12 Effective Expert Methods To Limit Screen Time For Children
Category: Our ResortsApril 25th 2024Back to our Sandals Blog > > >
When becoming a parent, or babysitting other people's children, you'll notice family screen time conversations occur often. Opinions on healthy screen time exposure for kids can vary, especially among different age groups, but what's clear among experts, is the consensus that the younger the child, the less screen time they should be getting.
How much screen time is too much for kids?
According to AAP’s guidelines, released in October 2016, it’s best to limit screen time to a 1 hour per day program (or programs), that's high-quality and educational, for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years. With an exception of video calling, avoid the use of screen media for children younger than 18 months. If you choose to introduce media to children between 18 - 24 months, find high-quality programming and ensure you co-view and co-play with the child, during this time. Use consistent rules and restrictions for older kids. More on this further down this article.
As too much screen time can be harmful to a child's development, you must set boundaries from birth. As the home is where many screen time problems start, many parents focus here first. Thankfully, there are proven methods to reduce screen time for children.
Read on to explore our expert tips and recommendations, a guide on the why’s and how’s of reducing screen time for children!
Why is it important to reduce screen time for children?
Screen time impacts young children the most, so if you’re new to parenting, know that it's important to limit from the beginning. According to
Digital media isn't beneficial to toddlers - unless caregivers translate what toddlers are learning into real life (from age 15 months), by reteaching common concepts. This helps kids learn a few things, despite the fact that their memories and attentional skills are still developing.
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Too much screen time can hinder your child’s development
Excessive screen time can cause delays in the development of young children in areas including language, cognitive development, and other social and emotional areas. These delays are confirmed by several population-oriented studies, strongly tying each factor to low parent-child interaction when the TV is on.
But what are the symptoms of too much screen time? The impact of screen time depends on how early a child is introduced to it, time spent watching, and what they watch. Generally, positive and educational material produces better child behavior. Note too that inappropriate content can lead to behavioral problems in children, and in some cases, physical aggression later in life.
According to The Journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics, infants and toddlers with self-regulation problems and a difficult temperament are more likely to consume more media. These underdeveloped toddlers are often given mobile devices as calming mechanisms, which normally does't improve long-term behavior.
Too much screen time can adversely affect your child’s sleep
Too much screen time or even the presence of a television, computer, or mobile device in the bedroom has been linked to less sleep every night. This significantly affects infants, as when they’re exposed to screens near bedtime many parents report their kids getting notably less sleep.
Research indicates that the blue light emitting from screens can cause the suppression of endogenous melatonin, a hormone that opens the “sleep gate” and is responsible for reinforcing other physiologic functions at night. The Journal of Sleep Medicine Reviews through
Too much screen time is related to childhood obesity
Did you know that BMI increases for every hour that preschoolers use digital media? According to The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics the increase is small, but is cumulative in the long-term, and was recently proven in a study involving 2-year-olds. The increase is associated with screen time in combination with eating and exposure to food-related advertising.
Watching media and eating also lessens attention to feelings of being full, causing children to eat more, during use. This effect often leads to weight gain as children grow, increasing obesity risk.
Key takeaway: Reducing a child’s screen time positively impacts their sleep and cognitive development. While an increase in screen time can lead to behavioral problems, stunted social skills, and higher risks of obesity.
Expert tips and habits to help reduce your child’s daily screen time
When it comes to setting screen time limits, it can be hard to determine which methods will work best for your kids. Perhaps you've tried a few strategies already but haven’t been able to stick to them or have no idea where to start. If you’re wondering how to limit screen time, we’re here to help. We reached out to parenting experts and compiled a list of 12 tips that should make it easier to reduce screen time:
1. Reduce your own screen time to set an example of healthy use
Children mirror what they see more than they pay attention to what you’re telling them to do. That means, if they see you binge-watching your favorite shows, they’re going to take cues from you. In as much as watching your weekly shows may be your way of defusing, try not to watch them with your children around at least �' this helps you set a good example that they can follow. Also, avoid keeping the TV on when no one is watching it, or scrolling through your phone endlessly, as this can reinforce bad habits in children. Try reading instead, to get your children into activities which will be useful for their development. The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology notes that child screen time patterns are “highly influenced by parental attitudes”, which means parents need to be very cautious about setting bad habits that will be hard to break down the line.
