Walk Down the Aisle in Paradise: Jamaica's Destination Wedding Show Offers New York Brides Advice, Style and a Taste of the Island

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jamaica Tourist Board has partnered with The Wedding Salon, the premiere luxury bridal showcase in America, to host the island's first-ever Jamaica Destination Wedding Showcase in New York City. This special evening affair will be held on Wednesday, March 6, from 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m., at the Manhattan Penthouse located at 80 Fifth Avenue.

The Jamaica Destination Wedding Showcase is designed to show brides-to-be and engaged couples what they can expect when choosing Jamaica as the location for their "big day" or as the ultimate romantic honeymoon destination.

According to The Knot's 2012 Market Intelligence Destination Weddings study, "350,000 destination weddings take place annually, representing 24 percent of all weddings."

"Couples today want a unique and memorable experience for their wedding and Jamaica has an endless array of options for couples to choose from," said Tatiana Byron, CEO & Founder of The Wedding Salon. "From casual ceremonies on some of the world's most celebrated beaches to formal affairs in luxurious resorts combined with its generous and soulful people, the island is the perfect place to celebrate a couple's love."

A destination wedding in Jamaica offers something for every bride and groom as it is home to a range of venue options at a variety of price points. 

Brides Magazine study, revealed that the average cost of a destination wedding was $23,800; $3,000 less than non-destination weddings at $26,989.

Held in New York City, where the average wedding cost is $65,824, the showcase will provide brides with the opportunity to meet with representatives from across the island for one-on-one wedding planning consultations. Brides will enjoy hair and makeup sessions along with a fabulous lash bar with renowned celebrity artist, Sonia Rodriguez. Sonia has worked with some of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood including Bethenny Frankel and Cynthia Nixon. Additionally, colorful Jamaican cocktails will be presented by Seagrams Escapes and guests will have the opportunity to enter two honeymoon giveaways from two of Jamaica's premiere resorts, the Grand Palladium Resort & Spa and Sunset Resorts Jamaica.

Brides will also be presented with a collection of wedding checklist items, including designer gown fashions for on-and-off the beach, floral displays from simple to extravagant and wedding cakes tastings along with other desserts.

Along with the Jamaica Tourist Board, other participants include, Grand Palladium Resort & Spa, Half Moon, A Rock Resort, Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Montego Bay, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Jewel Resorts, Montego Bay Convention Centre, The Tryall Club, Sunset Resorts Jamaica and Tai Flora Services Ltd, Jamaica's largest floral provider and vendor for many of the major resort hotels and venues.

"Jamaica's destination wedding and honeymoon offerings continue to grow," said John Lynch, Jamaica's Director of Tourism. "In 2011, Jamaica hosted over twenty thousand weddings with a half of that number taking place in hotels. We credit this growth to the ease and convenience with which people can get married on island. This hassle-free wedding approach coupled with the island's beauty, topography, range of attractions, and vibrant culture, has served couples and their guests well, making for memorable weddings in Jamaica."

The island has earned numerous awards as a premier weddings and honeymoon destination with the most recent recognition being the World's Most Romantic Destination by the World Travel Awards (WTA).

Tickets to the event are complimentary. For more information, visit www.JamaicaWeddingShowcase.com. To plan a wedding in Jamaica, visit the Jamaica Tourist Board's website at www.visitjamaica.com.

Contact:
Michelle Horn/ Jordanne Hunter
Finn Partners
212-715-1600
[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE The Jamaica Tourist Board