Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Destination Wedding Dos and Don'ts

For any couple planning a destination wedding, take these Dos and Don’ts into consideration to know exactly what to expect before your toes hit the sand! 

Location, location, location! Not only is this phrase essential in the real estate world, but it’s a top consideration for any dreaming couple planning their ideal wedding. The possibilities seem endless and somewhat daunting. Do you want a beach wedding, a traditional church ceremony, perhaps a yacht affair? Or maybe even something abroad- a destination wedding! 

A destination wedding typically involves guests traveling to the wedding and staying for several days in a vacation like location. The idea of a destination wedding is somewhat modern and has been growing in popularity in recent years. Post 2008 financial crisis, destination weddings actually grew in number as it was seen as an equally if not more beautiful alternative to a traditional location but at a cheaper cost since these are typically smaller affairs. Unless you have an unlimited budget, your guests will be paying for their own travel and lodging expenses, which cuts down on the couple’s overall cost, but may be a limiting factor in who attends the big day.

The thought of planning a wedding locally is intimidating let alone planning one in a different country. There is more to consider, culture to be integrated, and more effort into making a destination wedding seamless. So we compiled a master list of destination do’s and don’ts to consider before making the decision to be married a broad. 


DO’S 
First things first- is this whole destination wedding thing even for you? It certainly isn’t your traditional affair so if that's something that you’ve always dreamed of, maybe stick closer to home. But if you’re an adventurer, love to travel, want a unique wedding and one that may be a bit longer and have a more intimate guest list, than a destination wedding is something to consider. 

DO be strategic in your destination wedding location. You want to consider all options and narrow it down based on the meaning the location holds, your own preferences, but also travel accommodations. Think about the ease of your guests getting there as well as travel time in relation to the time staying there. You don’t want a 7 hour plane ride across multiple time zones only for your guests to stay for a long weekend and fly right back home. Picking a location thoughtfully will increase the chances of more people being able to attend and make the trip more worth it for everyone!

DO guarantee that the “must have guests” can attend before sending out invites to everyone. You want to ensure that key family members and friends are willing and able to attend a destination wedding. If they can’t attend it may be worth considering an alternative as you want your special day to be surrounded by the most important people in your life.

DO create a wedding website for guests. This is an essential tool that can make destination weddings a lot more organized and a lot less overwhelming for the couple and guests alike. The website can include things like wedding events itinerary, travel accommodation information, things to do in the area, and frequently asked questions such as packing lists, weather during the stay, and local currency conversions. Additionally, you can add more general wedding items like your social media hashtags and gift registry! Keep in mind that the gift registry is a great way for those who couldn’t attend the destination wedding to contribute and still feel involved. But give a price range of items as the guests that did attend the wedding have already put a lot of money into attending the big day. Overall the wedding website will help guests feel more confident in knowing what to expect, decreasing the amount of questions asked to the couple.

DO see the wedding site before booking it! It’s a good idea to visit the wedding destination prior to making plans if you can afford a trip over to visit. This gives you a chance to make sure the site is exactly what you pictured, get a lay of the land, and scope out potential housing and travel accommodations for guests. Overall, this will give more piece of mind and ensure the wedding’s best chance of success. 

DO give several options for guest accommodations. Whether it be a range of hotel options to transportation options- make sure you provide just that, a range. Unless you are planning on having everyone stay in an inclusive resort then it’s imperative to offer researched options for your guests to choose from. Include transportation options from the airport to housing as well as from the ceremony to reception if they are in separate locations so guests don’t have to worry about that either. 

DO deal locally where you can. Try to avoid bringing favors and decor from home as you’ll need to declare them and it may exceed the customs limit, leading to additional costs. Sometimes buying locally is cheaper! But don’t necessarily rule out all domestic options. It isn't out of the realm of possibilities to bring some of your favorite vendors over as long as you’re willing to cover the cost, such as a photographer. Especially when it comes to photographing the wedding, you want someone you love and trust so it may be worth the extra cost to fly them to the wedding.  Additionally, consider bringing your wedding dress on the flight as a carry on, as there is always a chance shipping gets lost or delayed. Always think on the safe side when it comes to transporting important wedding items!

