Planning A Fabulous
Destination Wedding
There are many couples
passing on the idea of
marrying in their hometowns
and instead, looking at
exotic locales. Planning a
wedding away from home can
be a challenge, but if you
take advantage of the many
resources available to you,
the process can be smooth.
Here's a few things to
consider:
Scout the Site
Destination weddings are
most commonly associated
with the Caribbean, but
couples also marry in
cities, the countryside, or
grand locations in Europe.
If you don't know where
you'd like to wed, scan some
travel magazines and
wedding-planning Web sites,
such as ebony-weddings.com,
to get an idea of what's out
there. Look for information
about all-inclusive wedding
packages to get the most
bang for your buck. Know
that some resorts and hotels
offer deals that include
everything from the flowers,
to music as part of their
package. Check to see if
there is a wedding
coordinator on staff. Are
there sufficient
accommodations for all of
your guests, at or near the
site? What kinds of extra
fun activities will be
available during the wedding
weekend? How will your
guests be transported to and
around the site? Avoid storm
seasons, months with extreme
temperatures, and area's
high season. To make sure
that you can be legally
married in your destination
of choice, contact the
area's tourism board and the
U.S. Embassy in that
country.
Consult A Professional
A
travel agent, on-site
coordinator, private wedding
planner, or a combination of
the three can be extremely
helpful. A travel agent can
help you find a resort or
rental property and arrange
the transportation for you
and your guests. He or she
may be able to arrange
discounted airfares and
accommodations for your
group, possibly including a
free upgrade to business- or
first-class for you and your
groom. Also, if necessary, a
travel agent may be able to
arrange for interpreters to
assist.
An on-site wedding
planner can tell you about
packages and provide you
with an itemized list of
what's included, so that
there are no surprises when
the final bill is delivered.
Hidden costs can be an issue
with a destination wedding
if you're not careful. A
locale may gladly agree to
provide poolside candles,
but you should always ask,
"Is there a cost?" Also,
double-check with the site
manager to ensure that yours
will be the only wedding
ceremony taking place at
that time (or, at a smaller
location, on that day).
There's nothing worst than
competing for service when
another event is taking
place at the same time.
Also, make sure that the
coordinator who handled your
wedding from the start will
be on-site for the event.
Get their contact info for
easy access in the event a
mishap occurs.
If you choose to use an
independent wedding planner,
based in the area or where
you live, be sure to look
for someone with experience.
Ask friends for referrals.
Ask potential planners if
they have ever produced a
wedding in your desired
locale, or in another,
similar place. Then get the
names and contact
information of the clients
who married there to see
what their experience was
like with the planner.
Provide the expert with an
idea of what you have in
mind and ask how the
planning process can be made
simpler for you. And again,
don't forget to ask about
rates. Is there an hourly
charge, a flat event rate,
or is the fee a percentage
of your total budget? You
must know these things in
advance to make sure you
stay on track with your
budget.
If possible, schedule at
least two visits to the site
during the course of your
wedding planning. You can
check out the rooms where
your event will take place,
survey the activities
available for your guests,
do a hair and makeup
run-through, and check out
the transportation options
to and from the airport.
Your second visit should be
all business. Fill the
weekend with meetings. Make
all the vendors' send their
proposals to you in advance
and finalize everything in
person.
Spread the Word
Guests are typically
responsible for their own
transportation and
accommodations, so let them
know your plans as soon as
possible to take advantage
of special deals. Send
"save-the-dates" cards in
advance, at least four to
six months. This will let
people know that you're
planning to marry at a
destination, and follow up
with an information packet a
month later. Include in the
packet what kinds of travel
papers your guests will need
(passport, visa, etc.),
airfare, hotel rates, and,
of course, the exact date.
It's also a good idea to
send a weekend itinerary, so
your guests will know about
the events planned,
including the rehearsal
dinner, group activities
(local bar-b-que, city
tour), and a send-off brunch
the following day. Include a
travel book for the area, so
that guests can familiarize
themselves with the
surroundings. You should
invite all guests to the
rehearsal dinner, which can
be as formal or as casual as
you like. They did spend a
lot of money to share this
special day with you. Give
them an idea of the attire
for the weekend's events as
well as guidance what
temperatures to expect so
they know how to pack.
Incorporate Local Elements
Embrace the area's culture.
You should be excited!
You're getting married in
the Caribbean because of all
the fabulous things this
place has to offer! Use
flowers that reflect the
locale's theme. A native
flower can become an elegant
motif for the decor elements
at the wedding. Use it on
your invitations, programs,
and menus. If the site has
only white or ivory linens,
decorate the tables with
items like shells, beach
glass, blossoms, or banana
leaves. If you are planning
to import certain items to
your destination, like
personalized favors or gifts
for the welcome bags, check
with your on-site
coordinator for customs
deadlines. Be sure to leave
plenty of time for
everything to arrive to
avoid any surprises in the
final days before the
wedding.
Get
There Early
Plan to arrive at the site a
few days in advance. For a
Saturday wedding, it's wise
to fly in on Tuesday or
Wednesday to make everything
is in place and that any
packages you were expecting
made the trip. Allow enough
time to assemble welcome
bags for your guests and
include items that are
specific to the area -
giving it a personal touch.
Straw totes from a local
market, beach towels
embroidered with the name of
the destination, or a bottle
of wine with customized
labels telling the story of
how you met, are good
choices. Make sure you
include another copy of the
wedding weekend's itinerary.
Someone is bound to forget
the original. With
everything in place, you and
your future hubby can enjoy
some quiet time together and
await what is sure to be a
memorable celebration.
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Destination Weddings
