Are You Recently Engaged And Considering A Destination Wedding?
What Exactly Is A Destination Wedding?
A destination wedding is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their marriage at a gorgeous destination of their choosing away from home. Couples get married all over the world, in stunning locations like the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe.
Choosing a destination for your wedding is going to be one of the most important factors in the wedding planning process that you will have to make. After all, the location of your wedding will determine many factors of your wedding, including travel, time & budget. Many couples are now opting for a more tropical and exotic location to get married, so by travelling to the other side of the world to get to your dream destination, that adds to the cost and can get pretty expensive.
While destination weddings are certainly becoming more popular, while there are still many couples who choose to do a traditional church wedding, followed by a reception in a banquet hall, there is no doubt that a destination wedding is becoming an ever growing trend with couples wanting to get married in a sunny hot destination.
Why Are Destination Weddings Becoming So Popular?
Well, One reason destination weddings are popular is because they allow the bride and groom more opportunity to truly interact with their guests over a longer period of time, it is a vacation for everyone involved in the wedding if they are staying at the same resort, and not just a honeymoon for the wedding couple. Some couples may like to keep it small and simple with just immediate family and friends, while other couples may like to have a large party travelling with them, it all depends on what you and your partner vision for your special day. A destination wedding is also popular with people that are having a second or third marriage, they don’t want all the fuss and formality of a traditional wedding, they just want to get away and get married.
Here are a 6 tips to consider when planning a destination wedding
- If wanting a tropical wedding, remember that depending on the time of the year, it can be very hot, so choosing light and airy attire could save you from being hot and uncomfortable.
- Can all of your guests afford the expense of travelling abroad? At least the most important people you want present, not everyone will be able to attend your special day and that is okay.
- Do you want to hold a local reception in your hometown for family and friends that are unable to travel with you? This will help you narrow down a budget or choose where you can “splurge on added extras” It’s very easy to stray from your original budget and overspend without even noticing it.
- This is not required or common but some couples opt to either pay or cover some of the guests travel expenses.
- Do you want only close family & friends to join you, or is your vision a larger wedding party? Some beach weddings are elegant and call for colourful, beachy cocktail wear, be mindful that your chosen wedding party will also have travel expenses in addition to any wedding costs, so this adds an added expense.
- Ask yourself if privacy important to you? You will be surrounded by your guests for the whole duration of your wedding / honeymoon. Think about maybe having a romantic dinner on the beach, or a relaxing couples massage, where you and your partner can escape for some quiet time alone. Some couples choose to extend thier vacation to have some alone time, when their guests depart.
Remember that you will be inviting the guests to travel with you. Most commonly, the guests will be paying their own way and are essentially planning their entire vacation around your wedding. Make sure you give your guests ample time to schedule travel plans and take time off work, always consider giving you guests enough notice, The average timeframe to send your save the date invites is between 9-12 months.
Destination weddings are increasing in popularity, and because of this, there are many travel agents who now specialize in destination weddings, so make sure you choose an agent that is the right fit for you, as you will both be working closely together over the course of the entire planning process. Make a decision on how large you want your travelling party to be. Technically, the bride and groom pay for the ceremony and reception, including food, drinks, entertainment and decor. Destination weddings are often longer celebrations from five to seven days, couples often host additional events, such as a welcome party or farewell brunch, but these are not a requirement.
