HOW TO START PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING
The early stages of wedding planning can be very intimidating for any bride to be. Procrastination is very common and it stems from fear of the unknown. However, I have done my research and feel more confident in my planning and wanted to shared with all of you!
Planning a wedding is hard, but planning a destination wedding adds another layer of complexity.
Here are the steps that worked for me:
Narrow down the destination
Think about your desires as a couple but also consider your guest! They will have to cover their accommodations which include airfare and other travel expenses. Consider weather and locations you have visited before, you dont want any surprises!
50 BEST DESTINATION WEDDING LOCATIONS
2. Decide on your Budget
This step will set the tone for the following steps to come. Be realistic with what you want and what you can afford, do your research on the average weddings cost in your set location. I found this article helpful in narrowing down a realistic budget based on my wedding destination:
Search for a Wedding Planner
This step is a must for destination weddings, and I learned the hard way. Planning a wedding in a different country on your own is a burden you do not need! I spent a lot of time researching different planners and interviewing them to find the right fit for me. I came across Wedding Wire which was a life saver, provides contact information and reviews for all planners in any destination location!
Vist Venues
This step is key, visiting the venues IN PERSON is a must. I cannot stress this enough. Pictures can be deceiving and you want to ensure you pick the venue that feels right for your and your partner. Finding a venue is something the wedding planner can help with which is why you should ensure to have a wedding planner prior to visiting venues.
Pick a date
This step is something some brides tend to do first. However I find that falling in love with a date can make your process of finding a venue much harder. I allowed myself to have an open mind when it comes to dates and fall in love with a venue first. Once you have a venue you can pick a date based on their availability. I had a year and season in mind but narrowed down a date after visiting my venue.
Take Engagement Pictures
This part is important for more reasons than obvious reasons. Engagement pictures are great for memories and marking such an important time in your life but it also comes in handy for save the date cards which you can do after having a venue and a date.
Send Save the Dates
When having a destination wedding you want to give your guest plenty of time to plan ahead, ideally 12 months before. This ensures that all your guest will be able to prepare with time financially.
Once you complete these steps you will feel much more confident in the direction that your wedding will go. I learn that things start to flow more naturally and when you start to feel overwhelmed, you have a team available to support you!
Oh and don’t forget, HAVE FUN!