Key takeaway: Reduce the amount of time you watch TV and use your phone, when your children are around.
2. Spend time playing with your kids
Children love playing with their parents, especially younger kids. They won’t be so interested in screen time if you’re down on the floor playing with their toys with them and teaching them new things. This will take some creativity and a stretch of your imagination, as well as dedicated time, but you’ll be glad when they hit their teens and still want to include you in some of the things that they do.
In terms of setting the stage for a fun playdate with your child, Bert Anderson from
“Not only does [20 minutes of child-led play with at least one parent] fill up your child’s need for attention, but it lets them feel like they’re in charge without it being too risky. You’ll want to do whatever your child wants to do. If this means running around the house pretending to be trains from Thomas the Tank Engine that’s what you do. They say to do this, 20 minutes a day because, especially if you’re working, even a half hour can feel overwhelming. The average attention span for most people is 20 minutes. You’ll be surprised by how willing your child is to play independently if you take the time to be with them one-on-one.”
Read more on
Bert’s treasure trove of a website which is dedicated to moms.
Bert Anderson from “Me Before Mom” also says, “Don't be afraid of using things like play dough and Moonsand. I know the cleanup can be really annoying but the sensory action children get when they play with their hands to create things is mesmerizing. I live in Minnesota and this is my go-to when it’s below zero and the kids can’t play outside.”
Jenny Silverstone from “Moms Loves Best” shares similar thoughts on just getting right in there and keeping things moving with your kids, instead of letting them stare at a screen. “Encourage them to go for a walk with you or challenge them to a basketball game in your driveway or at your local park,” she writes on her blog. “If they’re active, they’ll be engaged in what they’re doing. They’ll be less likely to complain, and you’ll both benefit from the increased activity.”
Key takeaway: Spend 20-minutes of child-led play a day.
3. Encourage activities that do not require screen time
The goal here is finding ways to get your kids to have less screen time and keeping it that way, if you’ve already implemented screen time rules in your household. More than just laying down the law, it is integral to the success of your mission to provide alternatives to the lure of digital media for your kids. Think board games, books, art projects (which requires getting out there and getting supplies), sports and more. There really is no limit to this, but you’re best off working with things your kids already like to do or want to learn. This helps so that when you make the decision to limit screen time for more beneficial hobbies, there’s less pushback as there’s at least an inkling of interest in the opposite way. Explain to your children why you’ve made the decision, which can help them stick to it, perhaps even for the long term.
The second part of this is to extend the screen time rules to your entire household. Try implementing unplugged hours where everyone disconnects from their devices. This means no TV, video games, computers, phones, or any other digital devices. Some people do this at dinner time, or an hour before or after. You can fit some of your non-digital activities in at this time which you can all enjoy as a family.
The takeaway from all of this is that parents have a significant role to play in setting boundaries for their children, whether in relation to screen time or otherwise. Your encouragement and support will go a long way in the interactions between you and your kids, and positively affect their developmental journeys ahead.
Key takeaways: Provide alternatives like board games, books, art projects and sports. Try implementing unplugged hours for the entire household around dinner time.
4. Encourage independent play
Life can be tough for a parent, especially a single parent. Regardless of your family dynamic, it is likely that screen time comes into play when you need a few minutes to get something done, or just some time to recalibrate. What if there was a way to achieve this without encouraging more screen time? You’ll be happy to know there is, and it’s called independent play.
Now this may take a bit of practice, but it is totally possible to even get younger kids into playing on their own. At first there may be some protesting, but if they have fun things to do, most kids won’t mind playing on their own for a few minutes. You can introduce this gradually if it’s new to your parent child dynamic.
