October 2020

Luxury shuttle boat at the Four Seasons Bora Bora Resort

12 10 2020

YOUR WEDDING IN BORA BORA (AT A RESORT) : 3 MISTAKES YOU WANT TO AVOID

What first comes to mind when you think of your elopement or destination wedding in Tahiti? A wedding in Bora Bora of course! Why is that so? The United-States chose Bora Bora as a military supply base during WWII, and the small airstrip that was built on the island back then was the only international airport in the Islands of Tahiti for a long time – until the Faa’a International Airport was opened in 1960 on the capital island of Tahiti. With that, Tahiti has become a popular destination, and in recent years, the destination has seen an increasing number of Bora Bora weddings.

Photo Credit : Neubek Photographers

Those of you who have been following me on the Blog for some time know that I am from a hotel background. I went to hotel school at age 14 and studied hotel management, catering, cooking (yeah, if you know me on a personal level you can hardly believe that but yes, I could have become a Chef!), accounting and marketing all the way to a Master’s degree in Hotel Management & Marketing.

While I specialized in hotel management early on in my career, I worked pretty much every hotel & restaurant department including the front desk, reservations, accounting, bar, restaurant service & management and, in the kitchen as well.

I have been in the Islands of Tahiti since 2002 and worked executive positions in a Bora Bora resort (Le Bora Bora), next in a Huahine resort, and eventually life led me to Moorea where I was the General Manager & the Director of Sales & Marketing of a resort for 5 years. That is almost a decade working management positions in Tahiti resorts. I booked a number of destination weddings in Moorea over the years (not so much in Bora Bora as Bora Bora resorts were not as popular for weddings back then, and too expensive to consider bringing family and friends along + there was not such a thing as eloping in Tahiti just yet) so it is safe to say that I know my craft when it comes to booking your wedding at a resort in Tahiti.

From booking on the wrong sites to forgetting to check some vital information, these mistakes could easily make or break your trip. Find out what you must avoid when booking that hotel room in HuffPost “10 Hotel Booking Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making“

Truth be told : the items listed in the above article are super accurate. But how is it any different when you book a resort wedding in Bora Bora, than it is when you book a regular vacation?

It’s been a number of years now that I’ve specialized as an independent Destination Wedding Planner in Tahiti and I’m seeing more and more couples reaching out to me frustrated after they’ve booked, or attempted to book their wedding at a Bora Bora resort only to find out they cannot have the wedding they want.

So here is my take on what I’ve seen being the top 3 frustrations couples shared with me :

Booking Your Wedding at a Bora Bora Resort :
Top 3 Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Are Making

Resorts in Bora Bora are gorgeous. Most of them offer excellent service and are totally great in what they do… but when it comes to planning the wedding of your dreams, not all offer the same level of service so, read on and consider those mistakes others did before you book your wedding at a Bora Bora resort.

Note that ALL quotes below are the exact wording I received from couples :

**Mistake 1 of 3: Assuming 5* Resorts Will Provide Any Wedding Service For You**

I want to get legally married in Bora Bora but the resort said that this is not their area of concern.

When we booked we had hoped that we could get everything done through the Bora Bora resort * wedding co-ordinator. Getting the legal ceremony done possibly in the morning and then having the proper ceremony at the resort in the late afternoon. The hope was that the Bora Bora resort * wedding co-ordinator would help us with the legal side (we see it as a formality in the morning with the real wedding being in the afternoon – ideally we could have done this all at once but it’s not possible as you can’t legally marry at the resort). We’ve now been informed that the Bora Bora resort * is unable to help us with any aspect of the legal wedding arrangements (disappointing for a 5 star resort) so we really need help with this.

The thing is, most resorts in Bora Bora (actually pretty much any Tahiti resort, or any resort around the world) have a great turnover and their so-called “Wedding Coordinators” or “Wedding Planners” do not necessarily have any sort of prior experience in planning weddings, and they’re simply trained to sell whatever services are listed on the wedding menu : ceremony A, B or C, a romantic dinner at the resort’s restaurant, a bed of flowers at turndown service.

So when it comes to the legalities they simply have no clue and will either tell you that it is extremely complicated to discourage you to legally marry in Tahiti (and to get them into doing something they have no experience with) or they will say the service is not available. Disappointing, huh?

That’s why you need me. Trust me on this one, you better not do this with your resort if they don’t know better than you do, as it will indeed feel complicated for everyone involved. Make yourself a favor (and avoid the headache) and either forego the entire legal part, or go with an experienced Legal Wedding Planner instead, so you can be confident that 1. your legal ceremony is happening 2. your wedding certificates will be valid back home.

