paradise Deana Lancaster News Reporter dlancaster@nsnews.com YOUR future hus- band’s nearly-blind Great-Aunt Gertrude is insisting she'll bake the cake; the maid-of- honour is complaining loudly about the dress she’s being forced to _. wear; and your mother * is driving you crazy. Any couple floundering through the financial, organi- zational and pulitical process we call “wedding planning” _ “has likely fantasized about holding a simpler.version of the nuptials in a tropical loca- * tion. ::) Such a plan has the added *. bonus of the newly-married couple being at their honey- moon _- destination the moment che ceremony is fin- ished: ° _ But getting away doesn’t necessarily mean everything ‘will go smoothly, | . Richard and Traci Abbott, a Powell River couple, chose ‘Y. a restaurant patio with a view “of. the Land’s End. arch in Cabo San Lucas as the loca- ‘tion for their January 1997 wedding. It had all that they were looking for: deep blue ocean, warm winds, white “sand; plus Cabo’s . smiling _ faces and tourist-friendly rep- * utation were a great draw. ~ Bat it took time for them to figure out how to do it. ‘SI took a long time for us to find information on the / Internet. Finally we found. a ‘hotel and called them and they put us in.teuch with a lady who organizes weddings down there,” said- Traci - “Abbott. ae There was a lot they did- “n't know. To get married in -” Mexico, 2-bride and groom ““'must fil in paperwork and “have tourist cards, passports -and-driver’s licences handy. They have to get blood tests easy without the help of their wedding coordinator they'd have been ijost. And they knew chat they couid offer. help and guidance to other Canadian couples — who wished to get married in Cabo San Lucas. Their company, Land's End Weddings, was born. “I guess the biggest thing about trying to de it on your own is that if you dun’t speak the language you can get the runaround,” said Traci. The Abbows have a part- ner in Cabo who meets the couple when they arrive, dis- cusses the arrangements, shows them around and is available for any — trou- bleshooting that needs to be done. The arrangements are done ahead of time and can include everything from the ceremony with video, pho- tography, and flowers to reception arrangements with food, cake and more. The Abbotts have used several different locations in Cabo San Lucas for weddings they’ve arranged, including the beach, different hotels and restaurants, even on a olf course. Their services ave become so popular that they’ve now expanded their services to include other pop- ular vacation spots in Mexico including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatian, Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel and Ixtapa. Prices start from $1; For the frue romantic at heart. t honeymoon an affair to remember with an altindueve seven night package to Club Med -Huatulco. 49.00 pr. You can either relax and enjoy the sun end sand or choose from one of their many adiivities for the more octive sunssekersi All aboard! Witness the magic of the Caribbean on “The Ceniury” one of Celebrity Cruise Lines exotic ships. Prices start from $2,399.00 pp. - Experience the wonders of the LAND’S End Weddings can take care of all the arrangements for a tropical wedding in Mexi Sunday, Jainuary 23, 2000 — North Shore News - 25 i . " = iike the photos for this Richmond coupe, taken at Da Giorgio’s in Cabo San Lucas. They customize their ser- vices to suit the budget of the bridal couple — weddings they have organized so far have ranged from as litte as $706 to $3,000. Travel and accommoda- tion plans should be handled by the couple. Although they live in Powell River, the use of the Internet, e-mail and _ tele- phone makes it casy for them to work with clients from all over the province, and even a few from other parts of the world. They’ve arranged weddings for a couple from Japan and another from California. . To find out more about Land’s End Weddings, check out the Web site at ; or call Richard and Traci at (604) 485-5889. Stay for 3 nights or longer at a Sandals or Beaches in Jamaica and your first night is COMPLIMENTARY. photo Land’s End Weddings ico, or just details, Call one of Sears Travel’s Honeymoon Specialists t _ find out about our upcoming Sandals Night! — : Mayan Riviera, with its white sandy beaches and sapphire done and bave ia witnesses blue seas. Prices start form $3,699.00 pp. All inclusive. The Abbotts had co rent a” experts Flight Centre. “-¢ar-and drive themselves wo on eee your qoaks came true, around to take care of details - and scout out their location. jOarde Reyel Mell Neri: 1305 Lonsdale Ave., The ceremony, conducted West Veacouver Werth Vancouver 913-1646 986-5855 by a judge, is in Spanish with na Engli ‘wranslator on . ne . fhe ebay rar Set a hand. The” marriage certifi- . & SEARS BS CH WE GIVE YOU THE WORLD” ate is also in Spanish. Capilano Mall (604)985-6194 - . They loved their wedding, ; *' “but the “Abbotts knew that 2S s APH ised oe ake ile auld ada ae, _ iiiiseihie nomen 2 name at Would you rather have a Toaster or a Honeymoon? Book with BCAA Travel and we will supply cards to enclose in your Wedding invitations ... - “In lieu of a Wedding Present, you may wish to CH. contribute to our Honeymoon at ...”’ PRINCESS CRUISES Is mare than a cruis its the Lovie Boar® .