Start with 10 minutes at a time and encourage them to do this while you’re in the room with them. You can add more time to this slowly, which gives them time to gain confidence and be comfortable. When you’re just starting off, it’s important to communicate with your child �' don’t get mad if there’s push back. Reassure them that everything is alright, inform them gently of what you’re doing or need to do, and that you will get time to play together later. Validation of their feelings is important. Be sure to keep the promise to play with them later.
Some parents find it beneficial to encourage independent play daily at the same time. You can choose to do this just before or after nap time with toddlers, or just after breakfast with slightly older kids. Before letting them get into independent play, it will help giving them your undivided attention first which allows for optimal emotional support!
Key takeaway: Practice independent play and reassure your child that you will play with them later.
5. Restrict access to devices, especially before bedtimes
Create a schedule and set rules that relate to how much screen time kids have per day, and what time works best for everyone. This is especially effective for older kids.
Scarlet Paolicchi from
In the event that resistance is encountered, Family Focus’s Scarlet says, “Try to help them transition into the next activity. “Let’s read a book now.” “Let’s see who can build the tallest block tower.”
Jacinda Boneau from
Brianne Manz from
Janel Case from
Key takeaway: Create a schedule to restrict access to devices and let your children help you set the rules.
6. Be consistent
Jenny Silversttone from
Other general guidelines for enforcing household screen time limits are turning off televisions and other devices when not in use or finding suitable television viewing windows for kids. Enforce the rules but show them that there is still room for fun and a little screen time if they corporate.
If your children are between the ages of 2 and 5 years, 1 hour of screen time a day will do �' find something educational and fun that you can watch together. Explain how the different things they see relate to real life and point out items or characters they may already be familiar with. For children 18 to 24 months old, digital media use should not be encouraged (video chat excluded, e.g. with grandparents).
Do not encourage screen time 1 hour or less before bedtime. Also ensure that you take the devices out of your children’s rooms before bed.
Televisions in bedrooms should not be part of your household structure if you want to decrease screen time overall. Kids should not have TVs in their bedrooms, and neither should you.
Key takeaway: Be consistent, turn off devices when not in use and limit screen time 1 hour or less before bedtime.
7. Don’t make screen time a reward or a punishment
Placing screen time on a pedestal to the point that it is likened to a reward or punishment is a sure recipe to make it seem even more important to children. Avoid doing things like allowing kids to earn more screen time as a reward, and instead stick to your previously established limits. If you must, use other types of rewards, like one that do not involve screen time. This will allow you to pat your kids on the back for good behavior or other commendable actions.
Just as kids need to be encouraged to learn the importance of moderation, so too do parents need to realize that there are other ways to calm children than using media. Admittedly, media can be useful if you’re at an airport or on a plane, or at a doctor’s office, etc., when you really need kids to be calm quickly. Consistently using this technique however will get kids used to this, and possibly only this as a soothing mechanism, which can make it difficult for you to set limits in the future.
Using screen time as a regular calming mechanism can also create delays in your kids learning to regulate their own emotions and behaviors. Speak to your pediatrician who can help you find a strategy that works for you and your family.
Key takeaway: Avoid rewarding children with screen time, it will make it seem even more important.
8. Have your kid’s friends over more frequently
What better way to minimize screen time than to have some of the people they feel the need to be constantly connected to come over to play at your house? This works the other way around too, but in that case, you’ll need to be on the same page with other parents on matters relating to screen time. Having friends over increases the chance that they’ll get into more interactive and physical play, maybe even going outside to get some sunshine if the weather is good. Spending time with friends outside of school will also allow them to build better bonds with their friends and socialize on a different level.
Jenny Silverstone from “Mom Loves Best” says, “Depending upon their age, your children may be using their screen time to talk with their friends. They may have real fears about becoming socially isolated from the lack of screen time. To keep them from feeling like an outcast, have them invite their friends over more. You can arrange something for them to do where screens aren’t involved.”
Visit
Key takeaway: Have your child’s friends over more often.
9. Trust in the importance of family meals and car rides
Eating as a family is a proven way to strengthen familial bonds. Kids who eat with their families on a regular basis are more likely to get involved in family discussions, and communicate in general, than those who do not. It also helps to keep the television off during mealtime, though two-thirds of people (64%) admit this is not the case in their homes.
