Destination weddings are indeed something special; whether you choose tropical islands like Bali or Koh Samui or a lush forest in California. But planning your wedding while hundreds of miles away from the wedding destination can be tough. To ensure that wedding celebrations run smoothly, here are the must-know do’s and don’ts of destination weddings.
Do’s
Keep Your Guests In Mind
Destination weddings are amazing if you and all your closest family and friends love to travel. If you want your grandparents or pregnant friends to witness you saying “I do”, then maybe save the traveling for the honeymoon and rather opt for an at-home wedding.
Get A Local Wedding Planner
No matter where you decide to get married, get a local wedding planner who can deal with local vendors directly and in the local language. Plus, a local wedding planner can keep things on track before you get to the destination.
Visit Your Venue
A massive expense that is often forgotten is a site inspection. The last thing you need to drive at your wedding destination only to realize that it looks nothing like the photos. Plus, doing a walkthrough of the space means you’ll have a better understanding of how everything works.
Find Out About Noise Restrictions
This specifically important if you are getting married at a hotel or resort. Even if you plan to book every room in the building, you might not be allowed to have any music or loud noise after a specific time.
Pick An All-Inclusive Location
Make your planning process a simple on by opting for an all-inclusive resort or hotel. It will allow you to pay one party and let them do the planning, negotiating, and all other prep work.
Don’ts
Don’t Procrastinate
No matter how big or small your wedding is, the one thing you don’t want to do is procrastinate. You will need a bit more time to plan a destination wedding. Plus you need to give your guests at least a year’s notice to ensure that they get the time off work and can make their travel plans.
Don’t Hope That Someone Will Cancel
You have to assume that if you invite someone, they will be attending your wedding – especial with destination weddings. If you start playing the numbers game, you might find yourself stuck with too many people for the resort, hotel, or venue can accommodate.
Don’t Try To Bring-It-Yourself
The only thing you should be bringing across the border is your wedding dress. Everything else – flowers, favors, decor, etc. – should be purchased at the destination. Remember that you’ll need to declare everything with customs and even pay tax on it. That’s why it’s a great idea to use an Amazon Registry instead of having your guests bring the gifts to the wedding….less stuff to carry and more savings in your pocket!
Create your Amazon Wedding Registry here
Don’t Leave Your Guests Broke
Remember that your guests are spending their hard-earned money to join you at your wedding. So make it easy on their bank balance by negotiating a deal with the resort or hotel that everyone is staying.
Planning your destination wedding, but on a tight budget? Check out our blog post ‘Top 5 Cheap Destination Wedding Locations‘ for some affordable destination options.
