7 Tips for Your Destination Wedding
For some people, their dream wedding is set in an exotic location. You might imagine saying your vows on the beach as the ocean waves provide a gentle soundtrack. Or you envision gathering your guests in a cozy ski lodge around a crackling fire. Or maybe you just want to hop on a cruise and say “I do” on the open water.
No matter where you want to go, a destination wedding requires some serious planning. Of course, it’s well worth it. You already know you need to pack carefully (don’t forget those rings!), stay healthy, and thoroughly research all vendors at your chosen destination. Beyond the nuts-and-bolts logistics, there are a few other tips you might find helpful when planning your destination wedding.
Manage Your Expectations
Not all your desired guests will be able to attend a destination wedding. Make sure you give people plenty of notice and generous understanding if they RSVP no.
Know Your Why
Why are you planning a destination wedding? Maybe you’re combining the wedding with a honeymoon, saying your vows in the place where you met, or traveling to get closer to an ailing parent. Or maybe you just feel like going somewhere new.
Any reason is a good one, and you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone else. However, it helps to have a strong connection to the reasons you’re doing it in case the logistics start to get frustrating, or if you get backlash from friends or family members who feel like they are being left out. This is your wedding day, and you deserve to spend it wherever you’d like.
Take a Scouting Trip
One of my favorite points in this article is the suggestion to take a trip (or three) to your wedding destination. This is critical for planning the details of your special day. You don’t want to book a venue without seeing it or a cake without tasting it. You might also use one of these trips to hire a local wedding planner to take care of details that are hard for you to manage from afar.
Research Local Laws
Marriage requirements are different from state to state and country to country. Make sure you have an understanding of what you need to do before you book a flight.
Consider Your Budget
Some locations will be more expensive than others, in terms of both event costs and travel. You’re going to have a beautiful day no matter where you go, so determine what is most important to you. If you’re set on England because one of you is of English descent, maybe you can save money by hosting your wedding in a small town instead of the center of London. If the beach is key because that’s where you had your first kiss, choosing Florida over St. Lucia might be more affordable.
You should also consider covering some travel expenses for your parents and the wedding party.
Embrace the Hitches
It’s hard enough to plan a flawless wedding in your home town. When your destination is hundreds or thousands of miles away, it’s even more unlikely that everything will be perfect. But it doesn’t have to be! The perfection lies in the love you share with your partner, and if the cake shows up with yellow frosting or you’re not sure when to kiss because you have trouble understanding the officiant’s accent, you’ll have a funny story to tell. These little mishaps add to the charm and create lasting memories. Speaking of which…
Remember the Photos
Good photography is even more important at a destination wedding. The people who don’t get to be there will want to see what it was like, and you’ll want to capture every detail of the unique setting and this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Don’t rely on the venue photographer when you can take your photographer with you! I’m glad to travel with you to photograph your special day no matter where in the world it takes you. I have a lot of experience with destination weddings, and it will show in your photos. Travel expenses are simply added to your final fee, and you’ll have one less detail to arrange on site. It would be an honor to accompany you to your destination wedding and help you preserve your memories for a lifetime.
Contact me now to inquire about your date!