Destination Weddings... Are they the right fit for you?

Are you considering a destination wedding? Here are somethings to think about. Between planning out budgets, venues, catering and more, find out if you’re ready to take the plunge for a tropical destination wedding! So, how can you tell if having an all-inclusive destination wedding is the right move for you and your fiance? We recommend reading over these tips and ideas to see if a destination wedding is right for you.

---

1. Hire a travel agent who specializes in planning destination weddings!  A travel agent will take care of not only all the travel details for you and the guests, they'll setup and manage the room blocks, book activities and any transportation needed for the entire event. This person may also offer wedding planning services for an addition fee. This will be your lifesaver!! This means they will be there to help you with all the wedding planning details from start to finish as well as being the go between with the wedding day coordinator at the resort. Depending on the package you've chosen, you can even have your planner at the resort on the day of the wedding. Remember nothing comes for free and your planner doesn't work for free either, so expect to pay extra for all the extras you want.
 
2. Start early. You may think you have plenty of time, but when you start investigating your first choice locale, you may learn it’s a lot pricier than you thought, or getting there is too complicated for you and your guests. And speaking of guests, they need lots of time, too.  Remember that you will be inviting the guests to travel with you. Most likely, the guests will be paying their own way and are essentially planning their entire vacation around your wedding. Therefore, you will have to give considerable thought in what both you and your guests want to do before and after the wedding. Also, consider giving your guests ample notice; the average timeframe to send your “save the date” is between 9-12 months.
 
 3. Stick to your budget. While it’s true that it’s easier to keep costs in check with destination weddings (it’s that all inclusive thing), it’s still wise to keep an upper limit firmly in mind. That way, if you happen to start tooling around online and see the ever so slightly ritzier resort just a few steps down the beach from the first place you loved, you’ll be far less inclined to spend more.
 
4. Be communicative. Send out save-the-date cards as soon as you know when and where you’ll be wed. It’s always a good idea to set up a wedding website to keep guests apprised of details. Let them know if you’ve set aside blocks of hotel rooms and how to book them, what to pack, what the itinerary of the event will be and so on. (Caveat: Keeping guests up to date is not the same thing as boring everyone to tears with details about the search for the perfect strappy sandal. Only give them the info they need.)
 
5. Remember, You Call The Shots. While formal weddings hold meaning for many couples, linking them to the traditions of their ancestors and culture, others want the experience to be unique, with a ceremony and location that reflect their true style. Perhaps an exotic tropical paradise experience? A snowy mountain-peak ceremony? It's all up to you, and where you both want to say I do!
 
6. Destination weddings are Simply Perfect for Second Marriages. Been-there-done-that couples who are getting married for the second or third time choose destination weddings because they're simple and private. If either person or both have done the Hollywood-scale production before and want something quieter or less expensive this time around, it's the right way to go. Hint: If you have kids, get married at a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort or cruise to help your new families do some solid bonding.
 
7. They're a Once-in-a-Lifetime Reunion Opportunity. At a typical wedding, you're on the run, meeting and greeting. Destination weddings are on vacation time. You're usually required to arrive a few days early to fill out the paperwork, so by the time your wedding rolls around, you've had two to three days of fun with family. 

Happy Planning!
​XOXO Lisa