Something about destination weddings just oozes with romance and dreaminess.
It’s basically a vacation and the most magical day of your life all wrapped into one.
There are so many pros to having a destination wedding. They are intimate, they are gorgeous, and it gives you a few days that are completely focused on you and your partner’s love for one another.
Planning a destination wedding is like slipping out of your day-to-day life into a movie where you are the stunning main character.
That being said— pulling off a destination wedding takes meticulous planning. If you are interested in the best tips we have for planning a destination wedding, then keep reading! This is the article for you.
1. Establish Your Budget
The first thing you need to do after announcing your engagement is sit down with your partner and discuss your budget for the wedding.
Making a budget that includes everything, from the engagement party to the honeymoon, so that you and your partner can plan accordingly.
Finding a wedding budget checklist and going through every point to determine your budget will save you stress and make sure that you and your partner are putting money towards the elements that matter the most to you!
When it comes to a destination wedding, there are a few additional costs to consider:
Are you paying for any additional hotel rooms or plane tickets for family members?
How long are you planning on staying at the destination?
What is your budget for visiting the destination ahead of time?
These are a few guiding questions to go over when finalizing your wedding budget!
2. Choose the Perfect Location
If you are planning on a destination wedding, of course, the most important element of this is the location!
You should focus on selecting a location that will be fun for both you and your guests and that says something about the love you and your partner share.
Is your location meaningful to you both personally? Is it a gorgeous beach setting? Are you planning on having it in a romantic castle setting?
Selecting a location and then booking the venue early is essential! There are so many beautiful wedding venues to consider, so take your time when selecting.
Many venues for destination weddings are booked months or even years in advance, so make sure this is one of the first decisions you settle on.
3. Hire a Wedding Coordinator
When planning a local wedding, you may be able to get away with not hiring a wedding coordinator.
However, for a destination wedding, this expense is absolutely essential.
A wedding coordinator is going to be able to make sure all of your ducks are in a row so that when you arrive at your destination, you can be at ease and enjoy your wedding, rather than being stressed about the planning.
A wedding coordinator will have invaluable knowledge about the local life, the vendors that are best, and setting a realistic budget.
4. Selecting the Vendors In-Person
If at all possible, plan a trip to your destination months in advance so that you are able to select your vendors in person.
Anyone can make a gorgeous website, but meeting with vendors in-person will allow you to get a feel for the level of service they are offering. Your wedding coordinator and venue are both incredible resources that can help you narrow down the best vendors in your area.
5. Determine the Size of Your Guest List
Many people choose to have destination weddings and keep the guest list exclusive to the very closest of friends and family.
However, this isn’t always the case! If you are hoping to have a larger guest list, make sure that you send out your save-the-dates as early as possible.
When it comes to a destination wedding, your guests will need plenty of time to prepare for their travels. Advance notice will be appreciated by all!
6.Transporting Your Wedding Dress
When planning a destination wedding, it is essential to plan out how you are going to get all of your wedding materials to your destination ahead of time!
Chances are, you will be traveling with an extremely jam-packed suitcase. You will undoubtedly need to check some luggage as well.
No matter what— you should avoid checking your wedding dress. Travel with your wedding dress, even if it means you have to fold it!
Most likely, it won’t be the first time your airline has run into this. Once you are on your flight, consider asking the flight attendant if there is a location you can hang your wedding dress! Many times, this simple request goes a long way and will ensure that your wedding dress arrives in perfect condition with you.
7. Stay in Theme from Start to Finish
Once you have committed to a destination for your wedding, you will want to plan out the rest of the details in accordance with this “theme.”
This will factor into the decorations, the invitations, the table settings, and even your dress.
Use the beauty of your destination to inspire you! Many times, when it comes to destination weddings, less is more in terms of decorations. The location and the atmosphere will speak for themselves and allow you and your partner to shine on your wedding day.
What to Consider When Planning a Destination Wedding:
Now you know the top seven factors to consider when planning a destination wedding.
Having your wedding at an off-site, dream destination is a decision you won’t regret. A destination wedding allows you to extend your special day into a few different evenings. This will put you at ease so that you are relaxed at your wedding ceremony and able to focus on the moment.
Are you interested in learning more wedding tips? Be sure to check out our blog for more ideas.