What You Need to Know When Planning a Destination Wedding

We totally get the appeal of a destination wedding: all your favourite people in a gorgeous location away from home, being able to extend the wedding celebrations, the weather, the relaxed vibe—the list goes on! Destination weddings offer a unique blend of adventure, intimacy, and stunning scenery that sets them apart from more local traditional weddings. However, there is quite a lot to factor in when planning your dream destination wedding, so for anyone who's considering saying I do in a far-flung location, keep reading for some top tips on everything you need to know along the way.

Planning and preparation

Whether you've made the decision or are still weighing up your options, a good way to help you make that final decision is to consider all the pros and cons of destination weddings. Firstly, consider the potential costs and benefits of hosting a destination wedding, but you must also think about all the logistics involved, including travel and accommodation for you and your guests.

Get organised:

Creating a destination wedding planning checklist will help you stay super organised from the very beginning! But before you get carried away with dreamy venues and delicious local cuisines, one of the first things you should do is find out about the legal requirements. Every country will have their own rules and regulations on the legalities of marriage abroad, so make sure you've done your research thoroughly.

Plan a destination wedding budget:

Along with a detailed wedding budget, it's advisable to include a cushion for unexpected costs that will undoubtedly crop up along the way; factor everything in from flights, accommodation, food, and drink, and a buffer for those unlimited margaritas you buy everyone at the bar on the first night!

Create a wedding website:

A wedding website with RSVP is the perfect tool for couples embarking on the destination wedding planning journey. To drum up excitement for guests attending, send your save the dates, online wedding invitations, and even thank you cards all digitally, saving you money, time, and unnecessary stress along the way. When planning a destination wedding, we always recommend sending your save the dates out as early as possible, giving guests plenty of notice to save up and book time off work.

Better to be safe than sorry:

All couples, regardless of whether you’re having a wedding abroad or at home should be taking out wedding insurance to cover any mishaps and for peace of mind should anything go wrong. However, you'll still need travel insurance to cover medical and travel-related issues whilst you're away, too!

Choosing the perfect destination

When it comes to picking a location for your wedding, the world's your oyster, whether you fancy tropical beach vibes in Fiji, European romance in Italy, or a cultural fiesta in Bali. Before you commit, think about the weather, culture, architecture, travel considerations, and legalities.

Once you’ve narrowed down the location, look for venues that offer all-inclusive packages, as this will make the planning journey as smooth as possible. While the notion of planning every detail to match your dream wedding sounds appealing, the convenience and stress-free process of a wedding package are certainly more attractive. Destination wedding packages can come in all shapes and sizes (and price points!), so don't feel like you'll be limited by choice.

If it's viable, consider visiting the wedding venue before the big event to ensure it’s the right fit for you. That way, you can meet the wedding planner, have menu tastings, and really get a feel for the place and how it might be to host your day there. Local wedding planners will ensure there are no hiccups along the way; they will be able to provide that local knowledge that you may lack, so take all the advice they offer!

If it's not possible to view the venue in person pre-wedding, be aware of plans getting lost in translation, have video calls with the venue, and be really clear with what you want, following all calls up in writing to ensure everyone's on the same page.

Wedding logistics and vendors

You know when you go on holiday, and you overpack, taking home a load of clothes that haven't been worn but still need washing? Well, bear this in mind when packing for your wedding, especially if you're headed for sunnier climbs. Consider your suitcase allowance and try to pack accordingly.

When shopping for your wedding outfits, consider that you’ll have to carry them on a plane. Consider the size, weight, and fragility of every item and make sure to carry your wedding dress and suit on the plane above your head to avoid any nasty surprises on the other end.

Your venue will be able to recommend trusted suppliers that they have previously worked with, but if you're considering doing your own research and finding external vendors, research how they handle international payments and plan accordingly. Remember to also go along to meetings with a detailed list of questions to ask to ensure they can deliver exactly what you want!

Guest experience and communication

Of course, weddings are expensive for the couple, but they can also end up quite expensive for the people attending, too! Especially if you’re asking them to travel to a different country and stay for a few days. Therefore, it’s only fair to consider and work out the financial burden on your guests, giving your wedding party as much notice as possible to be able to get organised ahead of time.

A destination wedding longs for a wedding website to aid you with the wedding planning process but also to keep your wedding guests in the loop with plans. Not only can you take advantage of all the features wedding websites offer, such as digital RSVPs and online checklists, but you can also eliminate all those unnecessary emails flooding in from guests by creating an FAQ with answers to all their burning questions.

Destination wedding planning tips

Consider a mid-week celebration: If your budget is a little tight, there are plenty of creative ways to save money along the way. For example, you could plan a wedding out of season to save on costs, meaning travel will be cheaper, too. However, keep the weather in mind if you go off-season; you could be celebrating in torrential downpours!

Don't put off booking flights: Try to book flights as early as possible to ensure availability and get the best prices for everyone. When you know the numbers, being able to block-book travel and accommodation will help keep costs down, too.

Have an intimate celebration: Destination weddings tend to be smaller affairs and fewer guests mean less stress; keeping things on the smaller side helps keep costs down but means you'll have more quality time with guests when you've landed at your dream location.

Finalising the details

Once you've confirmed the wedding date and finalised your wedding itinerary, send out invites at least four months before the big day. (You would have already sent out your save the dates to ensure all your loved ones can be there). Chase any outstanding RSVPs and remind guests to ensure they have travel and accommodation sorted; this can all be communicated via your wedding website and updated along the way.

It goes without saying, but remember to confirm all the details, seating arrangements, and wedding itinerary with your vendors and suppliers before you get to the location to ensure everything is locked in so that as soon as you land, the celebrations can begin!