You want your destination wedding to go off perfectly, with the bride floating down the aisle, the shrimp perfectly chilled and all the guests smiling and having a great time. The secret to a perfect destination wedding is a lot of work behind the scenes. Here are ten top tips for planning the destination wedding of your lifetime:
- Determine your budget. According to Bride’s Magazine, the cost of a destination wedding (average price tag about $24,000) tends to be nearly $3,000 less than that of a non-destination wedding. The reason? Fewer invited guests are likely to attend a wedding that requires long distance travel.
- Give yourselves plenty of time to plan. You’ll need it, I promise. Also, guests need advance notice to plan vacation time to attend your wedding and may need several months to save up to afford it.
- Think about your guest’s budgets. The average cost to attend a destination wedding is $1,500 – are there guests that you wouldn’t want to miss the wedding but who won’t be able to take on that kind of expense? Are you willing (or able) to help pay for them to attend?
- Use a professional travel agent. Most brides, grooms or their family members plan only one destination wedding in their lifetimes. Travel agents work with resorts, tour companies, spas and cruise lines every day, and build their careers around other people’s vacations. They will handle hotel or cruise contracts, air flights, room reservations, individual payments, changes, add-ons, insurance, transfers and myriad other details (things you really don’t want to have to do). Using a travel agent does not cost a nickel more than booking things yourself, and they can add a great deal to the experience with their expertise.
- Decide on the Destination: Do you want a mega-resort with multiple dining options, nightlife, casinos, and shows? Or are you looking for a quiet retreat away from the crowds? Beach or mountains? Tropical paradise or winter wonderland? Pick a destination with things that both the bride and groom will enjoy, ideally with options that will entertain your guests as well.
- Ask about incentives & upgrades. Many popular wedding & honeymoon destinations offer “free” wedding packages if the bride & groom stay 7-nights or longer, offer upgraded rooms if you purchase their wedding package, and include amenities like champagne and breakfast in bed for honeymooners.
- If a Wedding Package is offered, find out exactly what it includes. How many flowers? Will chairs be decorated? If there is a chapel will that be decorated? How big is the cake? How long is the reception, can it be extended? Is the champagne toast extra? What about music? Is there someone on staff to do hair and make-up for the bride and bridesmaids? Are there additional costs for licenses and officiants? Is the ceremony conducted in English or in another language? Will yours be the only ceremony that day or one of several? If you’re planning an outdoor (i.e. beach) ceremony what is the venue in case of inclement weather?
- Determine the legalities. If you marry outside the country are you legally married in the US? Does your destination have a 3-day residency requirement? What documents do you need to marry in the country to which you are traveling? It may be best to have a civil ceremony at home and just a celebratory ceremony at the destination.
- Get a 3-ring binder and dividers with pocket tabs. You’ll need them for invitation lists, RSVP’s, menus, contact information, contracts and printouts of ideas for everything from dresses to table favors, cake flavors, centerpieces and color schemes.
- Take more money than you think you’ll need. Even if everything is paid for in advance at an all-inclusive resort, you may want to take optional tours, buy souvenirs, swim with dolphins, play the casino and treat yourself to some spa-time or a round or two of golf.
