With the cold weather upon us, the thought of a destination wedding in the Caribbean or anywhere where you’re not freezing your tail off sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not too far-fetched. The thought of a destination wedding has become more appealing to many couples searching for charm, romance and beauty. It is a growing trend amongst today’s adventurous couples.
Whether it’s a beach wedding in the Caribbean, a savory wedding filled with cheese and wine in Italy, an exciting cruise where you wake up every morning in a different port or country or a romantic wedding in Paris under the stars, the choices are endless. Though every wedding is unique whether you are having a local wedding or a destination wedding, destination weddings offer the excitement of saying your vows in an exotic location that offers plenty to do after you say, “I do.”
Cost is often a factor when couples are deciding on whether to have a destination wedding versus a local wedding. Having a destination wedding can save the couple money in some instances. Locations such as Mexico, Bahamas and Jamaica are perfect for the budget conscious couple, and then there are locations such as Hawaii and Fiji that are typically for couples who don’t mind spending a little extra for their dream wedding. In either case, a wedding away from home offers the perfect breathtaking backdrop for that one of a kind wedding. Most resorts are all-inclusive, which means that guests will have already paid for their all-inclusive package so couples will not have to pay for guest meals and drinks for the reception, but this will depend on the resort.
If a couple decides that a destination wedding is the path to take, creative save-the-dates can be sent to guests four to six months ahead of time to allow guests ample time to plan on attending the wedding. A weekend-long destination wedding may not fit into everyone’s schedule or budget, and travel can be hard on elderly guests, so be prepared to receive several RSVPs indicating that several guests are not able to attend. You may want to have a celebration of your love when you return and invite all those guests who were not able to make it to your destination wedding.
Pulling together a destination wedding can be a daunting task, but it is well worth it. It can be done if you plan ahead and utilize resources such as wedding planners and travel consultants. Wedding planners can truly be your best friends through the entire wedding planning months and can help ease the stresses that come with the details of planning a wedding, especially a destination wedding where you don’t have everything at your fingertips.
Most wedding planners already have traveled to many of the hot locations where couples are getting married, or if they have not, it’s really not a big deal. It’s their job to make sure they ask the right questions, negotiate contracts on your behalf, work with the legalities and tourist board, recommend quality vendors, keep you within budget, accommodate all your guests’ needs, as well as your needs, and keep you on track and on time. Travel consultants can help you with getting that perfect travel bargain, as well as getting a reduced group rate on airfare for yourselves, your family and your wedding party.
The first step is to visualize your fantasy destination wedding and prepare your guest list. Remember, the more guests, the more expensive your destination wedding will be. You want your guests to walk away from your weekend wedding saying how much they enjoyed themselves, so make sure there are plenty of activities for your guests before and after the wedding day. Most importantly, remember to have fun and relax.
Questions about planning a destination wedding? Ask now, it’s free.
