The pressure to plan a vacation wedding is real. There is a lot that needs to be planned, executed, and checked to ensure success. Considering the magnitude of your financial commitment, it is essential that you carefully examine all of your destination wedding planning possibilities.
Destination Wedding Tips
Find a Planner to Help You
Although planning a wedding in a faraway location is thrilling, it can also be stressful. It's unlikely that you'll know everything there is to know about planning a wedding in a foreign country all by yourself, so it's best to acquire some assistance early on to soothe your anxiety.
Make Fall and Winter Venue Reservations
Most wedding venues experience a whirlwind of activity throughout the wedding season; hosting a succession of spectacular weddings each week can be stressful. Given that most businesses close for the winter, this is a good time for new couples to visit. Venue responses may be slower than usual because of the holiday. How very Italian of a remark I received recently: "sorry for the delay, we have been harvesting the olives."
Be Sure to Think About the Kind of Ceremony You're Having
You should determine early on whether you want a legal or symbolic ceremony, as this will affect your budget and your choices. Documentation must be completed in order to have a legal wedding overseas (another reason to employ a planner), which can add a little to the overall cost. Moreover, you should know that not all locations are authorised to host legally binding civil ceremonies.
But don't worry; none of these things should slow you down at all; it's just a matter of how you work them into your plans.
Know the Taxes in Your Area Before You Go
Do your homework on the location of your wedding to avoid any unpleasant surprises. There is a regionally variable tax of several hundred Euros on musical performances in Italy. Also, expect to pay a few extra Euros per night per person as local tax at most accommodations. Even while these costs are very modest on their own, they have the potential to derail your budget if you're not attentive. Again, a skilled planner who is familiar with the area should warn you of any unexpected fees like these.
Preparing for a Site Visit
The opportunity to travel overseas is a major perk of having a wedding as a "destination." Therefore, it makes sense to perform it at least once before the big day. I think it's crucial that you go to the wedding location before you reserve it, and that you do so well in advance of the big day. This can help you envision how the rest of your day will go and give you a sense of the space and vibe of the location.
While on-site, it's worthwhile to chat with possible vendors and maybe even sample some tasty treats. Lessen your anxiety over the big day by getting as much done as possible in advance.
Take into Account the Past
It's likely that your guests will be taking a trip of several days or more to attend your destination wedding. So rather than just having one big party on one day, make your wedding an event. Plan a wine tasting, brunch, or a light lunch for the day following the wedding if money permits, and a welcome supper or cocktail evening the night before the wedding if funds permit. These supplementary activities are what will set your wedding apart from others and make your guests feel welcome after they have travelled long distances and spent a lot of money to be a part of your special day.
Think Through Your Financial Plan
If you plan ahead, you can get next year's wedding at the current venue/supplier price. Prices may change in the new year, so it's a good idea to get your quotes in before the holidays so you may have some room for friendly haggling.
Be Forward-Thinking
Weddings typically take place in the spring or summer, so if you plan your site visit for the winter months, keep your creative juices flowing! It's true that off-season weddings at foreign venues can still look stunning, but in the summer, when their gardens are in full bloom, it'll be even more spectacular.
Have Fun With It!
Hopefully, wedding planning is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. thus don't forget to kick back and enjoy yourself while you plan (with the occasional glass of vino of course).
Conclusion
Planning a wedding in a faraway location is thrilling, but can also be stressful. Consider whether you want a legal or symbolic ceremony, as this will affect your budget. There is a regionally variable tax of several hundred Euros on musical performances in Italy. Expect to pay a few extra Euros per night per person as local tax at most accommodations. It's crucial that you go to the wedding location before you reserve it, and that you do so well in advance of the big day.
It's true that off-season weddings at foreign venues can still look stunning, but in the summer, when their gardens are in full bloom, it'll be even more spectacular. If you plan ahead, you can get next year's wedding at the current venue/supplier price.
Content Summary:
- The pressure to plan a vacation wedding is real.
- There is a lot that needs to be planned, executed, and checked to ensure success.
