How to Have a Great Destination Wedding
Having a destination wedding at an exotic location is a dream-come-true that requires extensive planning and organization. Getting married at a far-away location in a different culture surrounded by your friends and family is indeed an experience of a lifetime; however, your wedding getaway need not be a cause of stress and anxiety for you and your fiancé.
You can save yourself a ton of unnecessary effort by booking a venue that’s experienced in holding superlative destination weddings that combine the best of luxury, experience and comfort for the bride and groom as well as their guests.
If you have chosen a far-away destination for your wedding reception, here are 5 tips that will help you plan your wedding to the last detail.
Lay down your priorities
Begin with discussing with your partner the kind of wedding you both want. If the bride wants an exotic beach wedding in the Caribbean and the groom wants to get married in Europe, both need to reach a consensus, and soon. Our recommendation for grooms is to let the bride have her way—you won’t regret it.
Furthermore, having a tentative budget right from the start helps narrow down your choices, as do the number of guests and the time of year. For instance, if you’re getting married when it’s hurricane season in the Caribbean, you’ll need to rethink the location. Additionally, it helps to choose the same or nearby location for your honeymoon as it saves travel costs and gives you the opportunity for an extended vacation after the guests leave.
Be thoughtful of your wedding party
It’s no fun getting married in isolation, which is why you’re inviting your friends and family to be a part of this special occasion. When researching the right location and resort for your destination wedding, it is important to keep your guests in mind. While you cannot cater to a wide range of personal likes and dislikes, effort must be made to consider if most of your guests would be willing and able to travel to your chosen destination during those dates. Also check if the resort you want to book is family-friendly and offers sufficient activities for all ages in case you’re planning for you guests to stay longer than a day or two.
How to Have a Great Destination Wedding
Wedding experts recommend booking a property that offers accommodation and recreation and not just a reception venue. Additionally, if seniors in the family are attending, avoid choosing a location that’s too remote and does not have essential medical facilities. Make a decision keeping your guest list in mind.
Choose an all-inclusive package
Whether planning your wedding, honeymoon, or vow renewal, it’s wise to book an all-inclusive vacation deal. All-inclusive wedding and vow-renewal packages offered by the good resorts have a host of great inclusions at a much lower price. From assigning you a personal wedding coordinator to taking care of your guests to organizing special events just for your wedding party, all-inclusive beach resorts do it all, provided you pick a brand that has the experience and the expertise to hold bespoke destination weddings.
For instance, you can Renew vows at a luxury beachfront resort in the Caribbean by taking a customized vacation package that offers several luxury inclusions and special perks.
Don’t meddle too much with a preset wedding theme
If you’ve chosen a seasoned destination wedding hotel or resort, it’s best to leave your wedding planning to the experts. Most such properties offer a range of preset themes to choose from, and these themes are designed in tandem with the culture and feel of the location. Go with the theme that infuses a bit of local culture into a luxe setting of your choice. This way you and your guests will get to experience the destination in its true spirit.
So, whether it’s fresh flowers or seasonal fruits and vegetables, include items in your wedding décor and menu that reflect why you chose this location in the first place.
Don’t stress out
Lastly, it’s no easy task to plan your wedding at a location that is thousands of miles away from home, but it’s not impossible either. Don’t let the small stresses get to you—stay organized, follow a budget and keep a list of the things you’ve got done and those that still need your attention.
Let your family members take over some of the responsibilities, such as getting place cards for the tables at the reception venue. Delegate as much as you can, and take it easy!