I’ve planned plenty of legal weddings in Tahiti, in Moorea, in Bora Bora, in Taha’a and in Rangiroa since 2014, and can get you legally married anywhere in French Polynesia given we have enough time to get the paperwork sorted before the deadline of your application’s submission at Day – 45.

**Mistake 2 of 3: Assuming 5* Bora Bora Resorts Will Produce The Wedding Of Your Dreams**

I have been going back and forth with the hotel. Now, they aren’t even allowing us to use the photographer of our choice. I’m outraged and still in the process of trying to work this out with them. I wish I would had known prior to booking with them. This is really ruining our special occasion.

The Bora Bora resort * was absolutely no help and just kept sending generic form letters back to answer my questions. Ultimately they just kicked me over to the concierge since we won’t have any food/guests.

The above were a couple who considered bringing me into their Bora Bora resort to officiate the ceremony they wanted, a personalized, bespoke ceremony that would be true to them. But they weren’t allowed to do so. They weren’t allowed to bring any other wedding vendors of their choice and had to stick with the resort’s wedding menu and contracted vendors. They were left disappointed to say the least, and eventually did not have the wedding ceremony and experience they envisioned.

Most recently, a bride of mine reached out saying the following :

I was excited when I came across your website. We have dreamed of having our wedding in Bora Bora for years. Starting to work with the Bora Bora resort * regarding day of arrangements, we realized we want our own traditions versus the Polynesian traditions. (Absolutely no offense to the Polynesian culture, we are just more of a simple, modern couple.) I connected with how personal you make the ceremony. How very special that would be! […] As of now, we have not been asked once by the hotel about our vision. It has more been a ‘check the box if you want this’ type of scenario. I would appreciate having someone there who can check on things, if need be.

Turned out, initial wedding plans made with the Bora Bora resort * were totally off the couple’s vision and wishes. Wrong style, wrong colors, wrong everything. But how would they know, without asking what the couple wanted? I worked hand-in-hand with the resort’s coordinator, and we adjusted plans to match the couple’s vision perfectly. Hooray!

Photo Credit : Neubek Photographers

Mistake 3 of 3: Not Accounting For The Higher Costs of a Wedding in Bora Bora

Bora Bora is gorgeous, and isolated, too. This one’s not really your fault as this is probably your first time planning a wedding in Bora Bora (and we hope the only time, next time we want to see you renew your vows in Tahiti!) but wedding services come at a cost, anywhere. In Bora Bora wedding services come at an even higher cost because nothing is readily available on the island. Think beautiful flowers are blooming all around? I’m sorry to break the news but this is not the case, and most flowers you’ll want in your bouquet or bouts are imported from New-Zealand to Tahiti, and then they need to be flown to Bora Bora, unless you go the standard, tropical flowers’ route.

On top of that, because we’re talking luxury resorts, big names, there will be a price tag attached to pretty much anything… and most things you would not even think about at the time you book your Bora Bora resort: there’s a cost for holding your ceremony at a specific location in the resort, a cost for spreading flower petals in the sand, a cost for taking you to the ceremony in an outrigger canoe, a cost for adding chairs if you want to seat your witnesses or guests… this adds up quickly so it is important that you review the wedding menu or romantic services list to get an idea of approximate costs you should budget for the wedding day before you book your resort in Bora Bora.

I wrote an article on this very topic that lists how much a wedding should cost in Tahiti when you have the flexibility to choose your vendors.

I was getting very frustrated and disheartened planning our wedding with the big resorts before I found you. You helped us come up with a plan that was best for us in so many ways and I truly appreciate it.

To sum it up, if you are contemplating a wedding in Bora Bora, choose your resort wisely, and better yet: reach out to me first so we can work together on making your Bora Bora wedding exactly the way you want!

Will You Marry In Bora Bora ? Do You Want Me To Write A Personalized Ceremony For Your Wedding or Vow Renewal in Bora Bora? Head To My Bora Bora Wedding Planner Service Packages Here or Contact Me Here!

For more articles like these subscribe to my monthly newsletter HERE (and Get the Free Report to pick the best Wedding Ceremony Location in Tahiti)!

07 10 2020

HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER IN TAHITI VS HAVING A RESORT COORDINATOR : PRO INSIGHTS SERIES

Julie Barnac Blog, Ceremony Planning, Wedding Planning

I addressed that question in the past, and explained what is the difference between working with a professional Tahiti wedding planner and using a resort’s wedding coordinator, and what to consider first when you start to plan a destination wedding in Tahiti. This was the big picture.

