Planning Your Destination Wedding
Have you ever dreamed of having a destination wedding but not sure where to begin? There are many different reasons brides and grooms desire a destination wedding.
If your family lives in different parts of the world, they will need to travel for your wedding. So if they’re already travelling, why not gather everyone in a different city or country for a memorable getaway.
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of getting married somewhere other than where you live. Whether it’s a Caribbean resort, a quaint New England Inn or a romantic European villa, the world is full of options.
Perhaps you want to manage your costs a little more closely. It’s hard to say definitively whether a destination wedding costs more or less than an at-home wedding. However, it’s slightly easier to manage your costs in a faraway locale. A great way to save money on your wedding is to trim your guest list. If you have a destination wedding chances are your guest list will be smaller than if you were to have an at-home wedding. This in turn will lead to some cost savings.
Your vendor choices might be small should you decide to have a destination wedding as you may be limited by what the hotel or resort offers. Since you’re planning from afar, however, you’re likely to be happy with the hotel’s suggestions. This will save you a lot of time as you won’t be able to meet with as many vendors as you would should you have an at-home wedding. This might be a good thing!
Whatever your reason for having a destination wedding, there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, start planning early. It will take you time to figure out which destination is best for you. You might find one you like but upon further investigation, you realize it’s too expensive and it’s not going to work. So start planning early and give your guests plenty of notice for your destination wedding. Whereas sending invitations approximately 8 weeks in advance of an at-home wedding is fine, you’ll need to give at least 4 months’ notice to your invited guests for a destination wedding.
Secondly, stick to your budget. It’s easier to keep track of costs for a destination wedding as opposed to an at-home wedding because destination weddings offer all-inclusive packages. In other words, you book your destination and with that comes the venue, DJ, A/V, caterer, linens and possibly florist, photographer and videographer. The package deals they offer tend to be quite good so check them out and compare prices.
Thirdly, keep the lines of communication open with your guests. Tell them you plan to have a destination wedding and send out save-the-date cards as soon as you know when and where you’ll be wed. Start a wedding website to keep guests apprised of details. Set aside blocks of hotel rooms and post the information on the wedding website for all to see. You can also post useful information such as a suggested packing list and itinerary for the wedding.
Fourthly, it’s important to take care of your guests beyond the wedding. Some welcoming touches will be very much appreciated. Providing things like a map of the resort and surrounding areas and a list of local attractions will be well received by your guests. Arrange for a special outing either before or after the wedding – hiking, kayaking, parasailing or a site-seeing tour are all great options. If the budget allows, offer your guests flip flops, ear plugs (in case the music gets too loud), disposable cameras, and wedding favours. These little touches go a long way.
Finally, be sure to make any special arrangements in advance. If someone needs a wheelchair or crib in their room, arrange that with the hotel prior to your guests’ arrival. It’s the small things that count.
If you decide to have a destination wedding, be comfortable with your choice and try not to micromanage every detail of the wedding. Have faith and trust in the resort/hotel you choose. In the end, it’s all about the person you are marrying. Everything else is just a bonus.
Raquel Sananes Grad is the Principal Event & Wedding Planner of RSG Events. For a worry-free affair and all your event planning needs, contact Raquel. 416-398-0217 or raquel@rsgevents.ca
