7 Tips for Planning A Destination Wedding
Destination weddings are what dreams are made of, but they can be so much harder to plan than the average wedding. Maybe you and your partner want to commemorate your marriage in the place where you got engaged or simply in a location that means a lot to both of you. It’s not impossible to plan a destination wedding, in fact sometimes they can even be cheaper out of the country than they are stateside (mind you not always). There are a lot of factors to consider from guest travel and lodging to booking local vendors, but it is possible to plan a memorable day for you and your guests. If you’re set on a tropical wedding in the depths of the Bahamas or the Italian coast, we have a few tips you should consider during the planning process!
Pick A Do-It-All Location
Reduce the amount of traveling for your guests by picking a central location where you can host your ceremony and reception – think resort or hotel space. If you’re going out of the country, having your wedding at or near a resort is ideal so your guests can sleep and attend the wedding all in one place. But, if you’re staying stateside, vineyards or large estates are also great options. You might have to get a bit more creative with separating your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, but it’ll save your guests the hassle (and money) of shuttling between venues, especially if they don’t know the area.
Photography by Allie Miller
Photography by Fabiana Skubic
Visit Your Location Before Booking
You never want to blindly choose a location, because in many cases pictures can be deceiving when it comes to wedding venues or the layout of the space may not be what you envisioned. Plan a trip to your destination before you book to scout locations, meet with vendors, and consider lodging accommodations. You’ll want to book a second trip about 3 to 4 months before your wedding to finalize details or arrive a few days before your wedding if a second trip wouldn’t be in your budget. This will help you stay organized and avoid any last-minute location or vendor issues on the day of your wedding that will be almost impossible to change.
Provide Guests with a Prep Guide
For you and your partner, the location of your wedding might be a familiar place that is special to you both. But, chances are most of your guests will not be familiar with the area – especially if it is a destination that is out of the country. So, it’s a nice touch to include a guide for your guests in their invitations that let them know whether they need a passport, will have to change their currency, the best hotels in the area, travel time, etc.
Photography by Halie Olszowy
Photography by Q Hegarty Photography
Guarantee Bridal Party Can Attend
Unless you’re planning on a quick elopement, you should check with your bridal party as well as your immediate family to make sure they will be able to attend the wedding. With a destination wedding, there is no way to pick a date or location that will be convenient for every guest, but make sure your core group of family and friends can attend before you finalize your plans.
Send Invitations Well in Advance
For a destination wedding, it’s a nice gesture to send out save-the-dates about 8-12 months before the wedding. With formal invitations being sent out no later than 4 months before the wedding to give your guests time to book flights or coordinate other travel plans and take off any workdays that may interfere with the wedding festivities. You want to make sure your guests aren’t feeling too much financial pressure to attend, so giving them extra time allows them to figure out what will work best for their trip.
Photography by Lynne Reznick
Photography by Mermaid Pictures
Use Local Vendors
Whether you’re having your wedding in the same state, out of the country, or just a few states over, you’re going to want to book local vendors for food, flowers, music, etc. It can be difficult to try to bring those items with you – it’s also much more affordable than paying high transportation fees, so during your planning trip try to book as many vendors as you can. It’s also a good idea to hire a wedding planner or coordinator that is from the location you will be having your wedding in, so they can assist in booking local vendors.
Research Local Marriage Requirements
Surprisingly, a lot of places require more than just a marriage license to get hitched. If you’re going out of the country there are “residency requirements.” Places like England require you to live in the country for seven days before you can marry and France requires a whopping 40 days. So, if you’re set on getting married in a country with a residency requirement you may need to legally make it official in your home state before you can marry in your wedding location.
Photography by Courtney Chau Photography
Share this with a bride who is currently planning a destination wedding. Looking for a wedding gown that will suit your wedding location? Browse our collection of made-to-measure wedding gowns that can be on your doorstep in just 8 weeks!
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