Today, I want to dig deeper into that topic:

Why Having A Wedding Planner In Moorea Is Best To Plan A Destination Wedding?

In normal circumstances, when you are this couple who wants a wedding in a destination location but don’t want to make decisions that typically come with planning a destination wedding or an elopement in Moorea – booking what’s often referred to as a “cookie-cutter” wedding with your resort’s tour desk might do just great for you. You simply confirm what package you want, and boom, you’re done. No discussing details, options, preferences, you get standard inclusions as listed on the menu, and just show up on the resort’s beach on the day.

Now think of not-so-normal circumstances (hello 2020!) when – that’s an extreme situation I agree but hell yeah, a worldwide pandemic made it very real for many couples, your resort shuts down and anyone or everyone you’ve talked to during the process is now MIA… not for days, not for weeks, but for months! No one to monitor and answer emails, no one to give you updates on what’s going on. Not their fault of course, some may have sadly been laid off, some others may still be at home unemployed… but the reality is that on the other end of the wire, you’re left on your own, and without a wedding.

This would not happen with a professional, independent wedding planner in Moorea (I’m talking about me, in case you wondered…) who will still be answering emails promptly, and taking actions promptly. Making it happen. Actually, a couple of mine recently included the following statement in their review of their experience marrying in Moorea in September 2020 :

When the pandemic strike and our travel plan became uncertain, Nelly reached out to offer assurance that all the vendors can accommodate a future date if we decide to postpone. We ended up downsizing our wedding to an even more intimate elopement with just us and two guests. Nelly was flexible with our change of plan, helped us with a few last-minute food and decor decisions, and gave us a detailed day-of itinerary. […] Nelly made this distance planning the easiest and most stress-free experience for us, and we’re so glad we found her so that we don’t have to settle for a resort wedding template.

Planning a wedding is challenging enough; planning one in a foreign country pretty much give many people anxiety. I wholeheartedly recommend Nelly to any bride who is considering a destination wedding in French Polynesia. Her service is worth every penny and saves you all the headaches and frustrations that I see from my other friends who planned their own weddings. Our friends and family are in awe of our unique wedding and we couldn’t have done it without Nelly’s help. Thanks Nelly!

Communication is key.

I also rescued two other couples who were let down by their resort(s) and completely at a loss as to what to do, who would not have had a wedding during their trip to Tahiti if we did not connect.

Back to “normal circumstances”, having a wedding planner in Moorea is best to plan a destination wedding (or an elopement) because : communication ! Most often, you will have a feeling of dis-connection with a resort’s wedding coordinator. Emails can go unanswered for days, sometimes weeks (trust me!) which can prove to be very frustrating in the long run.

If you are not yet convinced that hiring a wedding planner in Moorea is best for your sanity, I will now share with you some insights from real wedding pros, on what comes first to mind when they think of why hiring a wedding planner in Tahiti works best than relying on your Tahiti resort’s wedding coordinator.

This is all based on experience in various countries across the world, as this was shared in a group of international wedding planners that I am a part of (the only group member in Tahiti!):

The couple isn’t always guaranteed to have the person they expect and sometimes the venue coordinator isn’t there on the big day at all.

Jasmine

The venue coordinator is only concerned about the venue. They focus on getting u in and out and making u comfortable. They are not truly coordinating anything.

Michelle

I’ve had a couple of onsite coordinators quit their jobs just before the event, so couples would have to start from scratch explaining their visions to the replacement. They’re usually thankful that they hired us.

Tina

They care about the venue. We can about the wedding as a whole.

Danielle

They are comfortable with what they know. Very few look for new and different ways to use the venue. They know what works and very rarely go past that. You typically get the same experience that the bride last weekend got.

Sara

They usually aren’t there from start to finish. The turnover rate is so high!

Covesa

There is often little communication between venue managers about each couple. If one quits, their notes usually go with them, which puts couples at a distinct disadvantage. I don’t think it’s malicious, but I’ve seen it happen on several occasions.

Jessica

The venue is their specialty. Not logistics, vendors, execution, timeline, decorating and packing up, etc. That’s OUR specialty. They are hired by and acting on behalf of the venue whereas we are hired by and acting on behalf of the bride.

Julia

So, bottom line is, the venue coordinator is a representative for the venue. They’re great at staying on top of the staff, the space, etc., and can also help with some of the set-up, but you’re not their only clients for the day. The resort is full of other clients who also require their attention, they may even have several weddings in a single day.

