In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich, Dan Riggs of Dan Riggs Films and Alexis Sanabria, publisher of California Wedding Day, Washington Wedding Day and Oregon Wedding Day, sit down with Michelle Garibay, owner and planner of Michelle Garibay Events, to discuss destination wedding planning, the professional relationships behind a seamless celebration and the choices that help couples create a meaningful guest experience. Recorded at The Havens Country Club in Southern California, the conversation draws on Garibay’s nearly 20 years in the wedding industry and her experience planning celebrations throughout California, Hawaii and Mexico.

Garibay’s destination expertise began while she and her husband were living on Oahu during the final years of his Navy career. Although she had already worked in hospitality, corporate events and social events in San Diego, her position at the Pacific Club gave her valuable experience with food and beverage service and the behind-the-scenes operations of a private club. After launching her own company, Garibay began working with couples traveling from the mainland to get married in Hawaii. Because she lived on the island and developed relationships with local wedding professionals, she could help bridge the cultural and communication differences that sometimes surprised couples accustomed to a faster pace. Learning to respect and embrace the local culture allowed her to serve as an informed liaison rather than approaching the destination as an outsider.

While Garibay still maintains relationships on Oahu, her destination work has gradually shifted toward Mexico, particularly Cabo. She points to the weather, hospitality and overall value as some of the most compelling reasons couples choose to marry there. Cabo is also approximately a two-hour flight from Southern California, making it relatively accessible for many of her clients and their guests. But planning destination weddings requires far more than choosing an attractive resort online. Garibay believes planners must invest their own time and money in visiting a destination, learning its properties and building trusted relationships before presenting themselves as local experts. She travels to Mexico regularly and works with area professionals whenever possible, from florists and musicians to gifting companies. Those connections give couples access to a team with firsthand knowledge of the destination while keeping their wedding experience rooted in its setting.

Building those relationships begins with approaching prospective partners from a place of generosity. Rather than simply asking a venue to add her to its preferred list or send business her way, Garibay starts conversations by asking how she can help and how they might work together. Events organized by the Los Cabos Tourism Board introduced her to properties and representatives from throughout the region, while her involvement in wedding-industry organizations has allowed her to bring other California professionals on familiarization tours. By connecting venues with a wider network of potential collaborators, she helps create value for everyone involved. Garibay applies the same philosophy to professional networking closer to home. She advises wedding professionals to give an organization at least a full wedding season before evaluating its value, noting that relationships require continued participation rather than a single meeting.

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich, Dan Riggs of Dan Riggs Films and Alexis Sanabria, publisher of California Wedding Day, Washington Wedding Day and Oregon Wedding Day, sit down with Michelle Garibay, owner and planner of Michelle Garibay Events, to discuss destination wedding planning, the professional relationships behind a seamless celebration and the choices that help couples create a meaningful guest experience. Recorded at The Havens Country Club in Southern California, the conversation draws on Garibay’s nearly 20 years in the wedding industry and her experience planning celebrations throughout California, Hawaii and Mexico.

Garibay’s destination expertise began while she and her husband were living on Oahu during the final years of his Navy career. Although she had already worked in hospitality, corporate events and social events in San Diego, her position at the Pacific Club gave her valuable experience with food and beverage service and the behind-the-scenes operations of a private club. After launching her own company, Garibay began working with couples traveling from the mainland to get married in Hawaii. Because she lived on the island and developed relationships with local wedding professionals, she could help bridge the cultural and communication differences that sometimes surprised couples accustomed to a faster pace. Learning to respect and embrace the local culture allowed her to serve as an informed liaison rather than approaching the destination as an outsider.

While Garibay still maintains relationships on Oahu, her destination work has gradually shifted toward Mexico, particularly Cabo. She points to the weather, hospitality and overall value as some of the most compelling reasons couples choose to marry there. Cabo is also approximately a two-hour flight from Southern California, making it relatively accessible for many of her clients and their guests. But planning destination weddings requires far more than choosing an attractive resort online. Garibay believes planners must invest their own time and money in visiting a destination, learning its properties and building trusted relationships before presenting themselves as local experts. She travels to Mexico regularly and works with area professionals whenever possible, from florists and musicians to gifting companies. Those connections give couples access to a team with firsthand knowledge of the destination while keeping their wedding experience rooted in its setting.

Building those relationships begins with approaching prospective partners from a place of generosity. Rather than simply asking a venue to add her to its preferred list or send business her way, Garibay starts conversations by asking how she can help and how they might work together. Events organized by the Los Cabos Tourism Board introduced her to properties and representatives from throughout the region, while her involvement in wedding-industry organizations has allowed her to bring other California professionals on familiarization tours. By connecting venues with a wider network of potential collaborators, she helps create value for everyone involved. Garibay applies the same philosophy to professional networking closer to home. She advises wedding professionals to give an organization at least a full wedding season before evaluating its value, noting that relationships require continued participation rather than a single meeting.