Danielle & Kevin
June 27th, 2025
Thinking about a destination wedding but not sure what to expect? You’re not alone in wondering whether your guests will actually enjoy traveling for your big day, how much control you’ll have over the details, or if the planning process will be more stressful than magical.
We sat down with Danielle and Kevin, who just celebrated their wedding at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Jamaica, to get the real scoop on what it’s actually like to plan and have a destination wedding. If you’re weighing your options, curious about what you can customize, or wondering whether that presidential suite upgrade is worth it, their honest answers to your most pressing questions will help you decide if a destination wedding is right for you. Keep reading to discover what surprised them most, what they’d do differently, and why their guests are already asking when the next destination wedding is happening.
Q & A with Danielle & Kevin
What was your biggest fear when planning your destination wedding?
I wanted to make sure that the process was easy and affordable for our guests.
Why did you choose Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall? What were some of the deciding factors?
We wanted a place we both have never been and Jamaica was a destination we both wanted to go to. The pictures of the resort really sold us though. The amenities you listed out along with the overall look of the resort you highlighted were exactly what we were looking for.
Was there anything about having a destination wedding that you surprised by?
I was surprised with how customizable you could make the wedding. The resort was happy to take my inspo photos and make them a reality.
What was your experience with the on-site wedding coordinator?
The on-site wedding coordinator was extremely helpful when I reached out. Any questions or requests I had were always met. While I appreciated how easygoing the process was (being a huge reason I wanted a destination wedding) I personally do better with deadlines and someone taking the lead on the to do items. I felt at times I didn’t know what our wedding coordinator needed from me or if I was on track with timing. Once we were in Jamaica, our wedding coordinator was the most helpful and available whenever we needed her. She was very committed to making sure our vision came through on our special day.
Was there anything you splurged on for this wedding? Would you do that again?
We definitely splurged on the presidential suite. The room and view was amazing and made us feel like we had the special wedding treatment and not just a regular vacation. The space was huge which allowed us to have our wedding party and other guests stop by when we wanted. The bridal party got ready in the suite which gave us plenty of space to do our hair and makeup, eat together, and spend some quality relaxing time before the ceremony.
Any Vendors you loved and want to mention?
The only vendors we used and brought from home were our photographers Ryan and Bane from Visual Grammar Photography. They did a great job capturing the entire weekend. Since they were local to us at home, it was really nice that we got to meet them prior to the wedding so we were all comfortable and aligned with what we wanted.
What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?
Our friends all had an amazing time. Throughout the time being there they brought up how they love being able to be on vacation with all our friends while also getting to celebrate our wedding. A lot of friends said they wished they had a destination wedding since we got to spend three plus days together instead of just one night and overall loved the unique experience. A couple of our guests mentioned they felt they were asked for tips a lot before they even got the chance to tip on their own which made them uncomfortable. We did not have this experience but it was something mentioned.
If you could change anything about your wedding at all – what would it be?
We truly believe our wedding was absolutely perfect for us. If I had to pick something, I would have kept my reception in an outdoor location. We wanted a break from the heat but the restaurant was just as hot once we started dancing. The breeze from the ocean would have actually felt cooler and we would have had an amazing view.
“Melissa is the main reason this process was virtually stress free”
Is there anything you would change about your wedding planning process?
The process was very easy and organized on the travel side of things. I wish I had a more clear checklist with deadlines from the resort, but our video call check-ins with the wedding coordinator helped. I would have liked to have a better idea of what the reception area was going to look like ahead of time. I didn’t have much time to put together a seating chart. A video tour would have helped me understand the flow and plan of the wedding day a little better. We had a walk through once we got there which was extremely helpful, but it would have been nice to have that at the start of the planning process to better visualize what we would need for decor, location of events selection, and other small details.
What is the best piece of advice for couples planning a destination wedding?
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want and have lots of inspiration pictures to show. I didn’t know what to expect or what was possible from the resort, but in the end, every request we made, the wedding coordinator and resort was able to bring to life almost exactly how I was picturing it.
In what ways did Vacations By Melissa make this less stressful for you?
Melissa is the main reason this process was virtually stress free. Right from our first meeting, she got a read on our vibe and how I wasn’t really concerned with the small details and just wanted to enjoy the wedding with our guests. Her lists made it easy for me as the bride to get done what absolutely needed to get done with plenty of time to spare (a hard thing to do for a procrastinator). If I had a question, most of the time the answer was already on the Trello board making it easy for me to knock off to do items when it worked best for me. I was able to get advice from someone who has planned destination weddings bringing knowledge and experience that I did not have.
“I also loved that it felt as though Melissa and I were a team and I had someone on my side looking out for our best interest when working with the resort”
What did you like most about working with Vacations By Melissa? Is there anything you would have changed?
I loved how personal and attentive Melissa was throughout the process. It felt as though we were the only wedding she was focused on even though I know that was not the case. Any questions or concerns brought up were addressed in a timely manner. I also loved that it felt as though we were a team and I had someone on my side looking out for our best interest when working with the resort. She always knew the right questions to ask and was not afraid to have any tough conversations with the resort that I might feel uncomfortable doing on my own.
Ready to plan your dream destination wedding in Jamaica? Whether you’re looking for expert advice or hands-on planning support, I’d love to help make your vision come to life. Let’s start creating memories you’ll cherish forever—get in touch today!
view + leave comments . . .