Are you bored of attending weddings in your hometown? Want to plan a destination wedding that everyone will remember? Well, we understand you! The joy of planning a wedding that takes all your loved ones into a new city to experience the celebration that is your wedding, just cannot be described by words. But wait, planning a destination wedding needs a whole different checklist compared to planning a wedding in your city. That’s why we’re here with the most essential tips for planning a destination wedding!
Choose Your Destination Wisely
When you search for destination wedding options on Google, it provides endless options. It is overwhelming, but before you begin the search, understand what your requirements are and note them down. This will make the process easier and faster. How your guests will travel, how much time it takes for travel, and whether there are things to do for your guests apart from the wedding, all of these are points to consider while choosing a destination.
Scout the Scene Before You Say “I Do”
While pictures do say a thousand words, they do not give you the experience of walking into a venue in person. Though technology has gotten us very far in planning events, it is still advisable to scout the wedding venue at least once before you decide to go ahead with it. If you are unable to travel, this job can be entrusted to a family member or even your wedding planner.
Budget, Budget, Budget
Weddings are an expensive affair, but destination weddings have a lot of unforeseen expenses that arise at the last minute. Therefore, planning your budget months is essential to be prepared for the big day. Pay off or set aside money for agreed-upon vendors at least 2-3 weeks before the wedding to help you free up some budget for last-minute expenses.
Be Best Friends with Your Wedding Planner
A destination wedding is often in a new city where you might have no idea where to purchase something as small as a safety pin. Each wedding is different and communicating your needs to your wedding planner in advance is essential to ensure that there are no hassles on the D-Day. Be it a family member’s allergies or the white jasmines that remind you of your grandmother, communicate it all to your wedding planner. After all, they’re the ones in charge of ensuring your dream day comes to life.
Send Early Save-The-Dates
Your guests need to know as early as possible. It is very unrealistic to expect them to drop all their work and travel for your wedding. Send your save-the-dates as soon as you have decided on the date or the venue so that they can plan their work and travel around those times.
Consider The Weather
Your guests are traveling for your wedding, but they’re also making a trip out of it. If your wedding is in an A/C hall but the outdoors is hot and sticky, they’re not going to have the greatest of times. Plan your destination and wedding in months that have comfortable weather. Let your guests enjoy every bit of the travel and not just your wedding day.
Create A Wedding Website
From the save-the-date to the digital invite and travel bookings, a lot of information must go to your wedding guests. To make sure that there is clear communication, the best way to do it is to create a wedding website. Any schedule changes can be noted there and everyone will receive the same information.
Book Accommodation for Guests
The biggest challenge in planning destination weddings is to book accommodations for guests since not all of them send confirmation regarding their travel earlier. Try to sort out a deal with the hotel/resort where you can confirm a minimum number of rooms and keep a few extra on standby so that unexpected guests will have accommodation even at the last minute.
Plan For Photography
It is wise to choose a wedding photographer who is local to the destination since they will know the best spots to cover. But in the off chance that you choose an out-of-city photographer, give them a brief of the destination and the venue. Tell them to arrive a little earlier to scout the scene so that they know where all to shoot during the actual wedding.
Choose Local Wedding Favors
Let your guests take a little piece of your destination with them as a memory of your wedding. Choose from homegrown brands or local artisans to curate wedding favors that reflect your personality.
Arrange for Transportation of Guests
If you’re planning a wedding in a far-off location, ensure that you plan standby transportation for guests who would need to travel around town. Map out the arrival and departure schedules of all your guests to book shared transportation to save you some bucks.
Add Local Cuisine to The Menu
Add a touch of local flavors to your wedding feast for your guests to enjoy. The perks of planning a destination wedding are that nothing must be done by the book. Plan one traditional meal for the main ceremony and have a local feast for another celebration!
Plan a Welcome Event
A wedding in India is the union of families and not just two people. A destination wedding is the best scenario for both families to get to know each other better. Plan a welcome event on the first day when all your guests arrive and have icebreaker activities to help ease them into each other. This can be a fun addition to the wedding celebrations.
Don’t Overcrowd the Schedule
Try to keep your wedding schedule comfortable for you and your guests. Multiple events, multiple themes, and multiple dress changes can make it confusing and overwhelming for everyone involved. Allow more time for socializing for your guests without making them travel around for multiple events.
Create An Itinerary for Guests
Your guests are traveling from another city to be at your wedding. Which means that they probably would have kept their entire schedule at your disposal. If your wedding is only for a short while on some days, let them know in advance. Plan an itinerary that has pockets of free time and what they can do in the city in that time. This ensures that they go back with a lot more memories than just your wedding.
Have a Contingency Plan
Sometimes it feels like Murphy’s Law was made for weddings: “Anything can go wrong, will go wrong.” As wedding planners, we’re always prepared for the worst and know how to deal with things that may go wrong at weddings. And it goes without saying that destination weddings need extra planning. Speak to your wedding planner and understand what elements need a backup plan and have that set even if it may cost a little more money. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Plan for Health and Safety
You never know when a medical emergency may arise. Make sure your wedding planner is aware of how to deal with one if it arises. Your guests’ safety is of utmost importance especially if the wedding is happening at an uncommon location.
Be Flexible
Not everything happens according to the way you want in a wedding. Learn to lose some battles, to win the war. A lot of people may have opinions on how things should be done, so be a little flexible in your planning as a destination wedding is a lot harder to plan than an in-city wedding.
Plan to Chill
As much as it is important not to crowd the schedule of your guests, it’s also essential to do the same for yourself. Do not plan one thing after another. Set aside some time in your day to catch up with some sleep or even just chill with your family. This is the sort of quality time that you’ll never get again, so cherish it.
Enjoy the Process
A lot of brides, grooms, and family members lose sleep and peace of mind while planning destination weddings. It is surely not easy, but it is something that you’ll be doing only once in your lifetime. Enjoy the process instead of seeing it as a burden. Making decisions big or small with your fiancé is just a stepping stone to what your marriage will be like for the rest of your life. Make the process as enjoyable as possible.
You might know all the above points already, but very few people put all of them into practice and end up struggling through the wedding planning process. The best way to plan a destination wedding is to plan it in advance with an experienced wedding planner. If you need guidance on how to begin the process, reach out to us now!
At The Tales of Tradition, we weave your dream wedding into reality, offering comprehensive wedding services. Our expertise in grand event planning ensures every detail mirrors your unique story. Entrust us with your special day for an unforgettable blend of tradition, beauty, and seamless execution. Let us turn your wedding aspirations into a beautifully orchestrated reality.
