I’m Aleksandra and I’m your lead planner and CEO at Direction Events. I have 10+ years currently in the wedding and hospitality industry, I help soulmate-level couples plan their dream weddings in Stunning Grand Cayman
LET'S CONNECT!
As a newly engaged couple entering the world of wedding planning dreams, all you can think about is creating an unforgettable experience that will be easy, smooth, and seamless throughout the whole process.
In our opinion, that is exactly how it should be.
Sadly though, as beautiful as that sounds, planning a wedding isn't always smooth sailing. If you are planning a destination wedding and handling all the details yourself (or even with an 'average' wedding planner), things often don’t go as planned.
(Why you want to hire a "luxury planner versus an average planner" is a whole other conversation worth reading about!)
The path to saying "I do" can be an intense and complex process filled with nerve-wracking logistical challenges and countless options of (mediocre, non-responsive) suppliers, venues, and designers that can feel like an enormous amount of pressure to plan and manage.
The intensity of these decisions and tasks can make a couple feel like it's more of a job than a celebration, and that is the absolute last thing anyone wants. The reality, at the end of the day - no need to sugarcoat it - is that if you want a seamless, spectacular, unforgettable (for positive reasons) experience, hiring a wedding planner for your destination wedding (or any wedding) is a MUST!
A luxury destination wedding planner emerges as a guiding force, a creative visionary, a logistical guru, and an expert in taking away the drama and bullshit, all rolled into one, prepared to bringing your "impossible" ideas to life (for us, there is no such thing as impossible, sometimes we just need to change the narrative).
The gift of PRESENCE
When the idea of organizing your own wedding first pops into your mind, you probably think, "How hard can this be?"
If you haven't done it before, that is the natural thought to have.
Unfortunately, for many, weddings are much more than booking the basics, finding the right theme and design, and thinking everything is covered. Thousands of little things go into the perfect wedding celebration, some of which you would never even know about, even if you have attended hundreds of weddings. This task list can become overwhelming whether it's your first or four hundredth time planning a wedding.
This is where having a wedding planner to guide you through the process and manage all the details can be incredible valuable. You don't want to be so wrapped up in the lists and the "what ifs" and "maybes" that you lose your presence; presence is everything in this special moment.
Letting a planner handle all the tiny details - at the very least on the day of, will take care of things like tipsy guests, stained clothes, missing items, and last-minute changes to make the day run seamlessly.
This will allow you to be fully present and grasp every moment, enjoy all the smiles, feel all the emotions without interruptions or distractions. You will be safe and free from worry; your planner will take care of the countless little things that pop up. You won't have to think about anything or know about any issues arising along the way. All you need to do is be present, get your dance shoes on and be MARRIED!
The beauty of having someone to support you is that they take these endless hours off your plate, giving you your time back with much less stress and run around hoping you didn't miss anything.
The whole point of hiring a team of professionals is to take over all those time-consuming tasks, not the fun parts.
As a luxury planner, we aim to make this experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. You do not need to focus on logistics – your hands are already full enough. We want you to remember your planning journey and your special days with beautiful thoughts, thinking it was effortless and enjoyable – something you would gladly do again, not feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Trust us, dealing with local vendors can do that to you sometimes, but we can manage that for you.
Say bye, bye to STRESS
Did you know that, on average, planning a single wedding day takes 500+ hours
(if done right) to ensure everything goes smoothly?
At least for a planner like us, this is the bare minimum, one of the many things "that makes us different."
Imagine having to dedicate a minimum of 500 hours (realistically more if you don’t know what you are doing) to planning your wedding when you could enjoy being engaged and preparing for everything to come next.
TIME IS YOUR FRIEND, Not Your Enemy
Time can feel like your best friend and your biggest enemy when planning your wedding (destination or not). One of the most significant benefits of hiring a planner to support you in this journey is buying time. Time to devote to your work, social commitments, day-to-day life, let alone your exciting bridal showers, bachelor parties, celebratory drinks, and so much more... all while not worrying about finding time to actually make a wedding happen.
This is not a time to be stressed out or overwhelmed, but rather a time to be excited about everything that is happening and all that is soon to come.
Choosing to have a planner means you will experience the process in the best way possible and be physically and mentally fresh and prepared for all the excitement to come.
This also means real connection moments, time to greet and connect with your guests and loved ones from the moment it all begins to the moment it ends.
And time and space to do something we often forget about in all the hustle: spend time with your new spouse, your best friend, your ride-or-die, because yes, this is why you are getting married in the first place.
We will do the planning, chasing, logistics, clean the messes, return the rentals, crunch the numbers, and ensure vendors are paid. You soak in the sun, reminisce about all the good times from the celebration, and enjoy being engaged, married and all the fun things that come with it!
SAVE DOLLARS
When hiring a planner, people often think about the money it costs to hire the support and how maybe they feel they can't fit it into their budget. But what people don't realize is that experts in the field and the location know all the tips and tricks to help you make the best financial decisions and find ways to SAVE YOU MONEY.
Our job (if we are doing it right) is to help you stay within your budget (or under it) and save money wherever possible. While you might find wedding planners who are all about their own upsells and cuts, but this is not something we do. We are not here to make money off your money. We charge accordingly for our services and then do everything in our power to be your biggest support, and that includes financially.
Many believe that services of our caliber require you to break the bank, but the truth is that hiring a planner (the right one!) is practically free. We will save you more money than it costs to hire us, which is a guarantee.