Car rides are the next best option, as this is a shared time that should be valued for communication opportunities and closeness. If you want to encourage more conversation during mealtime consider removing the TV from the eating area, or simply turning it off when everyone sits down to eat.
Research has found that families who eat together are more inclined to eat healthier than those who do not. If you make eating together a priority and schedule family mealtime at least two or three times a week, you really can see improvements in family interactions, and even encourage better health through more nutritious eating habits.
Key takeaway: Use family meals and car rides as bonding time and turn off all screens.
10. Talk to your kids about the dangers of too much screen time
If you don’t speak to your kids about the issues that can arise from excessive screen time, chances are they’re not going to take the initiative, or know how to figure it out for themselves. Coming to such a profound realization isn’t even really an option for younger kids, but you can start educating and encouraging your kids from early on to do other things aside from watching TV and engrossing themselves in digital media.
Once your kids are able to understand the benefits of limiting screen time, they’re likely to cooperate with you more than kids who think you just don’t want them to watch as a means of punishment. You can explain to your kids in terms that they can understand, like about movies that aren’t age appropriate, about violent video games, and how inappropriate images can negatively affect or be harmful to children. Tell them about the reality of online predators and schemes, and how you can all work as a unit to avoid them being placed at risk.
Key takeaway: Explain to your kids the dangers of too much screen time and they’ll be more likely to cooperate.
11. Require your child to say why they want to use a device, before use
Asking your kids why they want to use a particular device when they ask to use it can really get them thinking. They may just want to use it because they’re bored or out of habit, or there might be a more creative reason behind their request, like perhaps they want to make a movie or play an active video game.
Most parents would be more inclined to say yes if the reason their kids are asking for screen time isn’t simply because they are bored. If you ask why, then you can redirect their interest if they’re just looking for something fun to do. You can even expand this into a conversation about why people gravitate to the use of screens, and what they like about it.
Listening to their answers which will help you learn more about their interests, which they will appreciate. This will also open the gateway to them being more comfortable talking with you later about other digital happenings they may be unsure, or uncomfortable with. This method is most useful for older kids, though you can get your younger ones into the habit of being more mindful of their screen time.
Keep in mind that even if you’re asking your kids what they’re doing on their devices, it is still your responsibility to monitor what apps they’re using or have downloaded, and other media content they may be watching. Go further and even try out some of the apps before they use them and get involved intermittently during screen time. Ask them to share their views on the new apps, that way you can decide together whether it’s something that’s going to be beneficial to them.
Tip: As a parent, challenge yourself and ask why when you’re about to glance into your phone or focus your attention on another electronic device.
Key takeaway: Try to understand why your child wants to use a device by asking them before they use it. This will make them more mindful about using the device.
12. Take your time to introduce technology
Your kids will figure it out when they need to. As it relates to children aged 18 months to 24 months, the most important thing is to avoid solo media use. Watch with your child in the time that you allocate, if you must. Choose programming which will enrich them, that you can infuse into their day-to-day interactions. For younger children, the general rule is that you avoid programs that are fast-paced, apps with content that is too distracting, and anything with violence.
Key takeaway: Avoid rewarding children with screen time, it will make it seem even more important.
Do not give into the fear
If you take pity on your kids, whose lives will suddenly appear to be “falling apart” with screen time restrictions, your entire plan will go up in smoke. Once your kids see that there are gaps in your resolve, they may not immediately respect the new boundaries, so it’s important for you to be firm and steadfast in your stance from the very start. Here are some of the things you can expect once you make the announcement of screen time adjustments:
You may be made to feel like the least understanding parent on the planet. How dare you take away their ability to compare notes with friends on their favorite shows now that they can only watch one show per day? The counter argument for this is that they can now focus on the things in life that are more important and even lead conversations on current events and other local happenings (for older kids) that they may have discussed with you at the dinner table.
