The idea of getting married on a picture-perfect beach and having your first-kiss photo in front of a glistening Mediterranean Sea may sound like bliss, but is planning it and getting there as easy as the sun-kissed photos make it look? Here are 4 things that you may not have considered whilst getting caught up in all of those glossy destination wedding magazines… 1. Getting your guests to your destination wedding
Look at flights. If your perfect wedding venue and location requires a flight, a ferry trip and a 5-hour car journey in 30-degree heat, it may not be so ideal when none of your guests commits. Exotic, half-way-around-the-world destination weddings are wonderful, but spare a thought to those must-have guests (and their bank accounts!). If your budget will allow, perhaps consider hiring a bus to ensure your guests arrive safely at your venue/hotel after landing at the airport. They’ll be very grateful that you made travelling so easy for them. Plus, you can rest and enjoy the run-up to your big day knowing that you’ll not be chasing missing guests in those final hours.
2. Become an expert in your wedding destination and its culture
Avoid major faux pas by taking the time to research your location. As with any trip, respect the land, the people and its heritage and abide by any ‘rules’ or expectations. This should mean a relaxed visit, where you are welcomed amongst the locals. Spend a little time researching the weather at your shortlisted location. Some countries may have hurricane or rain seasons. Probably not what you envisioned when you booked somewhere for the sun and sandy shores. Extreme weather will soon put a dampener on that perfect day.
3. Take the important bits with you
Spending a week at your chosen destination before the wedding, to shop for a wedding dress in a beautiful designer boutique all sounds very glamorous and sex-and-the-city, but leaving such important details until the last minute would be a very brave decision. Styles can vary massively in different countries. Arriving to try on wedding dresses and finding nothing that you like - or that fits, is sure to crank up those stress levels! Enjoy shopping at home and take all attire, including wedding rings with you. Then, if you must make compromises on the smaller details, it won’t be as hard to accept.
4. Choose which wedding suppliers to source locally and which to take with you
Having a designated person and point of contact, who is local and familiar with your destination, is key to the smooth-running of destination wedding planning. They will keep in communication with you, make arrangements with your venue and liaise with your other local suppliers. A local wedding planner will be a lifesaver for ensuring your vision comes together, even whilst you’re potentially thousands of miles away. Your venue may offer a wedding planner, or you may need to look for one yourself, but it is a very worthwhile investment. However, there are other must-have wedding suppliers that I would recommend taking with you. I am a destination wedding videographer (as well as covering UK weddings) and my couples always tell me how much easier it was to communicate with me both before and after the wedding, as I was close to home. There could be less cultural, language or time zone barriers to overcome when choosing a UK wedding videographer. I always work after-hours at destination weddings too, as I understand that this once-in-a-lifetime should be captured in its entirety, from the arrival drinks the day before the wedding, to the pool party the day after! For a deeper insight, have a read of ‘Why you should take a UK wedding videographer for your destination wedding’. I also work alongside a destination wedding photographer. You may find it helps to meet your videographer and photographer before the wedding, so that you can relax around them and feel natural whilst they preserve your special day to photo and film. By travelling together, we can also offer an affordable, package deal for couples getting married abroad.
Rob and Steph's sunny, South of France wedding is sure to get you excited about your own destination wedding plans. The spectacular venue and luscious countryside views make for a beautiful setting for this stylish, outdoor ceremony.
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