Destination Wedding Amid Pandemic - Nightmare!!

Being in the planning process (which I'm not), would consider to give the loss up and cancel the destination wedding due to this pandemic overall due to cancellations and flights not going out overseas. Knowing this is a huge impact, it seems only right and protecting your loved ones from getting quarantined for 2 weeks while your getting married. Keeping the wedding date can also be a good thing if the venue can postpone your date and still have your guests fly out when all this is over and cleared. Best suggestion is to call and inquire if this is possible to do for you to have your destination wedding. Consider your options to the best of your decision. Hope all works out for you both.

View quoted message

Oh okay - it's nice that you've had the same person to deal with everything! And it sounds like they're being accommodating to wedding in April, so hopefully that extends to you if this crisis drags on. I also hope they get give you options as soon as possible so that you can sort things out! My fingers are crossed for you.

View quoted message Honestly I don’t know... it sounds like only the people who purchased travel insurance would get their money back if they cancelled. And yes so our wedding planner is also the travel agent (and one of our friends) so she’s literally planned the whole trip and wedding. I know for right now, their policies have only changed for weddings up until April 30th so we wouldn’t be able to cancel/postpone due to the virus right now until the policy gets extended to May if that makes sense? Our wedding is 2 months today so hopefully we don’t have to change anything but if we do then we understand there’s not much we can do to change the matter.

View quoted message

That sounds like a ridiculous move!! Are you able to get a refund? That way you could just re-book when you're ready?

Do you have a travel agent, and a wedding coordinator with the resort that's helped you plan? Our travel agent is allowing guests to cancel on their own terms. but we have yet to hear back from our wedding coordinator about cancelling the wedding.

View quoted message Ok well your mom is a saint! I hope your plan B wedding is amazing! And that’s great that you’ll still be able to go away with everyone! And yes planning the plan b in November at the same resort. Basically if we choose to cancel/postpone our wedding, we would just push it back to November and do everything we would’ve done in May but in November. Unfortunately we just received an email to state that if we cancel/postpone, it would have to be a group decision meaning that if we pushed it back to November, everyone that would’ve come with us in May would have to come for our new date or risk not getting their money back... was that the same for you or did people not have any consequences if they cancelled on their own?

View quoted message

My Mom is planning the Plan B wedding in my hometown - so about 4 hours away from where we live. We still want to book a trip (because we'll be getting vouchers as a refund) and hope that most people can still join us! We're going to consider it our honeymoon. We did our legal ceremony in the city where we live, and it was close to his relatives/friends.

Are you planning a backup wedding in November at the same resort?

View quoted message It’s probably the best decision with what’s going on right now but you are a complete trooper and will get through it! You will still have an amazing wedding whatever date you go! Is your mom planning a wedding where you live then? Will you still go away with your wedding party when the time is right? Currently we are planning a backup wedding in November just in case we have to cancel ours in May. But similar to you, we got legally married in February so this will just be a celebration with friends and family.

View quoted message I really hope things turn around in time for your wedding! This has been the most stressful time of my life, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
We are officially cancelling, it's just been impossible to get in touch with our wedding planner or travel agent. We're hoping tomorrow brings answers! As of now, everyone's travel will be reimbursed as a voucher to be used by March 31st, 2021. We are desparafely hoping that the resort will refund us the money we paid for the wedding. My superhero mother is currently planning a backup wedding for 4 weeks from now. It's been a journey! And honestly, I'm just tired and ready for it to be over now.

I know exactly what you’re going through... my destination wedding isn’t until May and I’m really hoping things are better by then but there’s always that chance it won’t be... im so sorry you’re going through this right now with only having limited days to decide whether or not to go through with it. My wedding planner is in Ontario and she’s the one that deals with the on-site wedding coordinator in Mexico for us but she doesn’t really seem too concerned about our flights getting cancelled or what not. Only one of our guests have voiced that they might cancel due to the virus but everyone else seems to feel confident all will be well by May. I know our planner sent an email out to all the wedding couples she’s dealing with for April and may and has offered the ones in April credits to anyone who decides to cancel. It didn’t sound like they would have an option to get their money back but that they could use it towards the same resort before December 31st 2020. I hope you’re able to make a decision on all of this and I’m sorry you’re even having to make a decision at all...