Keep an eye on how things change with how your kid behaves
As with everything that must be tried and tested, watch for the progress. Television and video games both have a notable impact on your child’s behavior, so expect to see an undoing of sorts as the weeks and months progress with limited screen time. Many parents notice that their children are more irritable, impatient and even aggressive and selfish when they’ve had an overdose of digital media. This behavioral change is hard to miss, and the consensus is that when you spot it, you’ll be less willing to let your kids make their own rules when it comes to screen time. Once you’ve made the rules, stick to them to see positive results for your family. Keep monitoring the changes in behavior over time to ensure they’re sticking to it.
If all else fails…
If you’ve tried it all and nothing works and are considering making a drastic move like cutting your cable/satellite television feed, or getting rid of your TV, do it. As this is often a sudden move, it will take a bit of adjustment (and explaining to older kids) but this is a quick and absolute way of dealing with the problem of too much screen time. Your family time and interactions will be very different after this (certainly more interactive), and your kids will thank you later.
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I wanted to share (with permission) these gorgeous pictures from a destination wedding 2 weekends ago we had the privilege of being a part of and booked by Lia. She chose this over the water wedding chapel in St. Lucia with friends and family there to help celebrate. I love her flower crown and her dress and how happy she is. Picture perfect. Congratulations Kate and Curtis! We are so happy for you!
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Lia was very helpful for us in planning our destination wedding to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We had gone through a few other travel planners first who didn't seem nearly as interested in our needs. We really appreciated the way Lia helped us navigate through some of the complexities, including the local laws of Jamaica and the planning with the resort itself. Even once we got to the resort and ran into a few snags, Lia was able to quickly get those resolved very quickly. We would highly recommend her for anyone planning a destination wedding or any other vacation. Thanks, Lia, for making our destination wedding the most special day of our lives.
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Wedding planning can be stressful and overwhelming, but if you're planning on having a destination wedding, especially with a large group, I would highly recommend using All Inclusive Weddings!
From beginning to end, they help with every step; i.e., finding the venue, creating a custom wedding website, and booking all your guests. Their office manager, Linze, was very responsive, helpful, and so sweet! Everything turned out smoothly and we couldn't be happier!
Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Destination Wedding
Stephanie was our incredible travel agent for our destination wedding! She helped with every aspect, quick communication and AMAZING coordination with over 50 different people over 8 states. Stephanie from the beginning, gave options and talked through so many questions I had. I could not have asked for a better right hand woman! 10 out of 10 for Steph, we could not appreciate & trust her more!
Incredible Agent For Our Destination Wedding! 10 Out Of 10 For Steph!
Such an amazing week of memories,laughter & love! Thankful for our people and truly blessed beyond words ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸
Royalton Blue Waters, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Destination Wedding
My husband and I worked with the company's owner, Lia Vincent, and office manager, Linze.
Lia & Linze were both very warm and friendly, and from day one, we could tell cared about us as a couple and our destination wedding success, rather than just seeing us as more clients. I get stressed out easily, so planning my own wedding alone was overwhelming, even though my wedding was 10 months out. I ended up working with Linze, and we pushed up the wedding date with a little less than three months to prepare. I was initially nervous about using a travel agent / wedding planner, but it turned out to be a huge blessing, because it took away a lot of the stress and worry I was experiencing. A bride has so many things to worry about, so having someone else bear the brunt of the work and worry about the nitty-gritty details was a HUGE relief for me.
Why spend hours analyzing vendors and reading reviews, when you can have a pro do it? If you want an intimate wedding, if you want to elope, or if you want a huge all-out, go-into-debt-for-years wedding, and if you're in the market for a wedding travel agent, Lia and Linze should be at the top of your list!
