More and more couples are choosing destination weddings, and with breathtaking locations like Paris or Provence, Lake Como, Tulum, and Santorini increasing in popularity, it’s not hard to imagine why. When deciding between destination or domestic, think about what makes the most sense for you based on your style, budget, and schedule. Today we’re breaking down the list of things to consider when determining your wedding day locale!
High tourist traffic can affect everything from transportation to accommodations. Keep in mind the time of year that would be considered “peak season” for that area and do your best to plan around it. Trust us, it will make your planning experience and your guests’ experience much more enjoyable.
If you ask us, the comfort of your guests should be at the top of your priority list. It’s best to be thoughtful when choosing the location of your wedding, as it should be realistic for must-have loved ones to attend, financially, physically and otherwise. This may not be a deal-breaker for you, but it’s definitely a factor to keep in mind!
A destination wedding is more costly than a domestic one, especially considering transportation to and around the location. Given all the nuances of planning nuptials abroad makes things even harder to navigate if you’re doing it sans expert counsel (in a wedding planner), so you might also want to consider enlisting the help of a destination planner. These professionals know all the ins and outs of curating celebrations in your coveted locale(s), so they can handle a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Again, this requires extra spending against, but it’s a completely worthwhile endeavor (if you have the means!)
Planning a wedding remotely necessitates a different approach than planning domestically, so think about potential language barriers, laws and cultural differences.
Dive deeply into research (and we mean deep!) to make sure guests have easy access to information regarding safety, health, and political issues. The extra thought and consideration given to your guests might take more time and planning, but it will pay off in spades when navigating any potential sticky situations. TSA reports, friends who’ve visited, planners, and other couples who’ve gotten married at the location are great resources for this research.