Wanting To Travel For Your Wedding?

Wanting To Travel For Your Wedding?

Destination Wedding Advice

A new and rapidly growing trend is for young couples to abandon the traditional wedding setting in favor of a more exotic location for their special day. Whether it’s saying “I do” on a white sand beach or in front of the Cinderella Castle in Disney World, a destination wedding is desirable for many reasons. For the budget-conscious, destination weddings are significantly less expensive, due mostly to a smaller guest list. In most cases, only close family and friends will attend which spares the couple from expensive receptions involving a hundred or more guests. Whatever the reason you're attracted to this type of wedding; there are a few things to keep in mind as you plan.

1. Plan well in advance

Although a destination wedding has many perks, the planning process needs to be accelerated when compared to your typical wedding. It’s super important to get a headcount before choosing your destination. You’d be surprised how many people are yearning for a getaway, or on the flip side, how many aren’t. This places considerable importance on save-the-date cards. It’s crucial to send them out as early as possible; preferably 8 months in advance. Giving your guests a considerable advanced notice allows them to plan their budget and schedule. A tip to remember is to avoid holidays. Airfare and hotel rates will skyrocket during these times.







2. Options, options, options…

The allure of throwing a destination wedding is the seemingly endless possibilities for the location. Nearly every resort or hotel in destination locations offers wedding packages which accommodate your needs and any number of guests. This can ease the planning process tremendously.







3. Cater to your guests

It’s your wedding so it’s all about you, right? Wrong. When incorporating travel into your wedding it’s important to be sensitive to your guests and their needs. While it isn’t your obligation to pay for the entire trip there are things you can do to make the wedding more financially feasible for your guests. One idea is to forego a gift registry. Think of their attendance as a gift in itself and advise your guests of this fact. You should also provide several options for hotel accommodations at varying price levels so that people on different budgets have options to consider. It’s also a polite touch to make sure there is transportation awaiting your guests at the airport.

4. Don’t do it alone!

The thought of planning your wedding in a different language and time zone, not to mention calculating the cost in a different currency may seem terrifying. Luckily there are people who are qualified and trained to specifically plan destination weddings. Destination wedding consultants have the resources and experience to get things done quickly and without a hitch. The consultant will think of many things you may have overlooked, such as the local marriage legal requirements, and will give you the heads-up on reputable vendors. Many resorts will include a consultant in the cost of their wedding packages. This can help smooth over the bumps of language barriers and cultural differences and make the process of planning from afar much easier.


xoxo

Chelsea