The day of the wedding, everything was so beautiful, and so much better than I could have done on my own. Lia's company finds the best local vendors, so you know you'll get great value in your package, and what's nice is her company offers different packages for different budgets. We worked with and met AMAZING vendors! The reception was so elegant that as soon as I entered the reception, I felt amazement, joy, and relief because being the worrywart and control freak that I sometimes can be, it was hard for me to trust someone to somehow make everything perfect. Lia was able to give us the dream wedding we couldn't have done ourselves. Our family and friends were also amazed, and repeatedly told us how great the wedding, reception, and food were at the resort.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Destination Wedding
I used Stephanie Tindall to help me choose the perfect resort in PV Mexico for where my guests would stay for my destination wedding. She went round and round with me helping me find the perfect location. It had to be nice, trendy, not to outrageously expensive and within a certain mile radius of a marina where my guests needed to go for the wedding. She helped everyone get booked and when things became a little hectic as tracking sometimes can get. She took care of the details. One of my guests had passport issues and she helped talk them through what to do. It was such a relief to have a point of contact for travel related issues so I didn't have to be stressed about it. She did this all with a patient, positive? upbeat and kind attitude through the entire process. I highly recommend her.
Thank you again,
Darby Brown
UNICO, Riviera Maya, Mexico Destination Wedding
Unico was wonderful and the perfect place for our wedding! It was quiet and the ceremony was better than expected. We had it on the gazebo and it was away from everything, which was great. The photography was beyond our expectations. We have not received our video yet, but assume it will be just as great. I also used the in house vendor for make up and hair, and was not disappointed. The wedding coordinator, Nazareth, was so sweet and on point. We used the local host quite a bit with WhatsApp, which was quite convenient. Food and drinks were amazing. We were disappointed that 2087 restaurant was down for half of our stay for repairs. We ate at Mi Carisa on our wedding night, which was the perfect choice. Service was also best there. We scheduled 2 tours through the hotel, a sunset cruise and Chichen Itza express. The boat tour was nice. Chichen itza tour was too fast and ok. We really appreciate your recommendations and help booking our wedding and stay. It was wonderful! Thank you again, Juliet and Jason
Hard Rock Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Destination Wedding
We just got back from an AMAZING wedding weekend yesterday. I can't begin to thank you enough for your help and support during the entire process. Everyone had a great time. It truly was one of the best days of my life and I can't believe how stress-free it was once I got there. Thank you Thank you!
Secrets Playa Mujeres, Mexico, Destination Wedding
I have never used a travel agent before Lia. I have always been the "I can do everything cheaper by myself on the internet" type person; most of the time, it works great. When my husband and I decided to have a destination wedding, we were not sure about anything - number of guests, length of stay, etc; we also have very demanding jobs, requiring constant travels up until the week before our wedding. So we thought that a travel agent may be a lifesaver; as it turned out, she was. Lia was endorsed as an expert in destination weddings on the American Express Travel website. Although she lived over a 1,000 miles away, I felt comfortable.
As I am not a "girly" person, wedding planning was not my thing; however, party planning and event coordination are. Lia and I treated this "event" like a business and I loved that about her; I needed someone to be truthful and provide honest advice. As it is with my job, I like corresponding via emails because I can have all the information on hand and in writing at all time; Lia always accommodated that, and always very promptly. I'm not talking about several emails over a few months; I'm talking about over the course of over a year. Lia was there to provide support when I had a hard time reach the wedding coordinator; she was there when I freaked out at the resort regarding my brother's return transportation (as it turned out, my brother spoke with the wrong transportation company); she was organized to be able to provide me with spreadsheet of all guest arrival information; she always submitted my requests to Classic Vacation and the resort promptly. James and I cannot thank Lia enough to make everything go smoothly for the biggest event of our lives. All 48 of us had such a great time that we absolutely see another group vacation in the future.
UNICO 2087, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Destination Wedding
Read the full details about this destination wedding in our blog post, Mark and Casey Simpsen's Destination Wedding at UNICO 2087. This couple was also featured in the UNICO 2087 Resort blog post, UNICO Destination Wedding, Casey Shelley & Mark Simpsen
Beach Palace Cancun, Mexico, Destination Wedding
Lia being referred to me saved me so much wedding planning mental anguish! I had tried with a few other travel agents before I had two different people give me Lia's name, and with each of the previous TAs they had to look into things and call me back (I'm still waiting for those calls). Getting in touch with Lia was a whole new experience, she answered all my initial questions in that first phone call, had so many recommendations, and it was obvious she knew exactly what she was doing. By the time we hung up the first phone call, I had decided on a destination and venue (per Lia's suggestion). She was a God send! A year later, we are still having people talk about what a great trip it was and people are always amazed by what a great turn out we had. We ended up with about 60 people, all booking through Lia and everyone had a flawless experience. One even asked for her name when planning her destination wedding a few months later and was just as pleased! Lia told me a lot through the planning process that I was such a laid-back bride, but it really was because she left me nothing to worry about. She answered any question I had, was always quick to respond to calls and emails, and helped me plan the most perfect wedding ever. I wish I could re-live it all again!!
