When you imagine your perfect wedding in your head, what do you see?
Do you see white, sandy beaches stretching on for miles, with a cool ocean breeze at your back and the gentle sound of waves upon the shore? Do you see yourself immersed in the romantic atmosphere of Paris, or soaking up the Tuscan sun with rows of grapevines covering the rolling hills all around you?
If any of these examples stirred your imagination, then a destination wedding might be exactly the perfect wedding for you. A destination wedding is a wedding that is held somewhere outside of the area where the happy couple resides. That place can be anywhere – whether it’s a two hour drive from home, or across the sea in a foreign country.
Couples opt for destination weddings for many reasons. Destination weddings often have shorter guest lists, which results in a smaller, more intimate affair. Choosing a destination wedding is also a wonderful excuse to take an unforgettable romantic vacation.
If you are considering an adventurous destination wedding for your big day, here’s a checklist of five important things to remember to make it happen.
- Set Your Budget
Deciding on how much money you want to spend should always be the first step for planning any wedding – and this is doubly true for destination weddings! According to the Knot, the average cost of a wedding in 2022 was $30,000. However, destination weddings tended to cost upwards of $36,000.
Wedding planning experts suggest looking for destinations during the off-season to lower the financial burden of your wedding. Destinations that are popular tourist spots will often cost significantly less if you avoid peak travel seasons, such as the spring, summer, and early fall.
- Plan Your Guest List
If inviting large numbers of friends and family to your celebration is a high priority for you, then it might be time to re-think choosing a destination wedding. While destination weddings are romantic and perfect for many couples, you will have to make peace with the fact that many people may not be able to attend.
Checking ahead of time with your friends and family will help you get an idea of the number of guests you will end up having. If only one or two people will be able to fly to your destination overseas, consider choosing a closer destination that your guests can drive to.
It’s also important to communicate with your guests well in advance so that they can make preparations of their own. Making child-care or pet-care arrangements, asking for time off of work, and saving money for the trip aren’t things that can be pulled off a month before the wedding.
Your wedding party will also need plenty of time to order their bridesmaid dresses and other necessities, to make sure that they will arrive in time for their travel arrangements. (P.S., this website has a ton of awesome dresses if you’re still looking for some.)
- Prepare for International Travel
If you are planning a destination wedding abroad, it’s vital to plan well in advance for international travel. Some destinations, such as the Playa Del Carmen resort in Mexico, offer all-inclusive packages for weddings that include transportation arrangements, officiant services and marriage certificates.
Other destinations, however, may not offer these services. It will be up to you to check local laws regarding marriage license requirements, as well as arranging for passports, flights, interpreter services, and other must-haves for smooth international travel.
- Hire a Wedding Planner
While many soon-to-be-married couples are confident in their ability to plan and pull off the perfect wedding, there are many preparations that are extremely difficult to make over long-distance. After all, not everyone can afford to drop everything and fly across the Atlantic to take a tour of their venue, or to talk face-to-face with local vendors.
A trusted, communicative wedding planner can help by dealing with these details in person, while you relax and prepare for your destination wedding from the comfort of your own home.
Hiring a wedding planner can sometimes be costly, but it’s worth the peace of mind knowing that your destination wedding will go off without a hitch.
- Keep Decorations to a Minimum
When was the last time you saw someone carrying bags full of paper streamers, handmade centerpieces and custom table linens onto an airplane?
Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?
When you are planning a destination wedding, it’s important to remember that you won’t have access to as many resources or as much storage as you would at home. So, it’s best to plan for fewer decorations.
Getting in touch with local vendors, such as florists, and booking their services well ahead of time can help you to personalize your destination. Talk with your wedding planner about what kinds of options are allowed at your venue, and be willing to compromise on certain things that might not be allowed or practical for your destination.
Conclusion
Even if a magical destination wedding sounds like a dream come true, keep in mind that you may be required to do much more planning and preparation than you would for a traditional wedding.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted friend or professional for help, and keep this checklist in your back pocket to make sure that you haven’t forgotten anything. Keeping these steps in mind will help you to pull off that romantic getaway of your dreams!