The venue wedding coordinator is your venue contact / go-to person while at the venue but don’t expect him/her to stay by your side from start to finish.

An independent wedding planner in Tahiti will oversee every aspect of your wedding, inside and outside of the venue.

As an independent wedding planner in Moorea, I will act as a liaison between all of your wedding vendors, as well as work with a very detailed timeline for the wedding day that every hired vendor will receive ahead of time from me; everyone will be on the same page and will know what happens and when. Of course, I’ll also coordinate with your resort’s staff as needed.

Working with your resort’s wedding coordinator might work just fine in most cases, if you go with their pre-established wedding packages and don’t differ too much from what they normally do. However, if you don’t want to settle with a cookie-cutter resort package, you might want to consider hiring a wedding planner in Tahiti.

** last updated on October 7, 2020 **

Find other articles in the same series:

Pro Insights Series: Why Should I Hire a Wedding Planner in Moorea?

3 Non-Traditional Wedding Venue Options in Tahiti : Pro Insights Series

Pro Insights Series: Jack (or Jill) of All Trades, Master of None. Stop Calling Yourself a Wedding Planner

Thinking That Hiring a Wedding Planner in Tahiti to Have a Professional Destination Wedding is What You Want? Contact me to get started!

For more articles like these subscribe to my monthly newsletter HERE (and Get the Free Report to pick the best Wedding Ceremony Location in Tahiti)!

01 10 2020

3 NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING VENUE OPTIONS IN TAHITI : PRO INSIGHTS SERIES

Julie Barnac Blog, Wedding Planning

Moorea Resort Destination Wedding | Photo Credit: Helene Havard Photography

You fell in love with Tahiti, and have decided to hold your destination wedding in this magical place. Before you ask your guests to get a passport, you will want to gauge what are the options for a wedding venue in Moorea. Do you want to go the traditional route, and book a resort, or would you rather secure a non-traditional wedding venue instead? Moorea is a small island, and venue options are limited. Extremely limited. Think of it this way: the island has 16,000 inhabitants and the circle island road is 37 miles long, that’s it (60 kilometres). Good news is, you cannot get lost.

French Polynesia is a very safe destination to travel to and amidst a pandemic and travel disruptions around the world (hello 2020), it has remained so by being proactive and innovative in implementing an avant-garde health protocol to protect the local population and its visitors in search of a stay free of Covid-19. Now more than ever, couples are downsizing their weddings, and considering an intimate destination wedding where they can keep it safe while celebrating the special moment with style.

Non-traditional venues in Tahiti vs Tahiti resorts

Now are you hesitating over using a venue that specializes in weddings vs. using a non-traditional venue in Tahiti that needs a complete makeover to make it appropriate for your wedding? Have you even considered using a venue other than a traditional one?

I’ll say this: whether you should book a traditional resort or look for a non-traditional venue to hold your destination wedding in Moorea is dependent upon:

the number of guests you are inviting / expecting to attend
how stylish of a reception you are wanting
how young or old your peeps are (think venue access and available facilities)

Before we dig into the top 3 non-traditional wedding venues in Tahiti, let’s hear firsthand insights from fellow wedding pros around the world on the topic :

Pros of Using a Traditional Wedding Venue (Tahiti Resort)

– They’ll usually save you money on the base services because they offer packages including the venue itself, all tables and chairs, china / glass and silverware, tablecloths, food and beverage packages, and the catering staff.

– You’re dealing with staff that works at the resort, so things are more likely to go smoothly.

[In a wedding venue] it’s often just a case of ticking from a list of options and everything is pulled together for you on the day… Clients choose menu 1, exclusive restaurant, band on the beach, 2 hours open bar and the lounge sofa sets on the terrace. On the day you can pretty much turn up and just check everything is correct to the check list. Sally Sephora from WeddingBox Italy

– It’s designed for wedding guests, which means they’ll be more comfortable, there will be no surprise.

Cons of the Traditional Wedding Venue (Tahiti Resort)

– Lack of personalization. Your wedding guests may feel like they’re attending “just another wedding.”

The cons of using this type of venue is that it can feel “typical” and “done before” which no couple really wants to think about their wedding. Jessica McDaniel from Pocketful of Sunshine Event Design

– It doesn’t give you as much of a unique, personal experience.

– You’ll have to work harder to create that unique decor.

– Every service needed outside of the base package (think of hair stylist, make-up artist, photography, videography, flowers, music etc.) will be marked-up up to twice as much as it would normally cost if you were hiring the vendors yourselves, which adds up quickly to the bill.

