From a white, sandy beach to a breathtaking snow-capped mountain, destination weddings are always a magical event for everyone from the bride and groom planning to the guests attending. Planning for – and hosting – a destination wedding can be a stressful process since you do not have all the resources right at your fingertips like you would when planning a local wedding. To ease your mind, and eliminate some stressful situations, we’ve pulled together our list of things to do and not to do when planning a destination wedding to ensure guests will be talking about your celebration for years to come – in the best way possible.
DO Account for Your Guests
Will your grandparents be able to make the trip? Will your pregnant older sister be able to fly? Do your friends have enough vacation to take time off work to attend? While most destination weddings are smaller in size, it is necessary to ensure the important people in your life will all be able to attend before committing to a destination wedding.
DO NOT Follow a Normal Wedding Timeline
When it comes to Save the Dates and wedding invitations, do not follow a normal timeline for inviting guests. If you are asking guests to plan a mini-vacation around your wedding day, it is necessary to provide them with at least one year notice.
DO Keep Everything Wedding-Related in the Same Spot
Keeping in mind that most, if not all, of your guests will not have a means of transportation, it is important to keep all wedding-related events in the same location. Hosting everything at an all-inclusive resort is a fantastic option, but if that is not possible, providing transportation for your guests works, as well.
DO NOT Book a Venue Sight Unseen
While there will always be little surprises that pop up on a wedding weekend, you don’t want your venue to be one of those! Plan a trip prior to booking to walk through all areas of the resort or venue, determine where guests will stay, and any logistical elements of the wedding celebration.
DO Hire a Local Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding from afar can be difficult, but working with someone who is familiar with your venue and location can eliminate many headaches. Most resorts, or venues that host destination weddings, will have an on-site coordinator that can help with the wedding planning process.