Destination weddings have become a popular way to celebrate your marriage while enjoying a fun and exotic location. They are a great way to celebrate your nuptials with your best loved ones with a vacation-style vibe. They usually include more immediate family and friends and are often held at the couples favorite vacation spot, scenic landmark or tropical island. Planning a destination wedding can be exciting and stress-free, but like all wedding coordination, it requires careful consideration, research and planning. Here are some key factors that we have found beneficial for planning destination wedding that we think you should keep in mind:
Photo by Rachel Syrisko
1. Location - Choosing an easily accessible location is super important to allow your desired guests to be able to realistically afford and attend. Do your research and make sure the weather will be accommodating during your celebration and make sure to choose your indoor/outdoor festivities appropriately. Research the particular season you are interested in for your wedding and understand when travel peaks in business.
2. Budget - Factor in airfare, transportation and all other accommodations for yourselves and your guests. Having an accurate financial estimation will help your guests better prepare and plan. As with all weddings, there will be costs for venues and vendors. So, research and plan those accordingly. Destination weddings in more exotic and tropical locations tend to have higher venue/vendor costs due to being a highly desired location.
3. Guest List - Finalize your guest list early on and make sure all guests are notified and allowed time to plan and save accordingly. Destination weddings usually have a much smaller guest limit due to travel plans and venue accommodations. It is so important to send out the save-the-dates and invitations as early as possible!
4. Legal Requirements - If your destination wedding is out of state, especially if it is out the country, make sure to check local laws and residency requirements for obtaining marriage licenses and associated fees. Make sure the person officiating your wedding is aware of local laws and regulations as well.
5. Vendors - Destination weddings can be a quick and easy, one stop shop. Meaning all your vendors can be found in that specific location. Research and support your local photographers, florists and caterers. Ensure that all your vendors who have to travel to your venue can easily navigate between locations.
6. Accommodations - If your venue is a resort, make sure to block the appropriate hotel rooms for your guests at the venue. If not, research nearby hotels or resorts for easy transportation to and from. Because it is a destination wedding, most guests do not have access to their own personal vehicles so making the appropriate transportation accommodations for all wedding related festivities is very important.
8. Wedding Packages - Consider all-inclusive wedding packages. They may be a bit more spendier but, as the name suggests, they will include everything you may need for your wedding day to be perfect. But also, don’t settle! Ensure you can personalize your wedding package and create the perfect wedding that aligns with your vision.
9. Communication - Communicate with your guests often and keep them informed of any and all changes or details regarding the wedding itinerary. Things happen and travel plans change regularly, so an open forum for communication will make sure all your guests are prepared and notified of updates. Utilize those online platforms that can be shared and updated regularly.
10. Plan for the Unexpected - And as always, have a backup plan. Hiccups can happen even at destination weddings, so having a realistic plan B with your vendor/venues will ensure no last minute scrambling and result in the perfect wedding day!
Destination weddings are so so fun! They can be as elaborate or as simple as you like and should always stay true to your vision and idea of your perfect wedding day. By addressing these factors, we think you can create a memorable and enjoyable destination wedding experience for you and all your guests! Happy planning!
Jubilee Weddings and Events
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