– You may not be able to bring in that vendor you love, but rather have to choose among those vendors contracted by the resort.

Pros of Using a Non-Traditional Wedding Venue in Tahiti

Private Family Property | Photo Credit: Nick Radford Photography

– Gives you a more unique wedding theme and style.

[Atypical venues] are great for non-traditional couples that don’t want the same venue everyone else has. Jessica McDaniel from Pocketful of Sunshine Event Design

– You can mix and match vendors and decor to completely match your desires.

– You can hire your own caterer, which is great if you want gourmet or specialized food.

– It has the potential to save money, but usually doesn’t end up that way. (See cons below.)

Cons of the Non-Traditional Wedding Venue in Tahiti

– It often ends up being as expensive as in a resort when you have to plan the wedding with à la carte services.

– It’s often not designed with guests in mind, so you may have more issues with guest comfort and convenience. Example: heels on the lawn, not enough bathrooms, etc.

– You won’t have experienced staff, so make sure you hire a planner.

It’s quite a lot more effort and coordinating but the things you need to be very careful of are the unknowns. Not knowing that if you hire 110 chairs with chair covers, 11 tables and lounge sets with cushions from a hire company that they will simply deliver them in a pile and walk away… ouch! You need a lot more hands on the day because the setting up isn’t done for you. Sally Sephora from WeddingBox Italy

– More details and more time intensive for you to plan.

So, bottom line is, you’ll have a much more unique destination wedding experience in Moorea using a non-traditional venue vs using a wedding venue at a resort, but that’s also a lot more work and logistics to put it all together.

Whatever you choice, we will make sure that your destination wedding in Moorea will be totally unique, and that your guests walk away with amazing memories.

I will either help you to design a resort wedding that is true to you, or to find the “hidden gem”, non-traditional wedding venue in Moorea, one that will work perfectly for you. My full service wedding planning packages can be found here.

Moorea Resort Destination Wedding | Photo Credit: Helene Havard Photography

The key to making this kind of venue decision is to make sure you’re making an apples to apples comparison. Don’t just glance at the price and decide that way. Look at everything you’re getting for that fee and what else you’ll need to bring in to make it a comfortable, usable space. Jessica McDaniel from Pocketful of Sunshine Event Design

3 Non-Traditional Wedding Venues in Moorea

1 of 3 : Airbnb

There are lots of stunning vacation rental villas and homes around Moorea. Ideal you think? Hold on! Not so fast.

This works wonders for very small gatherings and micro weddings (no more than 15-20 people). We can typically set up under cover with that small of a guest count, for a totally stress-free experience. No need to worry about that unexpected tropical rain shower that could potentially ruin your outdoor wedding table design.

A backyard wedding in a vacation rental villa in Moorea queues a few restrictions and considerations though, one of which being that most Airbnbs do not tolerate any sort of event(s) to be held on property. I can help finding the ones that will work for you, again when the guest count is small.

2 of 3 : Lodge Type Accommodation

They’re like small hotels but without a restaurant and hotel staff. Much like Airbnbs listed above, they come with beautiful surroundings and grounds, but service is typically limited to breakfast service, and maid service every x day. That means you’ll be on your own when it comes to setting up, breaking down and everything in between on the wedding day.

Privatizing such a place also means you can have your entire party stay close together at all times, and enjoy quality time with family and friends. Some places can accommodate 30 people in separate, individual bungalows so this is great for a medium-sized destination wedding in Moorea.

Privatizing may only be available during shoulder or low season.

3 of 3 : Private Islet Beach

Feel adventurous? A private islet beach is another non-traditional wedding venue option when your guest count tops 30-35 people max.

This is definitely the most unique, surprising, and fun venue option and will have a wow factor your guests have never experienced before, but it also comes with some drawbacks and is the riskiest. Facilities on a private islet are almost non-existent i.e. bathrooms are very rudimentary, potable water supply is restricted, getting in and out of a boat and walking a few steps in the water might be inconvenient to some etc. but, if you have an easy-going crowd, this may be the perfect non-traditional wedding venue for you in Moorea.

Most importantly, in case of inclement weather (not just a few rain drops, but say a mini tropical storm) it might just be impractical so a back up venue is essential.

I specialize in small and intimate destination weddings in Moorea, and help international couples plan a tropical wedding in Tahiti that combines a personal experience with striking landscapes and untouched beauty.

My mission? Connecting my couples to great vendors & creating unique heartfelt weddings. With style.

All wedding table designs on this page : Weddings in Moorea