A recent survey suggested that over a fifth of UK couples now choose to tie the knot overseas. As destination weddings become more popular, it’s beneficial to consider what makes a celebration in a different country work. If you’re thinking about jetting off to an exotic Caribbean beach or hiring a French chateau or a rustic Tuscan farmhouse, here’s a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts to help you plan a trip to remember.
Dos
Planning any kind of wedding involves tackling endless to-do lists and spinning multiple plates, but organising an event overseas can be even more complex. To help you minimise stress and ensure everything runs seamlessly, here are some essential destination wedding planning dos:
Research the location thoroughly
Booking a venue is usually the top task on every couple’s wedding planning list. It’s hugely exciting to tour places and get a mental picture of what your big day will look like. When choosing a venue for a destination wedding, it’s wise to think about more than the ceremony and reception setting. Arranging a wedding overseas is a logistical operation. If you’re planning to invite friends and family from far and wide, you’ll need to consider the location as well as the specific venue. Research flights and local airports, accommodation options and transport. You don’t want to fall head over heels for a venue nobody can get to.
Give plenty of notice
Going to a wedding overseas is a much bigger commitment than attending a celebration at a local venue in terms of time and money. If you want to host your big day in a different country, it’s helpful to give as much notice as possible. If you share the date early, this gives people time to arrange leave, sort childcare or pets if required and save money. In most cases, booking flights and accommodation early can also lower costs. A simple save-the-date card, text or email with the date and location will let people know when and where they’re going.
Provide useful information
It’s useful to have information about the event and the local area when you go to any wedding, but it’s especially beneficial to provide tips and advice for a wedding abroad. Whether you’re organising a simple beach ceremony in Spain, Jamaica, Cyprus or Australia, you’re heading for the mountains in Italy, France or New Zealand or you’re hiring a luxury hotel in New York for the day, try to make life easier for your guests.
Basics to include in your information pack include local airports and airlines, transfer and car hire options, accommodation ideas, the dress code (if you have one) and a rough itinerary. It’s also a great idea to go the extra mile and offer more details, including sightseeing tips, local attractions and taxi numbers. Small things like advice about luggage storage in Barcelona, top tourist tips to navigate the centre of Paris and how to get from Rome airport to your wedding venue make planning that much easier for your guests. You can send information via email or invitations or create a bespoke wedding website.
Check the dates
Before you book a date for your wedding, it’s a great idea to check the dates carefully and make sure there are no local events or holidays that will push prices up or make finding accommodation hard. If you plan your wedding on the same weekend as a national holiday or a local festival, for example, you may find that flights and hotels are more expensive and availability is more limited.
Make a weekend (or longer) of it
Going to a wedding is a fantastic experience but the actual event tends to fly by. If you’re gathering loved ones far from home, why not stretch the celebrations and make a weekend or short break of it? It’s increasingly common for couples to host 2-day or 3-day weddings with dinner, drinks or a barbeque the evening before and a pool party, brunch, beach day or afternoon tea the day after.
Don’ts
Nobody wants to plan an event everyone remembers for the wrong reasons. To help you avoid this and organise the celebration of the year, here are some essential destination wedding don’ts:
Leave it until the last minute
Leaving it until the last minute is a no-no for overseas weddings unless you’re planning to elope or you have very understanding guests with flexible schedules. Giving people time to plan is preferable to avoid last-minute stress and high prices. If you share your date early, there’s also a much better chance people will be able to attend. The later you leave it, the more likely your guests are to have alternative plans.
Book during peak season
Unless you absolutely have to get married on a holiday weekend or during the peak season, it’s wise to avoid these times. Prices are higher, it’s more difficult to find places to stay and local attractions will be busier. If you can, opt for either the low season or the shoulder season. You should find that prices are lower and that you can enjoy the local area without battling crowds.
Let your guests fend for themselves
When you plan a destination wedding, avoid giving your guests too much to do with regard to finding flights, accommodation and transport. A simple advice sheet with flight options, accommodation ideas to suit all budgets and tips about taxis, car hire and local public transport makes it quick and easy for friends and family members to plan their trip. Always remember to cover all budgets. If you’re getting married in a big city, such as Madrid, Los Angeles, Sydney or Venice, for example, include everything from 5-star hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses and apartments to rent.
Destination weddings have become increasingly popular. If you’re planning to say ‘I do’ overseas, it’s important to plan meticulously and make life simple for your guests. Research locations and venues, give people plenty of notice, provide useful information and avoid peak season and holidays if possible. Extend the celebrations, help people make the most of the area and make sure you’re available to offer tips and advice.
