How To Plan A Destination Wedding
You have the romantic idea of having a destination wedding but you are not sure where to start when it comes to actually planning one. A destination wedding isn’t impossible whether its located internationally or interstate with a bit of early planning, you can make sure that your dream wedding becomes a reality.
We created a guide for how to plan a destination wedding and tips to add to your wedding checklist.
destination wedding planning tips
Planning a destination wedding starts with allowing yourself enough lead time to organise the details. Whether you’re hesitant to choose a destination wedding or you’re already set on hitting your favourite Island, make sure you formulate a checklist and learn how to plan a destination wedding before booking a flight. We have outlined some steps from the suppliers who work in the world weddings below that may help you formulate your destination wedding plan:
Choose your destination. The first step in planning a destination wedding is choosing your location with your partner. You should base your decision on the weather and season, along with being realistic about your expectations. Don’t be afraid though to go for your first choice and make your vision come to life. Destinations generally hold some sentiment to you both and a destination wedding with meaning certainly had so much more sentiment to the day for you both and your wedding guests.
Seek consultation or employ a wedding planner that is familiar with the location. This is going to save you a lot of trouble and less surprises along the way. Do your research and make sure your wedding planner has access to vendors and a good reputation. “Trust your vendors and wedding planners, they know what is best in terms of logistics, styling, budget and generally what works. Regardless oh much you have read on wedding blogs or magazines, your destination wedding planner would know what is best after they have successfully completed so many weddings.” Ben Yew
Set a budget. Keep finances in mind by setting a detailed budget for the actual wedding and its associated expenses, along with a budget for travel and non-local vendors. It’s also important to consider the form of currency used at the destination so you can keep track of what everything costs.
Organise your guest list. Since this is a destination wedding, there’s less pressure to extend invitations to acquaintances, co-workers, or people you’re not close to. Keep your guest list small to moderate since your loved ones and close friends will be the main ones buying airfare for your destination wedding.
Send out invitations early. Send out wedding invitations far in advance so guests can save money on their airfare. This is important in ensuring that your closest family and friends make it to your wedding.
Agree on terms with any non-local vendors. Since you may be in a destination you’re not too familiar with, you should bring your own photographer and make-up/hair artist with you. Be sure to negotiate their travel and make sure they’re taken care of so your big day can go smoothly. Also it is a good idea to fly suppliers in a few days prior to the wedding in case of any unexpected delays - it may be the weather or missing connections so if plans do go astray give you have a couple of days to ensure your suppliers are there on the day.
Make sure your officiant can officiate. Research all legalities related to weddings to make sure your officiant can actually officiate and declare you and your loved one as ‘married’. This is important since some laws require the couple to be present in the country for longer than a day.
Book a hotel that offers group discounts. Since most guests will be booking their own airfare and paying for their lodging, you should lighten the load by arranging a group discount with a hotel near the ceremony location. This way, guests will be able to save a bit of money and stay in the same hotel. Your guests will feel more comfortable being surrounded by friends, family, and wedding participants in a reserved hotel block.
Organize shuttle service for day-of wedding. Make sure you provide a way for your guests to get to the ceremony day-of.
when do you send save the dates for a destination wedding?
If your destination wedding will be during tourist season, you should send save the dates to guests 10 to 12 months in advance so guests can book their airfare and lodging early. Airline prices can be unpredictable so you’ll want to give your guests as much lead time as possible to have a say in when they book their flight. While save the dates are not obligatory for local weddings, they’re necessary for destination weddings where guests may have to save in advance to witness this special day.
when to send the invitations?
This is an important step and timing is everything. You want to give guests plenty of time to plan their arrangements for attending. Invitations should be sent out 4 to 5 months in advance of the destination wedding date. And etiquette calls for sending save the dates before that, this way your guests won’t be too surprised about your destination wedding when they receive the official wedding invitation. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible in wedding invitation wording and include a link to your wedding website if you can’t fit all of the details on the invitation.
a few final tips on ensuring your destination wedding runs smoothy
When it comes to destination weddings, there are a few ways you can avoid mishaps and be extra prepared. While you should allow some room for imperfection, follow these tips to ensure that your destination wedding planning goes as smoothly as possible:
Visit the destination beforehand. Whether you’re booking a local wedding planner or going with a package, you should always do your best to visit your prospective wedding destination before fully committing. It’s a good idea to explore specific areas and peruse the location so you can form your own opinions on the destination.
Consider the weather. The most popular destinations often have the most unpredictable weather. Do your research on the season surrounding your prospective location, especially if you’re headed to a tropical destination. You can then offer guests recommendations on what to wear.
Consider tourist season. Whether or not your destination is in tourist season during your wedding day can be a huge factor in your wedding’s success. It’ll be harder to find vendors in off-seasons. On the other hand, you’ll also want to make sure your wedding is peaceful without interruptions due to a convention or major festival.
Do your vendor research. When it comes to vendors, you won’t be able to interact with them directly on a regular basis, so you’ll want to screen them and check their work out. Read reviews, ask for references to other work, do a video interview, and ask the hotel you’re staying at about potential vendors. If you’re able to visit the destination beforehand, meet with any potential vendors during your preliminary trip in person.
Let the bridesmaids and groomsmen know you’re planning a destination wedding before they commit. Since most of the wedding party will probably be booking their own airfare, you should include your intentions for a destination wedding when you ask your loved ones to be apart of the bridal or groom party. This way, they can make a genuine decision on if they have the budget or time to be in your wedding.
Gift guests with welcome bags. Once your guests arrive, don’t forget to gift them with bags full of useful items! These gift bags can include sunscreen, slippers, sunglasses, mini-fans, and anything else that might make their trip comfortable.
While destination weddings may seem complicated, many of them can actually cost the same as tying the knot in a big city, if not a little less. Be sure to ask a friend or two to help you with plans and research. Feeling overwhelmed may be natural, but with the help of your loved ones, your destination wedding will be one of the most special experiences of your life. Now that you’re well-versed in planning a destination wedding, don’t hesitate to make this idea a reality and turn your big day into the wedding of your dreams.
Popular Wedding Destinations
Some of the fun in choosing a wedding destination comes from the beautiful scenery and romantic elements that you may not get at home. Check out some of our wanderlust locations we have experienced and destination weddings.