... Don't throw tomatoes at me, but it's a tough question to answer because there's no perfect response. 🫣

In fact, it's a question that I wish I had a crystal ball to answer because — if I could predict airfare costs with certainty, I wouldn't be planning weddings for a living!

Instead, I'd be living on my private island, dreaming of all the ways I could spend my fortune! 😂

HOWEVER... There are strategies you can use to try and get the best deal. Swipe to learn what those are! ➡️

Questions? Hit me with 'em! ⬇️

03/03/2023

5 ideas you may have not thought of for your destination wedding! Swipe through it and let me know what you think! Would you include any of these for your own destination wedding? I'd include all of them if the hubby and I had another wedding. 😉

25/02/2023

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. 🐘 ➡️ Those so-called "no-fee" services from big-box travel booking agencies. (You've probably seen a few of them!)

Here's their REAL secret: They're less like travel agents and more like a call center focused on pushing high-commission resorts to A LOT of people.

Like, 70-100 couples at a time, working on commissions from resorts that may or may not be the best choice for their clients. 🤯

In short? It's a churn-and-burn business.

At AYB, we like to do things differently because we believe you deserve better.

As a booking service, we only accept a limited number of couples each year and because of that, we can provide an extremely hands-on service.

We'll answer your questions in a timely manner, do our best to honor your special requests, and give you honest advice. Something that is, unfortunately, rare with these big-box agencies.

It's an entirely different experience! And according to our couples, worth every penny.

Have any questions about our service fees? Drop them in the comments or feel free to DM me!

18/02/2023

💰 COST BREAKDOWN: TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS VS. DESTINATION WEDDINGS

It's no secret traditional weddings can be hella expensive. But you might think to yourself... "Aren't destination weddings even more?"

Many people have this misconception because there's more traveling involved, but as you can see by the cost breakdown*, destination weddings can actually be way more cost-effective!

Here's why destination weddings can be significantly cheaper than traditional weddings:

💒 Destination weddings don't require multiple venues for multiple events — every activity/ceremony/party happens at the same resort destination

✈️ There's no need to spend lots of $$$ on transportation since group rates INCLUDE airport transfers. Not to mention, you don't need transportation once guests arrive at the resort!

💐 Vendors (including DJ, floral, food, alcohol, and decor) are generally less expensive in the destinations we serve, like Mexico and the Caribbean.

📸 When it comes to photography, you can use a local photographer to support the economy, or bring your own while covering necessary travel costs

🤍 And the most important one... VALUE! In addition to being less expensive overall, you're also getting MORE of an experience for the $$$ you spend. You can spend quality time with your guests for 4-5 days instead of a 5-minute conversation with a guest who's been waiting in line for 15 minutes to say congrats.

Questions about destination wedding costs? Leave them in the comments and I'll get back to you!

Ready to plan your dream destination wedding? Click the link in my bio to book a call with us!

*Numbers pulled from The Knot

09/02/2023

I'm not afraid to call out the travel "pros" who provide destination wedding services to their clients... But haven't even visited the destinations themselves.

I didn't get the destination wedding experience I imagined when planning my own, so now, it's my turn to provide that personal, travel-bestie touch that I had missed out on.

When you work with Alpaca Your Bags, you can rest easy and feel confident that you'll receive a world-class experience no matter what destination you choose because I've been there!

Swipe to find out why I travel to resorts personally! ➡️

02/02/2023

What’s the secret to planning the destination wedding of your absolute dreams? 🤔

If you've been here for a hot minute, then you can say it with me. 😉

Hiring a destination wedding travel advisor!

Maybe your first reaction is within the range of...

"But how much is that going to cost me... 🫣"
"How will a travel advisor help me plan such a personal day?"
"I plan vacations ALL the time. I got this!"

Consider this...

✈️ In 2022, we returned an average of $3,500 per wedding to the lucky couples that worked with us because we were able to negotiate block credits to help them get the biggest bang for their buck!

✈️ We connect our couples with first-rate vendors in your destination that check all their boxes.

✈️ Destination travel advisors can help navigate the often-overlooked details involved with group travel.

To help you get started on your journey, swipe to learn some of my expert tips on what NOT to do as you start planning your destination wedding!

31/01/2023

It's NEVER too late to reach out and ask for help planning your destination wedding! 🙅🏻‍♀️

When Melissa first called me, she was on her 2nd wedding planning attempt. She had nearly given up...

She had always dreamed about having a destination wedding, but DIYing left her frustrated and overwhelmed.

