There’s something to be said about the turnkey ease of a destination wedding package. Actually, there are a lot of things to be said for it, convenience and affordability not least among them. Now add to that the benefits and opportunities that come with going off-menu for a destination wedding. For that, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts – especially those in Dominican Republic, such as adults-only Iberostar Grand Bavaro and family-friendly Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus – may have the most to speak on.

This resort brand has recently adjusted the package approach to better cater to those couples who want a more out-of-the-box personal experience for their destination wedding. Leaders at the brand shared, "At Iberostar, we firmly believe in hand-crafted customization over package options, by asking you what you want instead of telling you what we have.”

That means every wedding comes with the services of a coordinator called an On-Site Romance Event Planner who will work closely with you and your couples to design a big day that will be uniquely theirs.

The Core of Every Inspiration

However, that’s not to say that the ready-to-weds will be starting from scratch. Every wedding starts with a checklist of necessities. A ceremony location and set-up, for instance, and an officiant for the symbolic ceremony. Recorded music and a microphone for your audio needs, sparkling wine to toast to the happy couple, and a classic white-frosted wedding cake for sure. They also make sure to plan for dinner for up to 12 at an available on-site à la carte restaurant of the group’s choice if a reception is not something the couple feels like they need.

Those are just the event mandatories, though. The resort brand wants to make sure that those celebrating a special day feel special for the length of their stay, which is why they also add on complimentary extra values for them. The wedding couple gets a complimentary upgrade to the next category of room (subject to availability and excluding the Presidential Suite) and late check-out if possible. There will also be special amenities in the room upon arrival and at various point of their stay, offering pleasant surprises. And for all of their guests, a 10% spa discount on services get everyone relaxed and ready to party.

Inspiration Starts Here

The checklist of essentials is a great reassurance that the key components of the main event will be accounted for. However, Iberostar recognizes that having every possibility in the world (or at least in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico!) can be overwhelming. Their answer? A Lookbook of Inspirations as a jump-off point.

This great professional resource is designed to get those creative juices flowing, introducing themes, color schemes, and just general ideas that may strike a chord with the couple. For instance, Ever Green Weddings, listed as “Stunningly Sustainable” – naturally, for a brand whose Wave of Change program is a tremendous push for conservation and eco-friendliness. This design shows people how you can create an elevated look and feel with minimal environmental impact. It’s definitely a great angle to consider, and urging couples to go down this route is a pair of steps forward toward carbon neutral celebrations, which is part of Iberostar’s hopes for future plans. Natural elements, shades of green, and a high level of curation make this theme understatedly classy.

“While weddings are notoriously wasteful, we are on a mission to prove that they don’t have to be,” Iberostar says. Wooden tables with no linens, plated meals instead of buffets, in-season florals and indigenous greenery, and other smart swaps make it so that sumptuous and sustainable need not be mutually exclusive.

Of course, this ethos doesn’t have to limit the couple to a color. The lookbook also offers ideas for multiple color palettes, including a coral and red wine combo with rich boho tones, some extremely bright and vibrant tropical colorways, and of course, classic elegance.

Go with the Pro

Sounds like a lot? Not to worry. Making the push toward unpackaged weddings doesn’t mean the elimination of turnkey solutions.

The On-Site Romance Event Planners at Iberostar assure us, “We realize that sometimes you see something spectacular that you simply must have, exactly as it is. If something in our inspiration collection speaks to you, there's really no reason to [reinvent] the wheel. We've done it before, and we're thrilled to do it again. So, we've made it easier than ever. We've priced these looks, as shown in the Lookbook so you can get an idea of what it costs to pull each one off for your size party."

So mix, match, or make it wholly your own – regardless, inclusive and imaginative Iberostar will have any couple covered.