A Destination Wedding is a dream for many people but not impossible to have.

If you are not familiar with the concept,  a Destination Wedding is a wedding (ceremony and or reception) in a different location than your home city or even country. It is a location where most of your guests would have to travel to, arrange accommodation, plane tickets and take proper time off from work to enjoy not only your wedding but also the actual place. Have a mini holiday.

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming for some couples, yet alone to be done in a different country with foreign language & different kind of norms and bureaucracies.

Here are 5 important things to consider when going that path:

#1 LOCATION

Italy? France? Maldives? So many choices out there but how do you pick the right location?

• First of all think of the weather and where you want to be as the seasons are different in Northern Hemisphere compared to the South one. Planning a wedding in December in Australia, when is beautiful and hot can be a different experience in Europe where you would have that proper Winter Wonderland. Summer translates to expensive booking rates and congested sights, but Winter can mean empty streets and closed hotspots.
• What style would you like to have? Beach wedding, chateau in France or a beautiful lake in Italy (hello George).
• Will it be easy for your guests to get there? If you care for everyone to be there, then you need to consider this aspect too as some might just send you a card if it turns out to be a hassle to attend your big day.
• Would this location be a dream location to re-visit & go down the memory lane, in years to come?
• Is this safe?
• Is the location child friendly?

#2 BUDGET

Yes, we all hate this word but it is very important. Think of these topic when you  search for the destination:

• How many guests? Kids included?
• Remember that you will be paying in a different international currency so keep in mind the conversion,  bank transfer fees, taxes and other additional expenses
• Summer wedding is more expensive than Winter wedding
• Are you offering a traditional menu or a culinary experience? Will some of the requested dishes on the menu be more expensive to organise in that country?

#3 WEBSITE

Could not recommend it more. Everything related to your wedding is added there by yourself or the wedding planner. There are some very friendly website platforms for couples loving to spend time personalising them or already made templates for couples that don’t have time & are not tech savvy. This is what you can add on the website:

• Wedding day/weekend/week timeline
• What can be done in the area? This is for your guests wanting to do a mini holiday. Do a bit of research on what shows are on, fairs, restaurants, events, musicals, whatever that country is known for and you want them to experience
• Tips about the country/city they are about to visit
• Information on airline, recommended accommodation
• Any changes that might occur related to your wedding
• Reminders
• RSVP

#4 LEGALITIES

Have a list of all the documents you need. Do some research to understand what you need in that country. The most common are: birth certificate and passport, proof of divorce or death certificate (for divorcees), change of name, written authorization for parties under 18, and your marriage license.

#5 HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER

I know you may have expected that, but have a good think.

If you go down that path, make sure the wedding planner knows good English besides the country language. You don’t want to plan a wedding & deal with language barrier which it can often happen.

A destination wedding planner can save you money, time and make this experience stress free. The planner will know how to deal with the country suppliers and the way they do business, will know the legalities in that country and will organise everything for you.

In case a wedding planner is not in your budget, make sure to have your wedding in a  location that has a good wedding coordinator as part of their package.

Make the most of this event, make it a memorable one for you and your guests.  If you want to know more or need additional help in planning this one of a kind trip to a destination, let’s have a chat. I can answer all your questions or get the ball rolling in planning this getaway.

Love,

Alex