WEDDING TOURISM AND THE BILLION POUND / DOLLAR INDUSTRY. ALIYYAH ENIATH AWARD WINNING EDITOR: CARIBBEAN BELLE WEDDINGS

WEDDING TOURISM AND THE BILLION POUND / DOLLAR INDUSTRY

SPEAKING WITH ALIYYAH ENIATH AWARD WINNING EDITOR:

CARIBBEAN BELLE WEDDINGS:

Aliyyah thank you today for taking of your crazy busy schedule to chat with me.

PJ:  In the last decade you have been a founding member of a highly placed publishing company operating titles and products throughout all sectors of Caribbean society, from education to fashion and even sport. You have raised one of the proudest and widest read high-end lifestyle and fashion titles in the Caribbean, Caribbean BELLE which is also distributed through North America via Barnes & Noble Online. However, one of the fastest rising titles in your cannon of magazines is (Caribbean) BELLE Weddings.

As Editor of BELLE Weddings you are supremely well placed to express your thoughts on the vast and rapidly growing multi-million pound industry of wedding tourism. Can you explain further BELLE Weddings’ obvious relationship within this industry and moreover its connections with the desirable and romantic variety of island wedding destinations?

Aliyyah: Caribbean BELLE WEDDINGS is our most successful magazine title to date, and this reflects what’s happening on a global scale – people are looking for more surprising, relaxing and fun-filled ways to get married. Our magazine is the Bible for getting married in the Caribbean.

We feature the most stunning and idyllic weddings and locations across the Caribbean.  Our real weddings highlight vendors used to create the special day pictured --- so that interested couples can access reliable information, and duplicate any of the weddings shown or plan one from scratch.

Belle Weddings has won numerous Gold and Silver awards from the Caribbean Advertising Federation for excellence in magazine design. Most recently, we’ve signed Martha Stewart, through a partnership with The New York Times, as an esteemed columnist for the magazine.

PJ: CBW is based in Trinidad and Tobago and as explained plays part throughout the Caribbean region in the wedding tourism industry but closer to home how does CBW interact with the talents to be found in Trinidad and Tobago?

Aliyyah: We use the most amazing talent found in the region to capture the imagery we need. Photography in Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean, has come a long way in the last decade. The creativity and artistry is phenomenal, attracting interest from across the globe. Many regional fashion designers and those in the regional beauty industry are often featured. Caribbean people are doing great things in the wedding industry internationally … and we love to highlight this. For instance, Preston Bailey, wedding decor guru to the stars (think Martha Stewart, Oprah, Donald Trump), is originally from Panama. Some of the Belle Weddings team recently enrolled in his protégé study to see what’s behind his stunning design and will be presenting him in an upcoming issue.

PJ: How does CBW draw wedding design talent to showcase and offer to Brides abroad?

Aliyyah: We believe that a picture tells a thousand words. We feature the various aspects of real weddings; these pictorials are supplied by an array of wonderful photographers in the region, who have chosen to work with us. We analyse each wedding in terms of event locations, planners, decorators, florists, entertainment, chefs etc. – in the hope that future brides can access and use credible information when planning a wedding in the region.

Those interested in having a magazine style wedding on the beach or at a resort can also contact the Belle Weddings teams directly –- due to the number of queries we receive each year, we’ve recently employed a planner to assist foreigners with planning their wedding. Our industry connections make this an easy process.

PJ: What range of advertisers does CBW attract?

Aliyyah: We carry international beauty and household brands including Revlon, Pantene, Always, Cif etc. We also carry hotel chains such as the Magdalena Grand, Hyatt Regency etc.; regional and industry related ads; as well as ads for regional and luxury stores and boutiques among others.

PJ: The wedding tourism industry is worldwide but from the brides and reader’s feedback what is it about the region in particular that draws so many brides and grooms to be married in the Caribbean?

Aliyyah: There’s a beauty about the ocean and nature that is a natural and irresistible draw – think hills, clean air, warm waters, sparkling sand, arching palms – it’s the escape from the dreariness of duty and routine into a place of ease and comfort.

Destination couples make their wedding into a wondrous vacation for themselves and all their guests. They plan pre and post wedding activities and excursions (hikes, eco-adventures, spa trips etc.) for their bridal party and guests. They keep their nuptials small and intimate, and have the best time!

Couples in the Caribbean Diaspora are also planning their weddings in the region, and are interested in introducing their foreign friends to the culture of the islands (pulsing reggae, Carnival, art, food etc.). 

PJ: Wedding tourism has to cater for a wide range of familial concerns and needs. Can you give examples of services provided to wedding party members other than the happy couple?

Aliyyah: Different resorts have different holiday and accommodation options – the couple sometimes pay the bill for guests, or a fraction thereof; or, the guests may pay their own way. Resorts such as Sandals cater for children with entertainment rooms and babysitting services etc.

PJ: Have you noticed what are the most popular seasons for weddings in the Caribbean for both locals and tourism? Do most couples from abroad tend to use the occasion to escape harsh winters in northern countries?

Aliyyah: From what I’ve observed, the peak season is May to September. The month of December is also popular. Photographers also price their services higher during these times.

PJ: If brides select a local designer for their special dress how would that procedure of fittings and re-fittings work on a tight timeframe? Has this yet been the case?

Aliyyah: We have some excellent new and emerging designers in Trinidad and Tobago, whose work we’ve featured recently in the magazine’s fashion editorial – designer Charu Lochan Dass’s first bridal gown graced our cover and the designer has showed at New York Fashion Week this year (charulochandass.com). Designer, Noor (www.nooragha.com), will share for the first time, her wedding collection in our upcoming issue. A wedding dress usually requires a fitting at least a few weeks before the design is ready, but these designers are flexible and genius at what they so… brides should contact them for details. Most internationally acclaimed designers also design fabulous “resort” collections suited to marrying in the Caribbean.

PJ: In closing what growth do you see in the region for wedding tourism and likewise for CBW inclusion is the process?

Aliyyah: Belle Weddings magazine is committed to showing couples why they should marry in the Caribbean and helping along that process. While some countries have seen a decline in visitors to their shores, others have seen increases. More and more, tourists want value for money, and the region is answering to that call with specials and bundles. Marrying in the Caribbean is a great way to make a dream come true – couple can have their wedding and honeymoon in the same place --- have their cake and eat it too!

Aliyyah Eniath is the Editor of Gold ADDY Award Winning BELLE Weddings & Caribbean BELLE Magazine, Safari Publishing Ltd. Her first international novel ‘The Yard’ is pending release and adaptation to international film. www.caribbeanbelle.com

PETER JARRETTE IS AN ARTIST AND INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR OF SEVERAL FICTION, NON-FICTION AND MEMOIR ADULT TITLES AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS. HE IS A COLUMNIST AND CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER.