Destination Wedding Trip: Plan Your Trip In A Perfect Way On A Dream Location
Having a destination wedding hundreds of miles from home guarantees a far more private ceremony and allows you to experience a wedding and honeymoon in one. However, organizing such an event is no simple task. Prior to flying off to a distant place to marry your sweetheart, there are a few critical factors to consider. We got down with planner Laurie Aarons, who is no stranger to hosting a spectacular wedding. Whether you’ve chosen a tropical party in the Bahamas, an island fête in Bali, or a romantic retreat in Tuscany, we’ve got you covered, from venue selection through day-of coordination.
Destination Wedding Trip Planning Tips
1. Select a place
When choosing a place, take in mind that it must be safe and equipped with all necessary supplies. That picturesque seaside village where you spent your childhood vacations will fail if the town’s one hotel is unable to handle all of your visitors or any of their accessibility or childcare needs. Additionally, check to see if there have been any recent travel warnings, political issues, or health concerns in the region; if there have been and you remain undeterred, ensure that your guests are fully informed—and that none of your guests will feel uncomfortable due to their religion, gender, or sexual preference.
2. Consider guest accommodations
While it is not required by etiquette to pay the expense of lodgings, it is a kind gesture to provide enough suggestions to accommodate a variety of budgets. From providing different gadgets to household chores, including outdoor folding chairs, crockeries, clothes and all the other things. Establishing room blocks might assist you in negotiating a cheaper rate and consolidating everyone in one location. Set your date only after you’ve confirmed that there are enough rooms for everyone.
3. Localize your purchases to save money
Arons suggests cutting expenses by adding regional blooms—think olive branches in Tuscany or exotic flowers in the tropics—and providing regional delicacies such as conch fritters in the Bahamas or carnitas in Cabo. Additionally, this results in an immersive experience inside the area that captivated your heart. You’re going to be spending a lot of money on this trip, so you may as well take advantage of all it has to offer.
4. Engage a professional
Locate a wedding planner or organiser who is experienced with destination weddings. This way, rather than spending hours on phone conversations attempting to overcome a language barrier or making executive choices from afar, an expert will handle everything for you. If hiring a planner is not feasible, seek for a resort with an experienced on-site coordinator.
5. Make an appointment in advance
You should visit your location once before booking and again three to four months before the wedding to settle arrangements. If a second trip is not feasible, plan to come at least five days early to make those selections and to schedule hair and makeup trials.
6. Vendors
Arrange appointments with well-known florists and rental firms in your location before your initial site visit. Arons advocates contacting your venue for references; you may discover local talent you were unaware of—and save money in the process. If you’re bringing in professionals from outside the country, you’ll need to fund their travel and housing expenses. Aarons emphasizes the need of staying at a clean, safe hotel within 30 minutes of your event. Negotiate these costs up front to avoid things spiraling out of control.
7. Additional events should be planned
Extend the day’s enjoyment by increasing the agenda. Guests will take part in a variety of additional activities to make their stay even more enjoyable. You do not need to attend the whole wedding weekend, but a welcome party to meet guests is a common alternative (either blending with or following the rehearsal dinner). Certain couples include engaging activities that highlight the area, such as group excursions or tastings. You may also conclude the wedding weekend in style by hosting a post-wedding breakfast or luncheon.
8. Protect your wedding with wedding insurance
When it comes to marrying in a foreign country, it’s wise to be prepared for the unexpected. Purchasing wedding insurance protects your financial investment and provides emotional security—plus, some venues demand it. It’s better to sign up well in advance (though some businesses may accommodate a shorter turnaround time) and to get completely aware of the plans available and the sort of coverage you’re purchasing.
9. Consider unforeseen costs
Destination weddings have an unusual reputation for being more affordable, but this is not always the case. Allow for unforeseen charges such as non-vendor gratuities, airport transfers, shipping costs, and baggage taxes in your budget. Additionally, adding a welcome party or day-after brunch will undoubtedly incur additional costs. Don’t forget to notify your credit card provider of your vacation plans to avoid being charged international transaction fees or, worse, having your card denied at the last minute. You’ll also want to bring some cash (in the local currency).
Ending Word
Planning a destination wedding trip to a dream location can be challenging and you need to be a pro at it to plan a quality destination wedding trip.
If you are willing to plan a destination wedding trip to any of your dream locations, you should google some of the best wedding planners and they will get it done for you.
