As you begin to plan your big day away, there are some essential items to keep in mind as you make those key decisions. Take a look at these five tips to getting your destination wedding off to a great start!
1. Before you book, be sure you know what the legal requirements are to wed in that locale. Some countries have residency requirements that insist you spend a few extra days there before you can marry, so know before you go! There may also be additional paperwork to complete stateside, translations needed and other documentation you’ll need to take with you so check with the local consulate well in advance to make sure you’re able to get married in your desired location. And if it’s a no-go, then consider a legal ceremony back home and a spiritual ceremony on location!
2. Will the room block end up costing you money? When you have guests coming from out of town, it’s important to negotiate a room block (a discounted group of hotel rooms for your party). You can do this at your host location and/or at nearby properties with different price points for all your guests. But be careful to avoid a credit card guarantee whenever possible. In the event those rooms don’t get booked by your guests you don’t want to be on the hook for the cost.
3. When hosting a destination wedding, plan a honeymoon away from where you wed. Whether that means taking a car across town, island hoping to another spot, or packing up and heading to a different part of the region, it’s important to get that one-on-one time you may not find at the same property where your guests have decided to extend their vacation.
4. Consider working with a travel agent. That’s right! The days of travel agents aren’t dead and they can still help you find amazing deals, educate you about the pros and cons of each location, and plan activities you might not think of otherwise. Travel agents won’t cost you more money, in fact, you’ll typically save so why not?!
5. Take your wedding dress with you! Don’t pack or ship that pretty package, carry it on the plane! (You might even get upgraded when you do.) If the dress is however of a certain size (varying per airline), they may require you purchase it a ticket! Be sure to check with your airline before you go and when it’s time to pack, be sure to pad it and protect it accordingly – using tissue and at least two garment bags to keep it safe from accidents.
Happy Travels!
Photos: Robert Evans Studios
