Top 5 tips when planning a destination wedding from pro planner Wed in Central Park
We hear from our PACT CREW member Claire at Wed in Central Park in part two of her pro tips, this time more generally on what to think about when planning a destination wedding. Ooo she’s good, the real talk but with real advice and solutions to guide you through. Over to you Claire, and thank you so much for this wonderfully practical piece.
Big thanks also to the fab Sarah Burton Weddings who’s gorgeous images we have gained permission to use to illustrate this piece - check her out in PACT magazine in the real wedding section!
Destination weddings are soaring in popularity. Couples who don’t want to spend thousands on a big wedding close to home are looking for other options. Lots of couples prefer to keep their guest count on the lower side and are traveling somewhere incredible with just their nearest and dearest, or even eloping! In general, the cost of a destination wedding tends to be lower than the average cost of a traditional wedding, so it's an effective way to keep your budget down. And you’re kind of getting a two-for-one deal by combining the wedding and honeymoon. Here are my top five tips when starting to plan a destination wedding:
1. Think of your wedding as a celebration that lasts for several days, don’t just focus on the wedding day.
A destination wedding is a great way to spend quality time with people who matter most to you over a celebration that lasts several days. The wedding day itself is the most important day, but there’s the before and after to consider, too. For some groups, two families can really get to know each other in the few days’ run-up to the wedding. Perhaps you can have a mini stag or hen do a day or two before the wedding? Both newlyweds and their guests should return from a destination wedding with lasting memories of a unique event that will stand out against every other wedding they have attended.
2. When choosing a destination wedding location, think about what’s important to you.
Perhaps you know exactly where you want to be when you get married, or maybe you just know that you don’t want to be at home. When choosing a destination wedding location, think about what is really important to the two of you; beautiful views, restaurants and entertainment, the weather, maybe English being the primary language. Also, think about what your guests might need – such as any mobility or access issues (a beach wedding is beautiful but not so easy for everyone to get to!).
Depending on where you have in mind, costs may vary depending on the time of year, so choosing a date may effect your budget. Also, the temperature may influence what you wear. A beach wedding is not the place for elaborate hair and makeup, or heels, or sleeves! If you’re flying; make sure you can transport your wedding attire safely. Check with the airline what their policy is for dresses, dried flowers etc in your luggage. My advice is NOT to check it, always carry-on.
3. Check the marriage will be legally binding in that country.
Before you commit to getting married abroad, check the legalities surrounding a) travel visas, passport requirements, possibly even vaccines and b) what you need to make it a legally binding wedding at home. Unfortunately this is especially true for same-sex marriages, since there are still some countries that do not recognise them. Some countries require the couple to be there for weeks or months before the wedding, or for the couple to have blood drawn (yes, really!), some require a certain number of witnesses, or have other conditions that might make it difficult for your ceremony to be legally binding. Some British couples have a local registry office wedding for the legal stuff, then a symbolic ceremony with a big celebration abroad. For other countries it’s really easy for visitors to get married. The UK government has an online tool to find out what is needed to get married in all foreign countries. https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad
4. Be prepared for plenty of planning, and lots of questions from guests.
If you decide that a traditional wedding close to home isn’t for you, then don’t think for a second that you’re getting away with doing lots of work by having a destination wedding. A big event like a destination wedding will take some planning! Very early on, you will need to decide who goes on the guest list. Consider how much notice everyone will need for the trip and send out Save the Dates very early. Guests may need more time to prepare (and possibly save up!) for a destination wedding than for a local one.
By the way, there is no set etiquette of who pays for what when it comes to destination weddings, but you should be up front with all the guests about what is expected of them. I find that usually guests pay for their own travel and accommodation. Be clear (and tactful!) about what you will pay for and what they need to pay for (and any visa or passport requirements that they need to be aware of). Setting a clear date for RSVP deadline is also useful. Consider purchasing wedding insurance!
Be prepared for some of the invitees not attending. Some won’t be able to get time off, or have the money to spend, or just not want to go wherever you’ve chosen! It’s also possible that some will not like your decision to buck tradition and get married away from home, so get ready to deal with that! Some guests will need their hands holding when it comes to booking travel and accommodation, so be gracious about it and be ready to help.
5. Look it all up online.
When it comes to planning a wedding in a foreign country, social media and internet searches can be a huge help. Lots of answers and photos of possible ceremony or reception locations can be found online. It can take the stress off to get a wedding planner or tour operator involved. It can also be cost effective to buy a package from a planner. It can also help take away much of the uncertainty about whether the services you’re paying for will be any good, because destination wedding planners cannot survive with bad online reviews, so they ensure that their people are fantastic.
Lots of couples tell me that they have to relax about the details when planning a destination wedding, because there’s so much that you can’t actually see in advance. Accept that you probably can’t meet the planner, photographer etc in person before the wedding, but then we’re all comfortable with Zoom now. There are lots of destination wedding planners out there who specialise in one location, so there won’t be a question that they haven’t already been asked!
Again. As with any wedding, the priority is what YOU want from YOUR wedding day. Discuss with your partner what is important to you as a couple for the wedding and the trip as a whole. Keep that in mind when making all of the choices for the wedding.
SEE MORE AT CLAIRE’S SITE WED IN CENTRAL PARK