Cozumel Palace, Mexico, Destination Wedding
My husband Cameron and I got married at the Cozumel Palace in June of 2014 and could not have been more happy with our experience. A destination wedding was definitely the way to go for us and Lia was a great asset in our planning.
Throughout the process we felt completely at ease as she handled some of the most important details of planning for this special time. From her first recommendations of resorts and destinations to her help arranging travel for our closest family and friends we always felt grateful having Lia on our side. We highly recommend Lia Vincent and Palace Resorts for your destination wedding!
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Destination Wedding
I am truly so grateful for you and all of your help! Le Blanc was amazing! NOTHING could have been better, except maybe the weather, but the staff, food, and service were above and beyond! We will definitely go back there!! Love, Love, Love you for all of your help - Can NOT thank you enough!!
Beach Palace, Cancun, Mexico, Destination Wedding
Our Dream Wedding!
Lia was a phenomenal help from the beginning. She was referred to me by a friend, and I was incredibly thankful that we used her. When we started planning, we became overwhelmed with all of the information that is available.
We met with her for about 45 minutes one afternoon, took her pictures of spaces we had seen online and liked, and gave her a list of our "must-haves", a list of things that would be nice but didn't matter too much, and a list of things we absolutely did NOT want. She kind of thought about things for a minute, and then listed 3 resorts that fit every single one of our needs. She then ran sample pricing from EVERY location our guests would be traveling from so we could figure out what best fit our and our guests' travel budgets. After about a million more questions from me, we finally settled on her initial recommendation, the Beach Palace in Cancun. As we went through the process, any time I had a question, problem, or was just worried about something not being right, she was my go-to person. I'm not kidding, she would answer me in like, less than an hour 99% of the time. She even took my file home one weekend to give me more time to figure something out before she ran credit cards and got it booked. She was a Godsend!
Riu Palace, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Destination Wedding
My husband Cameron and I got married at the Cozumel Palace in June of 2014 and could not have been more happy with our experience. A destination wedding was definitely the way to go for us and Lia was a great asset in our planning.
Lia with Lia helped us plan our destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We had a total of 11 people and she helped each of them set up their arrangements. From the beginning she was so helpful and always quick to respond. She made the entire process a breeze. She communicated with the wedding coordinator at the Riu Palace and made sure everything was just like we wanted. We did not have any issues at all, thanks to Lia and all of her thorough planning. Each of our guests bragged on her and said how easy it was to work with her. I would recommend Lia for all of your planning needs whether it be just a short vacation or a destination wedding. She knows what she is doing and will make sure all of your questions are answered and that you have the best vacation.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Destination Wedding
My husband and I got married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico right off the beach. It was pure bliss, and everything I could have ever dreamed of! I may be biased, but destination weddings are certainly the way to go and thanks to our wonderful Travel Agent Lia Vincent at Vincent Vacations, we were able to find the perfect place! I had the opportunity to be able to edit the straight out of camera photos from my wedding! Here is a glimpse of our wedding day in paradise!
Iberostar, Grand Punta Cana, Destination Wedding
We had the most amazing time at our wedding. Our guests are still talking about what an amazing trip it was! Thank you for your help with organizing this unforgettable time for us, we cannot wait to put our pictures in our new frame!
Dreams, Puerto Aventuras Resort, Destination Wedding
Lia, thank you very much for all of your help with our PERFECT wedding vacation!
Excellence, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Destination Wedding
"It was beautiful! Everybody had a fantastic time!"