Needless to say, by the time Missy called me in April 2020, she was REA 👏 DY 👏 to get the ball rolling — especially because her fiancé, Travis, and she were celebrating their 5-year anniversary + 2nd year being engaged + welcomed their son, Reed, into their lives!

I'll never forget the first thing she said that day she called me: "It's time to get rolling!"

You can imagine planning a wedding in April 2020 wasn't the most *popular* time to plan a destination wedding.

But Missy had a vision, her guests were ready for a great celebration, and I was SO ready to help her bring that vision to life!

Fast forward to Oct. 2021, and they finally had their dream wedding — toes in the sand, surrounded by family and friends!

My team and I are forever grateful Missy and Trevor trusted us to plan a wedding during uncertain times and after many life changes. 🤍

🔗 Check out the blog (link in bio!) to see more details about their wedding! And if you want your destination wedding travel to be in good hands, book a call with me at the link in bio!

Vendors 🤍
Photographer: Dean Sanderson Photography
Venue: Dreams Playa Mujeres

30/01/2023

Does the "sand between your toes" make you cringe and want to scrub your feet? Does "sea breeze in your hair" only make you think of sticky, salty hair you need to wash ASAP? Or maybe the ocean just kinda freaks you out...

Yet... You've been dreaming about having a destination wedding, but it seems like all the options cater to couples who want a beachy destination wedding.

As a destination wedding travel advisor who's been at this for long enough to see destination weddings become synonymous with "beachy getaway", I'm here to deliver the good news that you don't have to host your destination wedding at a beach!

*Cue the confetti*

There are SO many beautiful places we serve that aren't anywhere near a beach. For example, did you know you can get married in a garden, in a gazebo, or on a rooftop?

Swipe to get some inspiration!

Ok now tell me... What non-beach location is your DREAM location? 👇

25/01/2023

☝️🔥 2023 is the year to stop following what other people are doing and instead, create a wedding celebration that reflects YOU.

Truth be told, as a team of destination travel advisors who can't help but go against the grain, we say this every year. 😉

But in the past few years, we've seen many of our couples opt for trends that feel most authentic to THEM instead of doing what might be expected of them.

And we 👏 are 👏 here 👏 for 👏 it!

Swipe to learn what trends we're so done with and what trends still hold a special place in our hearts. And feel free to share if you agree!

Oh, and let me know if you agree or disagree with our picks, because, at the end of the day, everyone has their own preferences. 😉

23/01/2023

🦙 Where in the ALPACA have our couples been?

We send our clients a lil' stuffed alpaca to take with them on their travels and to take cute pictures wherever their adventure takes them!

Is it weird to be slightly jealous of a stuffed alpaca who gets to travel more than me, a travel advisor?! 🙄

Okay, cast your vote — where does our alpaca need to go next?

BTW, we're experts in these all-inclusive resort locations as well as many others. Book your call and we’ll talk about where you’re looking to travel!

18/01/2023

When I first met Amy and Drew in 2019, they had just gotten engaged, moved, and were in the midst of crazy times at their jobs.

They were super excited about the idea of having a destination wedding, but as a finance director at an investment management firm (Amy) and the creative director at an advertising agency (Drew), you could imagine how little time they had to plan.

They were both interested in Punta Cana and La Romana, two very different parts of the Dominican Republic.

But as fate would have it, I JUST came back from seeing the new construction of a new resort, Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana .

After I showed them my hard hat tour pictures, we started planning a wedding for late Spring 2020!

Now, planning a wedding at a new resort is NOT for the faint of heart. There are so many unknowns because most visuals are simply renderings instead of photos.

Because of my newfound relationship with the hotel, though, we were able to secure some sneak peeks of the wedding venues, room layouts, and more.

Combined with my reconnaissance trip during construction, Amy & Drew felt comfortable enough to sign on the dotted line.

Little did they know, “brand new resort” jitters were going to be the least of their worries... 😅

So did they get the wedding of their dreams? How did they navigate the new construction AND the pandemic?!

Click the link in my bio to read all about our wild journey!

Photo credit:

17/01/2023

THANK YOU! 😍

Thank you for all the support and love these past couple of weeks with our brand and website launch!

It's been such a whirlwind since then (in the best way possible), but I didn't want you guys to think your massive support has gone unnoticed.

From the whole Alpaca Your Bags team and me, thank you so, so much!

It's truly because of you guys that we get to call this our job. I mean, how crazy awesome is that?!

If you haven't seen the new website, see what you're missing out on (😉) by visiting alpacayourbags.com or clicking the link in my bio.

Thank you again!!!