At TravelAge West we always strive for first-hand
reporting, and this issue’s cover story delivers that and then
some. The story, “Destination Weddings” (page 20), was written in
part by TAW Associate Editor Janeen Christoff and Assistant Editor
Jamie Wetherbe, both of whom are engaged to be married next year.
Obviously these two were a perfect fit for the assignment and they
learned a few things in the process.
“A destination wedding can help couples avoid some stress,
especially with a wedding planner or coordinator included in a
package,” Christoff said. “But it can be hard to articulate
specific details in an e-mail or over the phone. Agents should make
sure that couples booking a destination wedding can handle not
having total control over things.”
Wetherbe is having a destination wedding herself, at her
mother’s home in New Mexico, while she and her fiance live in
L.A.
“I’ve never wanted my wedding to be a large production,” she
said, “and the way we’re having it now, we get to spend more time
with the people who are able to come. Most of them will make a
mini-vacation out of it, so they’ll be in town a few days.”
According to industry figures, the destination wedding market
has grown 200 percent in the last decade, with average commissions
running well into the thousands. So we think you’ll benefit from
this article, too.
Finally, you may have noticed a new icon on this page (below) in
honor of the magazine’s recent run of publishing honors, including
two Maggie Awards from the Western Publishing Association, and a
national Silver medal from the American Society of Business
Publications Editors (see page 8). We were also selected in the Top
25 trade publications in the world (single issue) by the Trade,
Association and Business Publications International
organization.
Congratulations are due to the great staff of writers, editors
and designers I have the honor of working with, and also thank you
for your loyal readership. K.S.