View quoted message That's really comforting to hear! The airline is offering credits valid for 1 year, but we have to cancel by Monday in order to get it. So this decision will likely need to be made in the next 2 days. Getting a hold of our wedding planner has been a nightmare!! We are going to try calling again today. If the resort can refund us the wedding, then we will cancel altogether.


We already got legally married on Valentine's day and we had a nice dinner out plus after party with about 30 people. So we have that to fall back on, but I really wanted to wear my dress! 😭
Thank you for your insight!

View quoted message That's a good point about not everyone being able to self isolate upon return. We are really concerned about borders closing! That's a scary thing.


We are going to email and call guests today and chat with them. Thank you for your help!

View quoted message You're absolutely right - we are definitely concerned about risking it and then getting stuck in the DR with poor medical care. Thank you for your thoughts!

A lot more resorts are offering refunds or credits to rebook now that covid has officially been declared a pandemic. It will be worth while to keep calling and continue to ask for updates about refunds or changing the date. A lot of the cruise lines that were not refunding those without insurance have now offered refunds to those people (probably to save their name and in hopes that people will ever board another cruise ship after this is over).


Ultimately the health of you and your guests is worth more than the money you stand to lose, but it's still not easy to kiss that money goodbye. The Canadian government has said that they will help get Canadians back home in the event of an outbreak in the region but that you might be responsible for your repatriation flights and will need to quarantine where the government decides all of which could end up adding a higher cost to the whole thing.
I can't imagine the stress you're under right now. If it were me I would try to focus on the marriage, no matter when or where you make it official, and let the wedding part come later if you have to.

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Its unfortunate to have this added with the stress of planning a wedding.

I agree with Genevieve though, I would just talk to your guests and ask. The other thing I would think about is whether or not it is feasible for your guests to be home for two weeks after the wedding, because they are asking that people self-isolate when they return from travel.

Another thing to consider is that Trudeau is thinking about closing the borders. I would keep an eye on the news and see what is happening. That might be a way to ensure that you get your money back.

I am sSOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry to hear this i cant even imagine!!! me personally i would cancel and try to get all my money back. you dont want guests getting sick there and being quarantined in another country and unable to come home or have proper supplies for sickness (ie cold meds and advil etc). im sure as it gets worse more and more people will cancel especially the older ones and ones with younger kids. honestly if i was a guest i would cancel - my hubby to be has a pre-existing medical condition and i wouldnt risk his safety...

View quoted message You make excellent points, and I completely understand why you would cancel. If we didn't have so much money riding on this then we wouldn't be so reluctant to cancel either.


Our wedding is booked at CHIC Punta Cana (by Royalton.) It has been horrendous trying to get information from our planner, but I'm hoping they will consider a refund.

View quoted message Thank you, Geneviève! We have been wanting to send out an email to our guests but we didn't know what to say because the situation is evolving so quickly. I think we will start with letting them know it's okay if they cancel.

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. How terrible.
The federal government has warned against any/all international travel. I am in good health, but if I were a guest I would cancel. The main reasons I would cancel?
1) My employer sent notices today that if we travel ANYWHERE outside of Canada we are required to self-isolate for 14 days upon return. I do not have the sick benefits time/vacation time to do that.
2) I worry about transferring any virus back to my medically fragile family members.

I am often on TripAdvisor and it seems like airlines and hotels are being VERY accommodating and refunding people when they normally wouldn't. This is all out of everyone's control. I think it's worth asking more about to see if they can be flexible.

Again, I'm so sorry. Where is your wedding set to take place?

I am so sorry that your going through this. Wedding planning from away is stressful enough, evening throwing this in the mix!


I’d say if you have immunocompromised guests or anyone who lives with someone who is, I’d let them know that it’s totally ok if they can’t come. As a healthy person, I might risk it (but that’s just me personally) but the best thing is to talk to your guests and your party and evaluate where everyone is at. Good luck!