Top 3 Tips For Planning A Destination Wedding
So, you have decided to finally tie the knot with that special person. Congratulations! Because the two of you have decided to start your very exciting journey together as a married couple, the next few months will be filled with planning and organizing. As exciting and overwhelming as it can get, just keep reminding yourself that this is simply the door that opens up to the rest of your life.
Deciding what kind of wedding you want is a big deal, and if you have landed on a destination wedding, you have come to the right place! Having a destination wedding can be a magical and unforgettable experience. But in the same breath, it can be challenging, frustrating and expensive. So, in order to pull off a wedding that won’t break the bank, won’t turn you grey and that will leave you with long-lasting memories, we thought we would give you some hints on how to go about planning the perfect destination wedding.
Do Your Research. Thoroughly!
This cannot be stressed enough. Having a local wedding is one thing, but having a destination wedding comes laden with its extra challenges and pitfalls. You will need to choose your destination carefully. A destination wedding at a place that you have never been before is highly risky and unexpected and nasty surprises could pop up from anywhere! Our first piece of advice is to either visit the area and venue beforehand or send someone who can visit it for you to ascertain how suitable the place is for your big day.
The invention of the Internet has truly made life so much easier, and this includes planning weddings. But, don’t fall into the Internet trap either. Just because something looks great on the net, doesn’t mean it is in real life. Believing what you see online can be one of your greatest downfalls if you are planning a wedding for a place you have never been to!
If you have visited the area and are picking out the perfect spot, make sure you do research into every single option that you have in the area. Compare venues and the packages that they offer for weddings carefully. Say, for example, you’ve already been to Jamaica, and you fell in love with one particular plantation called Rose Hall. Make sure that when you are looking at wedding packages at Rose Hall you learn everything you need to know about the venue such as their accessibility, the wedding favors, the music, and the facilities that they have, as well as any other tour they might offer while you’re there. Your guests need to be thoroughly entertained after all. Read the fine print and examine every bit of the package to make sure it suits your needs.
Give Your Guests Advanced Warning
Not only is this the polite thing to do, but it’s vital to have those closest to you attend your special day. Don’t be one of those couples that plan a wedding day completely out of the way and expect everyone to attend it at their own expense. You need to come to terms with the fact that some people simply won’t be able to make it.
Not only will your guests need to start saving up for travel, accommodation and living expenses, but they will need to take time off work and fit your special day around their lives. Giving very advanced warning will allow them to start making preparations to fit your special day into their lives.
As we mentioned before, some people simply won’t be able to make it, and you need to be able to deal with that. In fact, many couples create an alternative celebration event for those who cannot witness to the big day. In this way, you are making sure that everyone is included to celebrate the beginning of your new life together.
Think About The Dress
The wedding dress is considered to be one of the biggest elements of the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding, you need to make sure you get a few things right about the dress first. Firstly, you need to consider the fact that the dress should suit the environment and the surroundings of your venue. A beach wedding will need a completely different dress to that of a cathedral wedding. You will also need to consider the climate and weather when picking your dress. Make sure you research this thoroughly before picking out something that will totally not suit the season.
You will also need to consider how you will be transporting the dress. Wedding dresses are usually larger and more fragile to transport than your average luggage. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t dream of folding it up and crushing it into your suitcase, would you? Our advice is to make sure that you take it on the plane with you. You can contact your airline and find out how they can assist you, or even book a business or first-class ticket for special priority.
Make sure you buy a garment bag for the dress and if need be, ask an air hostess to assist you in storing it in the overheads. Just make sure you check the airline’s carry-on requirements before simply booking, otherwise, you will find yourself having to check it in, which you simply don’t want! Carry a steamer with you for when you reach your destination!
Wrapping Up
As much as this is your special day, you need to keep your guests in mind at all times. They will be traveling in from various destinations to you. You also need to keep in mind that you are bringing different families and friend groups together, possibly for the first time. A destination wedding is a great opportunity to create great bonding experiences for everyone involved. Make sure that once your guests arrived and have rested that there are clear plans and activities for the group to interact, mix and feel comfortable. This will be the perfect foundation for the rest of the wedding and the time spent together. Group meals meet and greets and planned social activities are ideal to break the ice and start off the celebrations on the right foot!