- Considering the magnitude of your financial commitment, it is essential that you carefully examine all of your destination wedding planning possibilities.
- Although planning a wedding in a faraway location is thrilling, it can also be stressful.
- It's unlikely that you'll know everything there is to know about planning a wedding in a foreign country all by yourself, so it's best to acquire some assistance early on to soothe your anxiety.
- Most wedding venues experience a whirlwind of activity throughout the wedding season; hosting a succession of spectacular weddings each week can be stressful.
- Given that most businesses close for the winter, this is a good time for new couples to visit.
- Venue responses may be slower than usual because of the holiday.
- How very Italian of a remark I received recently: "sorry for the delay, we have been harvesting the olives."
- You should determine early on whether you want a legal or symbolic ceremony, as this will affect your budget and your choices.
- Documentation must be completed in order to have a legal wedding overseas (another reason to employ a planner), which can add a little to the overall cost.
- Moreover, you should know that not all locations are authorised to host legally binding civil ceremonies.
- But don't worry; none of these things should slow you down at all; it's just a matter of how you work them into your plans.
- Do your homework on the location of your wedding to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
- There is a regionally variable tax of several hundred Euros on musical performances in Italy.
- Also, expect to pay a few extra Euros per night per person as local tax at most accommodations.
- Even while these costs are very modest on their own, they have the potential to derail your budget if you're not attentive.
- Again, a skilled planner who is familiar with the area should warn you of any unexpected fees like these.
- The opportunity to travel overseas is a major perk of having a wedding as a "destination."
- Therefore, it makes sense to perform it at least once before the big day.
- It's crucial that you go to the wedding location before you reserve it, and that you do so well in advance of the big day.
- This can help you envision how the rest of your day will go and give you a sense of the space and vibe of the location.
- While on-site, it's worthwhile to chat with possible vendors and maybe even sample some tasty treats.
- Lessen your anxiety over the big day by getting as much done as possible in advance.
- It's likely that your guests will be taking a trip of several days or more to attend your destination wedding.
- So rather than just having one big party on one day, make your wedding an event.
- Plan a wine tasting, brunch, or a light lunch for the day following the wedding if money permits, and a welcome supper or cocktail evening the night before the wedding if funds permit.
- These supplementary activities are what will set your wedding apart from others and make your guests feel welcome after they have travelled long distances and spent a lot of money to be a part of your special day.
- If you plan ahead, you can get next year's wedding at the current venue/supplier price.
- Prices may change in the new year, so it's a good idea to get your quotes in before the holidays so you may have some room for friendly haggling.
- Weddings typically take place in the spring or summer, so if you plan your site visit for the winter months, keep your creative juices flowing!
- It's true that off-season weddings at foreign venues can still look stunning, but in the summer, when their gardens are in full bloom, it'll be even more spectacular.
- Hopefully, wedding planning is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- thus don't forget to kick back and enjoy yourself while you plan (with the occasional glass of vino of course).
Happy Planning!
FAQs About Wedding Destination
Details on the location, the wedding site, your accommodations, your planned transportation (carpooling, shuttles, etc.), and any excursions or activities for the group should be included.
A destination wedding is usually a multi-day event, rather than a single day ceremony and reception. That's plenty of time to not only tie the knot, but also spend quality time with your guests.
There are a lot of cousins out there, from first cousins to distant cousins. According to common practise, if one uncle is invited, all uncles are invited, and so on. This may not be a big deal if you have a tiny family, but if you have a big family, this may make up the bulk of your guest list.
Generally speaking, weddings held at exotic locations like honeymoon spots cost less than those held in the bride's hometown. The couple will cover the cost of their wedding package or custom design at the resort, but their guests will be responsible for covering their own travel and lodging expenses. Weddings can be as extravagant or modest as the couple want.
This is due to the fact that many guests at a destination wedding simply cannot afford the travel and lodging costs associated with attending. Couples that choose for a destination wedding typically invite only 86 guests because of these costs.
