The Wedding Destination Dream - 5 Questions to Decide if it's for You
So you’re dreaming of a destination wedding. Sounds like a dream but also may sound unrealistic for some. Here are 5 tips that will help make your decision easier.
1. Start Planning Way in Advance
First a lot of the most popular destination spots often are booked up way in advance so give yourself time to secure your favorite vendors and your favorite venue. One and a half years is a good average amount of time you want to have.
You also want to think about the climate of where you want to go and if you need Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. That may push things out further. You want to avoid the top travel dates that will make the area full or tourists and not going in a peak time will also lower travel fees.
2. Guests, Travel & Budget
Along with planning in advance, you want to give your guests a longer lead time with their invitations than usual. Plans need to be made and travel decided on that isn’t a thought in local weddings. It is even a good idea to give guests a heads up prior to recieving their invitation so you can get a gauge of how many could make the trip.
To help with the travel for your guests, one thing you could do is say absolutely no gifts. Your presence is a gift in itself. The most important thing is to be surrounded by those closest to you. I recommend only inviting close friends and family. Cousin Johnny who is twice removed will be fine!
Budget - a destination wedding can immediately put large dollar signs in your mind. In reality, it may end up costing the same if not just a little more. Vendors can be less expensive and with a smaller guest count than you would have at home are both directly tied to your budget.
3. Legal Documents Needed
Don’t wait until a month before to look at the expiration date of your passport. Trust me! I had to fly to Dallas to get my passport renewed a few days before a trip. Give it at least 6 months to be careful.
Other than passport, you’ll need a birth certificate each. Then you will have to look into the specific documents that your country needs. Again, this isn’t something that can wait, most legal documents take a while to get in your hands.
4. Wedding Locations
My previous blog was on top 10 Destination Wedding Locations. Click the link to see images from each country. There are beech, mountain, island, coastal, romantic and more destinations to choose from.
They are : Paris, France | London, England | Algarve, Portugal | Santorini, Greece | Kuredo Island, The Maldives | Montego Bay, Jamaica | Almalfi Coast, Italy | Clauseway Coast, Ireland | Riviera Maya, Mexico | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
5. Finding the Right Wedding Vendors
The selection of vendors may be slimmer than you are used to. So back to giving yourself time to plan, the best vendors are going to be booked far in advance. You also want to think of the language barrier that may be a problem.
If this is something you are considering, I would love to chat with you about how we can work together to make your journey as seamless as possible. Shoot me an email at leona@leonamorelock.com. Can’t wait for your adventure.
