As Patrick and Grisel were saying “I do” against the backdrop of the stunning beaches of Roatán, 87 guests were witnessing one of the most important days in the couple’s lives. Twelve of them were physically present with them on the island, and 75 of them were watching the wedding unfold over Zoom. As the couple walked down the aisle, a round of cheers and applause could be heard from the computer through which the guests were tuning in to watch their friends tie the knot. These are destination weddings in the new normal. 

After ten years of being a couple, Patrick and Grisel decided to take their relationship to the next level. Patrick, from Michigan, and Grisel, a beauty from central Honduras, naturally gravitated towards our lovely island for their big day. COVID-19 though made their initial plan for their dream wedding go awry. The couple had to surmount several barriers to be able to share this special moment with their closest ones. With travel restrictions everywhere for flights and cruise ships, they were in a tricky situation, considering that their friends and family were split between Honduras and the USA. How can you bring your loved ones together under such circumstances? Enter Zoom weddings. 

Given that several guests would not be able to travel due to restrictions or were scared to do so with the virus still rampant, holding a Zoom call with them could help cut through the distance and bring everyone closer for such a special moment. The couple then decided to host their wedding with us at the Meridian, one of our most popular wedding venues. The Meridian has some of the most beautiful views on the island and different settings, perfect for photo sessions. The couple chose for their decoration of beautiful ocean blue and white, for a clean and fresh feel for their wedding. 

For the ceremony, the Patric and Grisel were able to travel with some of their closest ones to our island. 75 of their friends who could not travel connected on a Zoom call with them to watch the event and cheer them on. In these moments where we are physically distanced, tools like these can make a big difference so you can feel your friends and family with you despite the distance. Through this, guests were able to watch the whole wedding, congratulate the couple and have digital drinks to celebrate. As Grisel sang a song for Patrick on that afternoon on the 5th of October, their friends felt extremely grateful to have been with the couple during this exciting moment. 

In terms of COVID-19 prevention, our staff at Roatán Events made sure that biosecurity measures were followed at all times. They wore masks themselves and also provided them along with hand sanitizer for guests where necessary. When the ceremony began, the guests were able to tune in digitally to watch the ceremony. This was a huge moment for the couple because they were able to share their happiness with all their loved ones despite the challenges created by COVID-19.

Uncertain times like these may compromise some of your plans, but they shouldn’t destroy your dream wedding or fully prevent your loved ones from being with you, at least digitally, during such an important day. For this reason and in line with our commitment to making your dream wedding come true, we have begun offering this new service for destination wedding couples who have guests that cannot travel to our island. In this way, no one is excluded from sharing the couple’s happiness. If you’re planning a destination wedding now but are worried that not all your guests can make it, this is a great alternative to have them by your side. As usual, we take care of all necessary logistics for you, so you can actually enjoy your wedding day. Let us know when you request your quote or as soon as you’re contacted by your wedding planner if you’re interested in this service. Be like Grisel & Patrick and don’t let COVID-19 mess with your destination wedding!