Westworld Alberta

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A 21 In the end, relaxing and going with the flow paid off for the Storbakkens. The special treatment their party received was more than Josie had expected. Fruit baskets, champagne, small gifts and thoughtful notes seemed to appear in the couple's suite every time they entered. "We felt like royalty," she says. "Everyone knew that we were getting married, and every time the staff would pass, they'd say congratulations." e experience left lasting memories of time spent with loved ones. "Not only was it our wedding, but we got to experience going on a vaca- tion with everyone. It was really surreal to wake up in the morning and go get breakfast and see all of our best friends and family there," says Josie. Looking back, she says she knows getting married in Mexico was the right choice, especially when she compares the wedding with a reception and dance the couple later held back home in Killam. "When we were doing the dance in Killam, it was about organizing and getting everything in order, whereas in Mexico, I didn't have to worry about a thing; everything was already looked after. We had more time to think about why we were getting married and focus on why we were there," she says. "It was a lot less stressful and much more meaningful." Destination Weddings Made Easy with AMA A ceremony, a reception, a honeymoon and a holiday for guests all in one – what's not to love about a destina- tion wedding? But there's another reason to get married abroad, says AMA destination wedding spe- cialist Laurie Matheson: the ease factor. And with AMA's wedding specialists on your team, you can make it go even more smoothly in a few essential areas: Remote coordination: Working with the onsite wedding planner, AMA wedding specialists can take care of everything from transportation and decor to the cake, flowers, menus and music. Depending on your comfort level, you can arrive on the scene with your entire wedding planned for you, turnkey-style. Paperwork: Some wedding destinations simply require birth certificates, passports and proof of single status. Others have more involved legal requirements. Picking the right resort for your budget: AMA special- ists work within your budget to find the perfect location and wedding package. They'll also help you get everything booked as early as possible (usually early spring for a winter wedding). Even large all-inclusive resorts only do one or two weddings per day – so you don't want to wait too long, or you could be out of luck. Group activities: Once you have your venue nailed down, AMA specialists can help with booking city tours, sailing trips, diving excur- sions, surfing lessons and the like, securing group dis- counts where available. "We're here to guide couples through the minefield of things to do when planning a destination wedding." – AMA wedding specialist Cristina Fedor Let AMA's wedding spe- cialists sweat the small stuff for you. We offer exclusive destination wedding packages you won't find anywhere else. 1-866-989-8435; ama.ab.ca/Travel iPad readers: Download the issue for the story of Melissa and Brad Dempster's wedding in Punta Cana.

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