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Weddings & Honeymoons wedding coordinators
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Daniela Castilo, Portugal
Daniela says job satisfaction is a
major part of the appeal in her
work. She has more than 100 5
Michelle-Ann Ghiwaroo, St Lucia
Michelle-Ann has worked as a
wedding planner at the Sandals
Regency Golf & Spa in St Lucia
weddings under her belt since she started for just four months. She’s had a crash
working at the Sheraton Algarve Pine course in wedding planning and now
Cliffs Resort in 2007. But the biggest one averages 20-30 weddings a month.
she has worked on was the final wedding Michelle-Ann says: “I’m really excited
2 of the season last year, when the couple about our new partnership with Martha
paid for the accommodation and Stewart, who has designed five wedding
transportation of 300 guests. packages for Sandals and Beaches. One of
Daniela says: “It was a beautiful the finishing touches is a candy buffet!
ceremony overlooking the sea. It was a The packages are on sale now for 2010.”
real test for the resort service staff, and The job has its pressures because
we also arranged fireworks, belly dancers there’s no time to practice, she adds, but
and live music for the final touches. the rewards are enormous: “When clients
“It was a fascinating wedding and the look so happy, well that just brings
guests were delighted. The bride and tremendous joy to my heart.” sandals.com
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groom are coming back to celebrate their
first anniversary.” pinecliffs.com
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Laura Kuriplachova, Cyprus
Laura makes dreams come true 6
Maina Marie, Seychelles
For Maina at Banyan Tree
Seychelles, the best part
about planning weddings is
for more than 160 brides a year working with different nationalities and
at the Palm Beach Hotel & personalities. She has helped about 160
Bungalows in Cyprus. Her tip for wedding couples have their dream day at the
planners is to invest in a good waterproof luxury Indian Ocean property.
mascara: “During a ceremony this spring, Maina says her most memorable wed-
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the groom became tearful, the bride fol- ding was the first one she had to organise
lowed, the registrar succumbed and then on a catamaran. “It was a big challenge to
my eyes were welling up too. I realised make sure the event went off smoothly,
the whole congregation was in tears; we because once we were on the boat, there
were all crying and laughing at once! That was no option for errors,” she says.
was certainly the most emotional and “The wedding was a great success and
memorable service I have witnessed.” the couple had their perfect day in the
Whether the bride and groom are ideal setting, with a beautiful sunset for
celebrating alone on the beach or with their photos.” banyantree.com
200 guests in the open-air restaurant,
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Laura says: “You start to feel like you’re a
fairy godmother, a cupid with a mission
of happiness.” palmbeachhotel.com
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Ann Jackson, Barbados
Ann’s claim to fame is organising
Peter and Bella Stringfellow’s
wedding at the Almond Beach
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Lorena Fabela, Mexico Village in Barbados. She’s worked there
Lorena recently organised a for 17 years and sees up to 350 brides a
celebrity wedding in her role year, but the Stringfellows have proved
as PR and romance coordinator the most memorable couple.
at the exclusive Las Ventanas al Paraiso “It was great to have the budget and
resort in Mexico. She says: “Everyone was creative freedom to organise a spectacular
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asked to wear white, so visually it was event,” says Ann. “The ceremony took
stunning. They danced on the beach place in our sugar mill which was decked
under star-studded skies until the early out with cascading tropical flowers.”
hours of the morning.” Ann says the media presence added
Lorena loves working to personalise to the pressure. “I wanted to make sure
romantic experiences such as marriage everything was perfect; my reputation
proposals. “I can help execute a completely was at stake. Luckily, the Stringfellows
romantic weekend with spa treatments, were lovely and easygoing, which made
dinner for two on the sand and a suite my job much easier.” almondresorts.com
decorated with candles and rose petals,”
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she says. “It’s something a couple will Check out more planners at ttglive.com/
remember for ever.” lasventanas.com ttgknowledge/weddingplanners
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TTG Knowledge – September 2009
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