What are some tips for planning a destination wedding? Destination weddings are ever more popular. Read tips for planning a destination wedding. The thought of a destination wedding can certainly be appealing....
The thought of a destination wedding can certainly be appealing. Getting married on a beach, on a ranch, or even in the mountains has a certain fairytale element for many couples. Planning a destination wedding, however, can be a different experience from planning a local or traditional wedding. Going into the planning process with some knowledge of what to expect can help alleviate some of the stress of planning the wedding.
Kyle Hayden, the Event Coordinator for Strong Events, which specializes in event decorating and design for theme parties, agrees that destination weddings are popular and can be great for your special day. He says that in some ways, a destination wedding can unload some of the planning work from the bride and groom, since many destinations have their own wedding planners. These wedding planners can take care of everything for you, so you don't have to deal with all of the specifics.
Hayden says that in this type of scenario, the hotel or resort staff can perform tasks such as setting up the chairs, for example. "A lot of it is taken out of your hands and the wedding planner at the particular resort takes care of everything," he says. He continues that with all the logistics taken care of for you, you are able to just show up for the wedding and have a great time.
Hayden also says that for many destinations, the resort or hotel wedding planner arranges transportation to the wedding site. Even if people need to be shuttled to the site, it should be an easy transition: "The advantage there is if you had it done locally, not everybody would have transportation to get there." He suggests making the process as convenient as possible for the guests coming to the wedding.
There are, however some disadvantages to turning complete control of your wedding over to a destination wedding planner. In many instances your wedding budget will increase. Hayden says that you may be able to save money on some things, but there are also other areas that are going to be significantly more expensive.
Because the hotel or resort most likely uses its own wedding planner and vendors, Hayden says you may lose some control over the selection process: "You might be able to find a florist locally that would do your wedding for $5,000 or $10,000, but you might pay $25,000 when you are at a resort." He suggests keeping in mind that often the prices could be inflated in a resort as opposed to arranging for your own details when considering a destination wedding.
A destination wedding can be a beautiful and memorable way to celebrate your wedding, especially if it is at a destination of which you have always dreamed. If you decide that a destination wedding is the right choice for you, remembering these tips and pitfalls can help you to be better prepared when making your wedding plans. It should also help you to avoid any surprises that may arise during the planning process.