DO incorporate local flavor into your wedding. Whether that is through favors for guests or cute gifts waiting in their hotel rooms holding local necessities, it really ties the wedding together. At the same time, remember to bring traditions from home. A mix of local culture and personal tradition will create a unique wedding that your guests will fall in love with.  

DO remember that the destination speaks for itself. You don’t need to outdo yourself with elaborate decor and flowers as the beauty of the destination sometimes says enough. Keeping it simple allows you to decrease costs and ideal for couples who want to have a second celebration with friends and family who couldn’t attend the destination wedding. It’s a popular choice to have a smaller gathering with those who can’t attend the wedding so they have a chance to celebrate and send their well wishes! 

DON’T panic! A destination wedding takes a little more thought and coordination than a local wedding but with enough time and proper planning support it’s no more work than any wedding. This starts with not waiting! Don’t send out invites too late. Send out save the date cards at least a year before the wedding to give guests enough time to make the proper accommodations. From buying their tickets, figuring out their work schedule, and childcare, guests will certainly appreciate the advance notice. It’ll pay off in the long by starting the planning as early as possible. 

DON’T think that everyone you invite will attend. It’s hard enough for everyone you invite to a local wedding to attend, so expecting everyone will travel abroad for an extended period of time is assuming a lot. Everyone is busy and getting time off for work is difficult. Additionally, it’s expensive to buy a plane ticket and hotel room if you weren’t budgeting that money. The worst thing you can do is pressure your guests- so go into it with an open mind and good attitude. 

DON’T assume people know what they are doing. Destination weddings don’t happen every day and chances are your wedding will be the first one most of your guests will attend. Use your wedding website to ensure questions can be answered so they feel confident knowing what to expect and what is expected of them for the big day. 

DON’T over plan guests. The main event is your wedding and while having a lot of unique local activities planned sounds like a good idea- it’s better to limit those to a few. You want guests to relax and enjoy themselves and your company, not be running around all day to various excursions. Offering a few personalized options is best. Also, planning relaxed bonding moments like beach bonfires and morning brunches with everyone is a great idea to get everyone together in a laid back environment. 

DON’T forget to do your research! It’s important to keep in mind that having a wedding abroad may create a culture boundary that you’ll want to dissolve. Make sure you know about common laws, culture, and especially wedding customs. Be sure to share these with guests on your website!  Also be aware if there is any paperwork needed in order to ensure the legality of the wedding. Going in prepared will create the best wedding environment possible with no surprises. 

DON’T feel obligated to include children. While it’s common for guests to bring their kids along for a destination wedding to take advantage of a family vacation, it’s not necessary to include the children in the wedding events. Just be clear in who you address the invitation to and be sure to offer up childcare options for parents.

While this master Do and Don’t List will be sure to get you started, Golden Knot Yacht Services can actually put your visions and plans into motion. First and foremost an event planning company planning events on yachts, Golden Knot can also plan all inclusive destination weddings through the luxury resort: Sandals. As a certified event specialist, we can assist you in planning your destination wedding in a more personal way. Sandals offers destination wedding plans that include everything you need to make your big day vision come to life! Every Sandals wedding includes the wedding, reception, personal event planning team, wedding website, preparation of marriage documents as well as some fun perks like spa pampering pre wedding and signature cocktails. Combine your honeymoon with your wedding, and guests can stay and enjoy their own vacation! With Golden Knot Yacht guiding you throughout,  Sandals Destination Wedding and Honeymoons have never been more attainable!  


Written by Charlotte Lewis. Charlotte Lewis is the Marketing & Event Planning Intern for Golden Knot Yacht Services, a Yacht Event Planning Company for Weddings, Corporate Events, and Special Occasions in New York City, NJ, Philadelphia, DC, Baltimore, Annapolis, Florida, San Diego, Newport Beach, Marina Del Ray, Hawaii, and the Bahamas. Don’t just float through life, catch some waves.
www.goldenknotys.com
@goldenknotyacht



With help from a few Sources:
https://www.brides.com/story/dos-donts-of-destination-wedding-planning 
https://destinationido.com/top_20_dos_and_donts 
https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/231191/destination-wedding-dos-and-donts?slide=755300 
https://bridalmusings.com/2015/08/planning-a-destination-wedding/ 
http://destinationweddingdetails.com/planning-a-destination-wedding.html 
https://www.bemakeful.com/weddings/the-dos-donts-of-a-destination-wedding/