A collaboration between a Bermuda wedding planner and a US travel agent could bring hundreds more tourists to the Island, according to the new partnership.

Bermuda Bride, which is run by wedding planner Nikki Begg, has been helping brides, both on and off the Island, get married for the past three years.

But Mrs. Begg said she felt there was a need to help people with flights and accommodation for guests flying in from around the world to attend weddings.

And it was through pure luck that she came to form a business relationship with the well-known Katlin Travel Group and formed Bermuda Travel.

The idea started when American travel agent Linda Mitchell came to Mrs. Begg to plan her daughter's wedding in Bermuda.

“It was luck, the way we came together,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “I am sure it was meant to be.”

Together they saw a need for a collaboration between the two industries, and after speaking with Katlin's president, Kathleen Kearney, Bermuda Travel was formed.

It is now a subsidiary of Katlin. Mrs. Mitchell is the company's travel specialist and will work with Mrs. Begg to bring groups to the Island.

“Our motto is ‘travel with a little more style'.” said Ms Kearney. “Bermuda is a very popular destination for brides and this will make it easier for them to get here.”

Mrs. Begg said Bermuda Bride had found a niche market, and her job was to make it easier for bridal parties to come to Bermuda, adding that it was natural to go into partnership with a travel agent as often travel arrangements - both airline tickets and hotels - proved the biggest headache to plan.

“People didn't know where to stay and were confused by the different resorts and hotels,” said Mrs. Begg. “This is just another way of making it easier for my clients and guests.”

Ms Kearney said the market was potentially huge - as were the sums of money involved. “It can mean $150,000 for a hotel for a weekend,” she said.

She said that hotels were about $400 a night or $200 per person, staying Friday through Monday, and an airfare was between $400 and $600 per person. The wedding itself could cost as much as $800 per guest when all the extras are factored in.

A single weekend wedding could bring in between $180,000 and $200,000 to the local economy, and the airlines, she claimed.

“People do not have the time to arrange everything, so that is where we come in,” said Mrs Begg. “We take the stress away from planning a wedding.”

Mrs. Mitchell said she had seen first hand the problems that can arise from organising her own daughter's wedding in September.

“It can be very difficult to not only organise a wedding, but also where all the wedding guests are staying and how they are getting there,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “And it is important to know somebody's budget and different kinds of accommodation - not everyone can stay in the top end hotels, so we can find something more affordable for the former roommates or fraternity friends. That is where local knowledge is important. You do not want to have a wedding at one end of the Island and everyone staying at the other.”

The new venture, which will be based out of Boston, will also be helping Bermuda residents who are flying in guests from around the world.

“It is a VIP service. The bride doesn't have to deal with it, which is the important thing. She will not have to deal with a guest's request to have a high chair or if someone is disabled, we can arrange special transport services,” said Mrs Mitchell.

Ms Kearney added: “The service is like a bespoke travel agency, and you are the sole person we are taking care of.

“e will know your seating preference and what you like and don't like. So if you come back, we can help you.” And Mrs Mitchell said she believes that out of a wedding party of 100 guests, about 75 percent will return to the Island for second trips after having a taste of the Island.

The firm will launch its website bermudatravel.bm by the end of the month.