Destination Weddings

If you are thinking of planning a destination wedding it can feel very daunting and send  visions of ££££ signs dancing around your head. That may not actually be true depending on where you decide to hold the wedding, you could end up saving money. Often, the cheaper price tag has to do with the fact that you will most likely have a much smaller guest list when you plan to get married abroad.

The truth is that you will probably find that you will be spending less money in some areas (such as types of flowers and quantity and more in others (airfare will be the main area and accommodation)

Everybody has different ideas where there destination wedding is concerned so here are a few points that you may find helpful

 Family

Planning a destination wedding might not be exactly the wedding your family (and more specifically, your parents) had in mind for you, especially if it means lots of friends and family can’t come. Ultimately your wedding should take whatever form makes you happy, but you might want to keep that in mind when you tell them this is what you’re thinking of doing. A good compromise is to have another celebration upon your return. Their first concern will probably be cost and if it is affordable for them to be present on your big day.

 Budget

Just as it is for any wedding, but even more so for a destination wedding, it is important you set a budget. Prices can vary greatly from place to place so you really need to know how much money you have got to work with, trying your best to  stick to that budget. If your parents are involved with contributions towards the cost then it might be best to try and involve them in the planning, it will give them an opportunity to discuss any concerns they have.

The Official Bit

Get your marriage paperwork figured out ahead of time. Some countries require you to stay there for a certain amount of time before you can be legally wed there. If you’re into the idea, consider getting legally hitched in your hometown before jetting off to have the ceremony, that way you’ll be certain everything is legit, and you’ll save on fees for lawyers, officiants and paperwork in other countries.

Hire A Wedding Planner / Travel agent

You might want to factor in the cost of working with a travel agent and a wedding planner. While it’s possible to make all the arrangements yourself, these people can save you a ton of time and, in the end, may even end up saving you a lot of cash, too. Wedding planners who specialize in the place where you are considering getting hitched will have insight into the best hotels, deals and options (which is even more important if you can’t afford to/don’t have the time to visit the destination ahead of the wedding), and travel agents can help score your guests the best deals on travel.

 Honeymoon

To save some cash, you might consider having your honeymoon at the same destination as the wedding. You can always switch hotels after your guests leave to make it feel more special.

 Your Bridal Party

Consider keeping your bridal party small and intimate. Asking too many people makes them feel like they should come, even if they can’t afford it. If you can afford to cover the cost of your bridal party then even better but tread carefully. It may be a good idea to give them plenty of notice too, it gives them chance to save up for longer which in turn will make things less stressful.

Those details

With a destination wedding it means that you might not be able to plan everything down to the very last detail. Make sure you discuss ahead of time with your wedding planner or the hotel how much you can be involved with picking those things, and how much extra it will cost to pick things that are “outside the box.”

Weather & Seasons 

When picking the date, keep weather in mind. After all you don't want to be in Florida for Hurricane season.Also, keep high travel seasons in mind. Getting married during off-peak travel seasons will mean better deals on travel for your guests.

 Your Dress

When planning a destination wedding its important to consider your dress and how it will travel.  Try and pick something lightweight and in a wrinkle free fabric

 Your Guests

Your guests will already be travelling in some form to your wedding, so pick a place with easy access for visitors (think big cities or places within a short driving distance from big airports).

Save the Date … Early

Send out your save-the-dates as soon as you have the date and place in mind so people have ample time to save up if they’d like to come. 

 Gifts

I know, I know. A big part of the fun of getting married is all the stuff you get! Still, if you’re married abroad and people are spending a lot of money just to make it, consider letting people know that just being at your wedding is enough.

Hopefully I have helped you clear up a few of your questions regarding getting married abroad. If you would like any more help, just leave me a message!