How to Plan a Destination Wedding

With exotic landscapes, climates and wedding styles to choose from, it’s no wonder destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Getting married abroad gives couples the opportunity to escape to an amazing, unique location where you can spend quality time with your loved ones, over a number of days, whilst celebrating your union and creating memories together along the way. Not forgetting being able to embrace the customs and traditions in different parts of the world that make them one of a kind. Sounds good right? If you’re wondering how to plan a destination wedding, we’ve got some expert advice to get you started.

Hire a wedding planner

Planning a destination wedding is a unique experience, but without some help and guidance it could turn into quite a stressful task. On top of the usual wedding planning admin you might have to navigate travel plans, communicate in a different language and battle fluctuating conversation rates. This isn’t meant to put you off, merely just a reality check! Venues that actively promote themselves as a destination wedding venue usually provide a coordinator as part of the service. This is already a help because they are familiar with the venue, they speak the language and have hopefully planned a number of destination weddings already. If this isn’t the case, we’d highly recommend hiring a planner. Either one that is experienced in organising and delivering destination weddings or one that is based near your venue. That way they will know local suppliers, can attend meetings and can retain a good working relationship with your venue.

Destination wedding invitations

Coordinating a large group of people to a different country can be a challenge so make sure you provide them with as much information. Cover everything in your wedding website information, include it on your wedding invitations and keep in touch with your guests on a regular basis via email. Remember to give your guests plenty of notice so that they can book flights, hotels, secure visas, update passports etc beforehand. We’d recommend sending your destination wedding invitations out 12 months in advance to ensure a good turnout. Plus this additional time gives your guests little longer to save for the occasion.

The legal formalities

Legal marriage requirements vary wildly around the world. So before you make too many plans just make sure that you can get legally married at your destination wedding venue. Depending on your country of choice, you might need additional documents, vaccinations, or attend meetings in person beforehand. If this proves too difficult you could always get legally married at home before jetting off with your loved ones for the blessing and celebration.

Extra touches

It’s likely you and your guests will be staying at your destination wedding location for a number of days. Considering the wedding might only take up one or two of these days it might be a nice idea to plan some additional activities for your guests during their stay. Or you could provide them with a travel guide beforehand so they can arrange their own and really make the most of their time away. Your guests might be treating your wedding as a mini holiday for themselves too so try not to fill every day with excursions and activities, everyone will enjoy having some free time too.