The staff was wonderful, the rooms were gorgeous, and the food was AMAZING! Our wedding could not have been more perfect and if you have any brides that want a beautiful wedding on a budget, The Excellence Punta Cana would be my number one recommendation. Emy and Livia were fantastic and everything was just PERFECT! Chris couldn't even believe how wonderful it was.
Thank you again for all of your help!!!
Dreams, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Destination Wedding
Our Dream Wedding!
As soon as Jimmy asked me to marry him, I knew we would want a destination wedding. We love to travel, and we love the beach, so there was no more perfect place to start our lives together than a beach in Mexico!
I am not the wedding planning type, and I knew that with a destination wedding, we could get someone else to plan the details for us. Luckily for me, my friend Lia at Vincent Vacations specializes in Destination Weddings. Lia had taken care of trips for us in the past, and I knew she was the perfect person to help me plan this trip. I was right! She helped me look through destinations, and we found the perfect spot: Dreams in Puerto Vallarta! The package came with a wedding planner, who took care of the details for me. 21 of our friends and family came with us, and everyone loved the resort. Our party ranged in age from 7 to 82, and everyone agreed it was an amazing trip. There were activities for the kids, and plenty of excursions for everyone to choose from. The staff was wonderful, and pampered us from the time we arrived. One of my bridesmaids had a broken foot and was on crutches, and was in a wheelchair some. The hotel staff assisted her anytime she needed it, including carrying her and her wheelchair up and down large flights of stairs. They were amazing! All the rooms are ocean front, with beautiful views. Jimmy and I stayed in the "Preferred" tower, and our room came with a great balcony with a hot tub! Most of our guests stayed in the other tower, but the resort is small enough, this was not a problem at all. They all loved their rooms as well. The wedding planner met with me in advance to work out the last minute details and timing. When our wedding day came, everything went perfectly. We got married on the beach right in front of the ocean. We had a sound system and a dj who played all the songs that we picked out in advance. My Dad is a minister, and he performed the service for us. We had 21 in our wedding party, but it felt like a much bigger wedding because lots of people watched the wedding. You could see people everywhere on their balconies watching, which made us feel like rock stars. We had a Mexican band that played a few songs after the wedding. The wedding came with a photographer and videographer who did amazing job! We took pictures right after the wedding, then we had dinner which also came with the wedding. We had steak and chicken which tasted great. Of course, I also asked them for chips and guacamole. (I love the guacamole in Mexico.) They were happy to oblige. They provided the wedding cake after which was amazing. After the wedding, my husband and I stayed for another 4 days, and it was paradise. I could not have asked for a more beautiful place to get married, or a less stressful way to do it. Thanks Lia and Vincent Vacations for making our special day an amazingly unforgettable experience!
Jamaica, Destination Wedding
Love the pictures one of our brides just shared from her elopement in Jamaica! Thank you for sharing with us! Did you know we book Destination weddings of all sizes? If it's just the 2 of you or a group of 250, give us a call!
Grand Fiesta Americana, Los Cabos, Mexico, Destination Wedding
This was the best and easiest decision we made about our entire wedding! Lia at All Inclusive Weddings is the absolute best, extremely intelligent, hard working, and so caring. She truly makes you feel like you are her only client throughout the entire process. We had about 120 people coming to our Cabo wedding and even had to switch resorts, visitors coming from all different states and even Europe. She was calm, and kept the bride and groom calm! Every detail was taken care of and it was made to be the most perfect wedding!
Finest, Playa Mujeres, Mexico, Destination Wedding
I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work to arrange the hotel and transfers for Ashley and Robbie's wedding. It was perfect and everything that she had ever dreamed of! The resort was amazing! We had great food at all the restaurants. The staff went over the top to accommodate any needs that you could have had! Everyone felt safe and the beaches are beautiful. Since it's more private you don't get the crazy vendors walking the beach trying to sell you stuff. Our family loved it so much and we defiantly will be planning another vacation. You will be the first I call if we need help to organize something! Thank you again for everything
We have been in business since 2013, and booking destination weddings since 2002!
Contact us today to learn more about All Inclusive Weddings!
