How to Plan a Destination Wedding

With social media feeds full of aspirational destination wedding photography and a plethora of exotic landscapes, climates and wedding styles to choose from, it’s no wonder destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular. After all, who wouldn't want to say their vows in a golden hour haze with a stunning foreign vista stretching out behind them?!

Getting married abroad gives you 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 immerse yourself in the climate and culture of different parts of the world whilst embracing the customs and traditions that make these places so special.

For many couples, planning a destination wedding is a dream come true - what could be better than celebrating your love for each other in an exotic location whilst simultaneously having a massive holiday with all your friends and family?! Sounds good, right? If you’re dreaming of planning a destination wedding but haven't got a clue where to begin, we’ve got everything you need to start planning your celebration, let us guide you through the destination wedding planning process with some expert advice and solid recommendations!

Hire a destination wedding planner

Planning a destination wedding is a unique experience, but without some help and guidance, it could turn into quite a stressful task. Unlike a traditional wedding, you might have to navigate international travel, communicate in a different language and battle fluctuating conversation rates. This isn’t meant to put you off; it's merely a reality check! Venues that actively promote themselves as a destination wedding venue usually provide a coordinator as part of the service. This can be a huge 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 someone to help you bring all your destination wedding ideas to life. In fact, we recommend finding someone who is experienced in organising and delivering destination weddings, or even better, a local wedding planner based near your venue, that way, they will know local suppliers, can attend meetings and can retain a good working relationship with your venue.

All-inclusive packages

Even with the help of a wedding planner, the logistics of planning a wedding in a foreign country can be challenging! One way to make the entire planning process a whole lot easier is to seek out a wedding venue that offers a destination wedding package. Many venues will have a team of professional wedding planners, as well as a curated list of wedding vendors, stylists and local photographers for you to choose from. They'll help you with all the details of your wedding day so that all you need to do is show up and get married!

Whether you're dreaming of an outdoor wedding on a Greek island or a luxe resort wedding in Bali, though it might sound like the more expensive option, choosing an all-inclusive package can actually stop costs spiralling, help you stick to your wedding budget and save you a whole lot of stress when planning your wedding events!

Destination wedding invitations

Coordinating a large group of people in a foreign country can be a challenge, so make sure you provide them with as much information as possible from the start! Cover all the wedding details clearly on your wedding website, include them on your wedding invitations and keep in touch with your guests on a regular basis via email. Remember to give your wedding party plenty of notice so 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, not to mention the fact that this additional time gives your guests a little longer to save for the occasion.

The legal formalities

Legal marriage requirements vary wildly depending on your wedding destination, 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 ahead of your wedding date. 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, heck, why not give your wedding dress an extra outing and have two weddings?!

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 additional activities for your guests during their stay. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourselves in the local culture, soak up some sunshine or enjoy the natural beauty of your chosen wedding destination!

For an extra special experience, you could provide your friends and family with a travel guide beforehand so they can arrange their own and really make the most of their time away. That said, it's worth bearing in mind that your guests might be treating your wedding as a mini holiday for themselves too, so try not to fill every last second with excursions and activities. Make sure everyone gets a good chunk of free time, too, you don't want them going home feeling more tired than when they arrived!