This doesn't even include the numerous hours and time saved (time is money) through our expertise, our local connections, our support, and the many money-saving ideas; that is just in actual savings alone.
MORE GAIN for your dollar
A detailed and well-structured budget that includes ALL expenses is essential to avoid any unexpected break-the-bank dramas during the planning process.
As planners with extensive experience, we have top-notch skills to help you analyze your budget, advise you on which aspects you can go lower or higher, and ensure you aren't missing anything
(it is very easy to oversee so many little details that really add up). We consider many aspects that most people wouldn’t even notice.
With strategic and big-picture budgeting, you won't necessarily have to sacrifice your unique ideas to book the fabulous venue you love so much; we have ideas, and ways to create and manage everything, sometimes, you just need to think outside the box
(or have someone do it for you).
Excellent negotiation skills are also a game-changer in this space, we pride ourselves on knowing affordable alternatives, areas worth investing in, and tips and tricks to relocate things around and make space for more.
We are fearless in handling the tough negotiations and crafty solutions needed to execute your vision perfectly.
KNOWLEDGE and TRUST
Finding a planner with the proper background and knowledge about the island, vendors, and venues is integral to the process. Experienced local planners have done this a million times and have all the information, starting from the weather forecast (and what it really means) up to the knowledge of every establishment and vendor throughout the Caribbean (and beyond), as well as understanding the entire planning process and everything between.
This makes a HUGE difference when organizing a destination wedding.
Choosing a luxury destination planner is not only about the wealth of knowledge and all the inside details, though; it is also about trust. Find a wedding planner you feel you can trust and truly devote the most crucial event of your life to is a very key element in the process. Their knowledge, expertise, and personal style must resonate with you in order to take you where you need to be in a safe and trusting manner.
Ask the questions, make sure they have the knowledge, and make sure you feel like you get each other. This should be a beautiful journey where trust and experience guide you in the right direction!
Personal CHEERLEADER
We could say many fancy words here, but at the end of the day, we are your personal cheerleader and your mediator.
We take on all the stuff that you need us to, and that includes:
Ensuring you get the best prices and fighting for them when you are not. Making sure you are well taken care of and complaining on your behalf, if necessary. Making sure you are getting the upgrades and the personal touches you deserve and making them happen. If someone is unhappy (whether personally or professionally), we handle it.
The list goes on (because in weddings, there are always many things to mediate)...
We are your bodyguard, your best friend, your negotiator, and your personal cheerleader (till death do us part)!
The master of TIMELINES
When it comes to wedding planning, a smooth planning and execution is all about perfectly mastered timelines.
We are very proud to say that we are admired for our (some may even say, our over-the-top) timelines. We develop highly detailed schedules to ensure that not a single detail is missed; whether it’s covering the wedding's logistical aspects or your personal preferences, we have it ALL covered.
This is one of the most significant contributions to a seamless and stress-free event for EVERYONE. Having all the information about when, where, and how everything will go gives you the time and space to feel at ease.
These perfectly organized lists don't just happen for the couple or the primary wedding day; they are created for every vendor, moment, experience, and onward, as every single aspect of your experience is curated to PERFECTION!
It's a PARTNERSHIP
When working with the right planner, you get so much more than just support and guidance. You collaborate with creative designers who help you have not only a beautiful wedding but also a unique and personal experience based on your individual vision and personality.
We have your back in all your moments (decisive or not) and help guide you in the direction that feels true to you.
We work independently and with you to create memorable and magical wedding experiences that only come once in a blue moon.
Our extensive experience and knowledge as planners in the industry make us true masters in seeing the big picture, never letting even a single little detail pass by (unless you want it to, of course), those small things are the ones that will make the wedding unforgettable and we see them and address them all.
You can be completely at ease knowing the most important event of your life will be stress-free, drama-free, and a stunning showpiece for the history books as we have got your back and are your partners in making it all happen!
TRUE or FALSE
Destination weddings are not just a one day or one night show, especially if you have opted for the whole experience (which, why wouldn't you?).
It will be a multi-day wedding experience that includes all the logistics that go with it. If you are trying to manage all the complexity of the whole organizational process and wondering if you need support, here are our thoughts:
Multi-day events give you the space and time to connect with your guests.
Your goal is to savor moments and connections rather than become distracted by all the others things you "need" to do.
Your guests have traveled a long distance to be with you, so it's essential to create special memories with them and show them how much you appreciate and love them.
The wedding day is an emotional rollercoaster, and many couples find it difficult to remember all the moments.
Having multiple days to go through the process allows you to remember and experience the moment more authentically and vividly.
With a wedding planner, there’s less pressure on the big day, giving you more time to focus on yourself, your partner, and the fact that you're getting married.
Having the support allows you and your guests to experience various destination offerings.
Multi-day events lead to a unique multi-dimensional experience that will be remembered for years to come..
We can help you have all of the above and SO MUCH MORE!!
So the real question is, why wouldn't you hire a planner to support you?
Reasons not to hire a wedding planner: NONE
Throw away the papers full of to-do lists, delete all the checkup records and timeline drafts, ditch the hundreds of vendor and venue emails and meetings, and say "hello" with open arms to support that will save you time, money, stress, and
SO much more.
As you can see, the price you pay for a luxury wedding planner is worth so much more than the dollars you will save; it is EVERYTHING and will create nothing short of the experience of a lifetime!
Are you still deciding on your destination?
Learn more about
"Weddings in the Cayman Islands"
and why this may be the perfect fit for you!