The proposal went great, everyone is so happy for the new couple and can’t wait to know the date! How exciting that you are considering the ever elusive “destination wedding.”
There is no reason that this
can’t be an incredible and memorable experience for all involved. Here are
eight tips to ensure that your destination, whether it is the Empire State
Building or the Tour Eiffel, is as romantic, beautiful and cost-efficient
as it can possibly be.
 |
Tips For Planning an Ideal Destination Wedding
|
1. Pick
somewhere meaningful
This may come as a no-brainer,
but it is important that the location of a destination wedding be somewhere
that is meaningful to both members of the marriage-to-be. Let the
destination be a representation of the love shared between the couple and the
sense of adventure that is mutually valued.
The location should be a
source of celebration and not of stress. The couple is inviting all of
their loved ones to share in a place and an environment that they find
meaningful. A special destination will be a constant source of excitement
and will add to the wedding magic.
2. Tell
people early
When planning a destination
wedding, it is important to get a head count ASAP. The headcount will
help determine the hotel, and the venue, the two most important and expensive
factors in a destination wedding.
Send the invitations out well
in advance so that guests will know to buy plane tickets, and to book hotel
rooms. This will also help them plan if they want to make a special trip
out of it themselves. When it comes to destination weddings, the further
ahead of time things are planned, the more people will be able to attend.
For brides concerned about
asking their bridesmaids to make a long trip, considering covering the costs of
purchasing bridesmaid dresses
as a way of assuaging at least one major wedding related cost.
In addition to sending out
save the dates and invitations, consider creating a wedding related website as a way of
providing guests with important logistical information via a conveniently
accessible medium.
3. Buy a
plane ticket for the wedding dress
This may be a tough pill to
swallow, but it will alleviate much stress down the road. Wedding dresses
can be massive and transporting them from one place to the next, especially on
an airplane can be a huge headache.
Experts recommend buying the
wedding dress a seat on the plane. That way, there is constant control
over the treatment of the dress and no fear of having to shove the dress in an
overhead cabin, or worse, checking it as regular baggage.
Another alternative is to ship
the dress ahead of time, but with all of the things that can go wrong at a
wedding, a wedding dress shipment arriving at the wrong time should NOT be one
of them. Lastly, make sure to pack a steamer in with the rest of the
luggage to give the wedding dress its final touch-ups once it has reached its
final destination.
4. Work
with a wedding planner
Planning a destination wedding
is full of unknowns and cultural differences. Save yourself the anxiety
and work with someone who has done it before! Hire a local wedding planner,
preferably one who has worked at that very venue, to facilitate your plans and
to be an on-site presence.
A local wedding planner will
know the best vendors, and bands and will act as a liaison when attempting to
understand another culture’s planning process. Though a wedding planner
might be expensive, it is much more cost effective to source your wedding
locally. The wedding planner will save you so much time in miscommunication and
worry.
5. Embrace the setting to save
money
One huge benefit of having a
destination wedding is the promise of a gorgeous setting. Use that
location to its utmost advantage by planning the ceremony and reception around
the natural beauty of the area.
Why spend thousands of dollars
decorating an event space when it is just as breathtaking to stick a bunch of
wood tables along the edge of a beautiful seascape or gorgeous vineyard. Working
with natural beauty is a great way to save a few extra bucks and to appreciate
the full benefit of a destination wedding.
6. Research Local Marriage
Requirements
This step is easy to forget
but is of utmost importance. Marriage requirements across countries and even
states vary greatly. Before tying the knot in a foreign city, make sure to
thoroughly research the local marriage laws and ensure that the marriage will
be legally recognized by the country of origin. It would be horrible to
plan a gorgeous wedding in a foreign land, just to find out that the marriage
itself is invalid!
7. Take care of your guests
Your wedding guests have just
spent a ton of time and money making sure that they can be there for the
far-away special day. Be sure to return the favor by putting together an
action-packed, but unpressured, itinerary for them.
This can be a great way to
introduce guests to the local culture that appeals to you so much and also to
give your guests a special memory for themselves. By welcoming guests to your
favorite restaurants, hikes, water sports, museums, etc. you are showing your
gratitude and ensuring a wonderful time for all.
8. Take a moment to take it in
with your fiancée
Most importantly, in all the
chaos of wedding planning, travel, and decision-making, it can be easy to
forget to connect with the one person who you are there for in the first place.
Make it an absolute priority to have at least a few hours of quality time
with your spouse-to-be once you're settled in. At the end of the day, all of
this is the celebration of the love between you. It is important to keep that
in the forefront of all destination wedding plans.
Conclusion
A destination is a great way
to create a truly memorable wedding that is filled with adventure and beauty.
When planning a destination wedding be sure to leave enough time for venue and
accommodation planning and consider contracting a local wedding planner to help
with key decisions.
Once your destination wedding
is over, you’ll have endless memories to recall with your partner.
Post A Comment:
0 comments: