Hello, Brides! Nicole of Sorella Muse here to share with you the most important piece of advice I can give about destination wedding planning: don’t do it alone! If you take just one thing away from this post, I hope it’s that planning a destination bash requires help! But I think you’re going to take away a lot more, because I’ve asked my lovely planner Nira of Amber Events to share her top tips for destination wedding planning with you!
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You are traveling to a unique destination for a reason. Do you enjoy the exotic feeling of steamy Zanzibar? The lush tropical serenity of Bali? Or is it the ancient stone walls of a European mansion that captured your imagination? Why did you select your wedding location?
When incorporating design and wedding traditions, think about ways to enhance the experience of your particular destination. Wines, stinky (but oh so delicious) cheeses, and cured meats should be on the menu for a Tuscan wedding while tacos and margaritas are a must for a beach wedding in Mexico! Carefully consider the decor as well. It may be a competing look to bring florals that aren’t seasonal to that region of the world. Think about options that are local to the given area. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save when you don’t have to import a specific floral varietal across the world!
As a Los Angeles-based wedding planner, I’m a bit spoiled. Everyone here is at the top of their game. Vendors are accessible through all communication platforms. An email is usually responded to within 24 hours! I remember reaching out to a Brazilian planner, who was one of the best in the industry. I was a bit concerned when a week went by before I received a short message back saying simply “Just call”. Don’t be surprised if the style and timing of communication varies when you reach out to vendors in different parts of the world.
However, to compensate, you and your planner need to get started on tasks earlier rather than later, to account for the lag in reply times. The same goes when you are actually in the country. Late shuttle pickup? Very possible. The driver is probably lingering over his espresso. Remember, it’s enchanting over there for a reason.
Try and pick a venue about an hour or less from a city or airport to make your wedding easier to get to. This is not mandatory of course, but your guests will appreciate it so much! If you fall in love with a grassy field hours away from civilization, have at it. Just keep in mind that a portion of your guest count is going to drop when they hear of the epic commute.
Traveling by plane is already an odyssey for most guests. Adding over an hour car ride or train from the airport, and your guests may feel grumpy and fatigued. If you do some thorough venue research you will find that there are plenty of gorgeous and remote looking places within that hour drive from a local city or airport.
Most vendors you want to work with will love to travel to be a part of your wedding. Contractually they will need travel, meals, and accommodation expenses added to their cost of service. This can really add up! The bulk of their business will likely be in a more metropolitan area, so the further you push out from that radius, the more cash you will have to drop to get them out there. The same may go for your guests. Are you assisting any of your family members or wedding party with their journey out to witness your vows? If so, do your research and account for it all. These costs all make a big impact on the overall wedding budget.
Just think, if you were a wedding guest receiving a pretty little Save-the-Date to hop on a plane to one of the world’s hot spots one year from now, how would you prepare? I know I’d be planning all year to make THAT my big trip with paid vacation time. Make the experience memorable and plan events for the whole weekend if your budget allows. Try to have a welcome reception, an activity somewhere in between their extended stay, and a post-wedding brunch. There are inexpensive ways to get a group together, like going on a guided walking tour with a knowledgeable local or dropping by a vineyard for wine tasting.
After a long journey, finding a welcome bag and handwritten note in your room from the couple is such a nice way to kick things off. Fill the bag with destination-specific items that they can use during the weekend (like sunglasses and sunscreen for a beach wedding) or opt for a gift that comes from the region. Something edible is always appreciated too, especially if it’s something sourced locally, like French macarons in Paris.
Make sure not to put anything in the bag that will be difficult to carry home, like a huge bottle of olive oil since your guest might have brought a carry-on! And while you may have already included itinerary information on a wedding website or invite, your guests may appreciate having a printed itinerary so they know where they need to be and when!
All is fine and dandy until you get on site hours before your wedding, and the chairs are not what you discussed, nor the seemingly subtle sign for the out of order “toilette”. Contracts are a big deal in the United States, but even more so overseas. Nothing is a guarantee unless you have it in writing, especially with the possible language barrier between the couple and the vendors. Still a bit unsure? Purchase wedding insurance to cover yourselves in case of any mishaps.
Photography: leila brewster | Event Planning: Amber Events | Hair + Makeup: Page Beauty | Venue: Butcher's Daughter | Blogger Bride: Sorella Muse | Blogger Bride Dress: Billy Ella | Blogger Bride Shoes: Toms | Save the Dates: Minted
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