Destination Wedding Planning Guide

Whether it’s always been your dream to have a destination wedding or you’ve only recently played with the idea of getting married in a far off, dreamy locale, the trick to successfully planning a destination wedding is proper preparation. From getting inspired by destination wedding ideas to researching all of the legalities and timelines behind destination wedding planning, you’ll want to dive deep into the ins and outs of the process and decide what it is you truly want for your big day. Thankfully, Avery Austin has got you covered with this destination wedding planning guide! Starting with the pros and cons of destination weddings and ending with all the tips you need to make your destination wedding planning a breeze, you’re sure to know exactly how to start by the time you’re done here.

What to Consider: Destination Wedding Pros & Cons

Sure, getting married at a romantic, tropical venue or a dreamy, snowy mountaintop far from home may seem like the perfect getaway for you and your future spouse to say your “I do’s,” but before we get too carried away by all of the tantalizing possibilities, let’s look closely at the perks and drawbacks of planning such an event. Once you’ve looked at all of the pros and cons of what you should consider for destination wedding planning, you’ll have a better idea of whether or not the reality aligns with the dream you’ve created.

Pros to Destination Weddings:

• You’ll be making memories that will last a lifetime. For many, a destination wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime trip that becomes all the more special because of the significance to your relationship and the time spent with family and friends. One big day suddenly becomes a whole week or so of unforgettable moments that you’ll treasure forever.
• You can plan for the weather you want at any time of the year. Know for sure that you want to be married in winter but at a tropical location? Done! Prefer a cool-weather locale but you live in a hot, arid locale? Destination wedding to the rescue! At any given time of the year, there is a tropical or snowy venue ready to make your dreams come true.
• You can keep the celebration small and intimate. Traveling to a destination wedding is not something that everyone can do, so planning such an event guarantees you’ll have a much smaller guest list (without hurt feelings). You can easily justify extending an invite to your nearest and dearest because of the time, travel, and expense.
• You can prepare for your honeymoon simultaneously. If you’re already planning on staying at the same location as your destination wedding, you can book that honeymoon suite at the same time. You might be able to score a solid deal in the process too!

Cons to Destination Weddings:

• Budgeting for destination weddings can be tricky. You might think you’re saving money with a smaller guest list, but when you add in the cost of travel and the elevated costs of services at tourist-dense locations, you’ll likely be spending much more on a destination wedding. On average, a destination wedding could cost anywhere from $25,000 to $42,000 depending on where and when you’ll be traveling. The location, guest count, travel and lodging are all major factors, but you’ll also need to consider other expenses like vendor travel fees, import taxes or fees, as well as the cost of a wedding planner and travel agent. If the idea of a small wedding was a major draw for you when it comes to destination weddings, but the expense is a deal breaker, why not consider a micro wedding instead? Check out Avery Austin’s blog about micro weddings if that’s more your vibe.
• The expense goes up for guests too. While local weddings would require less of a time and cost commitment from your guests who could probably head straight home after your wedding, a destination celebration will require additional expenses on their part to cover travel and accommodations at the very least.
• The event might feel less personalized. Especially true if you’ll be at a resort that streamlines all of the destination wedding planning with all-inclusive details, there are often fewer opportunities for the bride and groom to add special personal touches that make the day more reflective of their interests, styles, and relationship. DIY decor options become much harder to incorporate when they need to be shipped, and that’s assuming it is legal to do so (as some countries prohibit the shipment of certain items).
• Each country has its own legal requirements regarding marriage. You’ll need to be very thorough in figuring out what is necessary to be married at your chosen location, as you might need to do blood tests, a residency period, or additional paperwork that you would not have to prepare for if you married locally.

Now that you know what to consider regarding destination weddings, do you still want to make that dream come true? If you know that getting married far from home is just right for you and your spouse-to-be, then keep reading for some helpful destination wedding planning tips.

Top 7 Destination Wedding Planning Tips

While it may seem as though there are thousands of threads to hold onto and weave when you are planning out your destination wedding, there are a few key strings you’ll want to especially focus on when creating the tapestry of your big day! If these pieces all fall into place, you can easily weave in all of the other details that come together among all of your destination wedding ideas. Let’s start with the top seven destination wedding planning tips just below.

1. Set a Realistic Budget: Figure out just how much spending wiggle room you have based on your own contributions, as well as those of other invested family members. With that in mind, it’s time to do some research to get an estimate on typical travel costs, which would include lodging and transportation to and from the event (don’t forget to include the expense for any additional visits you might make if you will be touring/visiting in advance). You’ll want to keep in mind the expenses related to reserving room blocks, paying vendors (even their travel fees if they are not local), and extra events like a welcome or farewell brunch or other activities with guests staying there with you. There are also other typical items to include in your budget that are important for any type of wedding, including wedding attire, guest invitations, reception costs, music and entertainment, photography and videography, flowers and decor, ceremony costs, and more. A quick search for a wedding budget checklist is sure to give you even more ideas that you might not otherwise think of when generating your own expense list. With this laid out, you can decide just how much of your budget you can put toward different areas, which will also help you narrow down your destination location and venue.
2. Decide on a Location and Date: Once you know a particular location or venue fits into your budget, there are a few other things to consider before booking that venue. For starters, make sure the location is easily accessible for you and guests, preferably with lots of convenient flight options and decent prices. This availability can vary, especially when you consider the weather and seasons, as well as local events (religious holidays, sporting events, festivals, etc.) that might make it even more expensive to travel there and even harder to block out rooms. If you know the place you’ve selected for your destination wedding has a hurricane or blizzard season, you’ll need to weigh the pros (discounted rates during a low-travel time) with the cons (risk of a weather catastrophe) before choosing a date during that time period. If you’re able to, it’s worthwhile to visit and tour the local area in advance so you can get the best feel for the place.
   • Keep Up On Travel Advisories: Anything related to politics, weather, or health concerns should be researched thoroughly before you decide to plan your destination wedding for a particular country. These advisories can help you determine just how safe and accessible the location will be. If you decide to book your destination wedding regardless, consider including information about any seasonal weather or travel advisories on invites to keep your potential guests informed too.
   • Consider Language Barriers: Your heart might be set on a destination wedding with gorgeous scenery, but if you and your guests do not speak the language used there, then you’ll need to make extra preparations. Will you and your spouse-to-be try learning some basic phrases? Will you hire an interpreter? Will the venue have multilingual staff available? Plan accordingly to keep things smooth sailing on your big day.
   • Research All the Legalities: Once you know where your destination wedding will be, it’s important to look into all of that country’s rules for marrying, travel, vaccinations, and more. Find out in advance all of the legal documents (passports/visas, birth certificates, etc.) you’ll need to bring, as well as how long it will take them to process your marriage license, for example. Since every country has different laws in place regarding marriage, you may need to take extra steps to get legally married there or extra steps once you’ve returned to make sure that your marriage is legally recognized at home too. Whether you’ll need to take some blood tests, pay extra fees, or complete residency requirements months in advance, it’s important to know these things so that there are no issues on your wedding day. You might even need to consider taking care of all the legal stuff locally (getting married in private at home just beforehand) in order to avoid those complications, then just make the destination wedding ceremony symbolic and celebratory.
3. Hire a Wedding Planner and Travel Agent: This is one piece you don’t want to cut from your budget! When it comes to figuring out everything you need to know about getting married in another country, the amount of time and grief that these experienced professionals can save you is worth every penny. Start by connecting with a destination wedding planner who knows the ins and outs of the process, can connect you with vendors (officiant, florist, DJ/band, cake baker, caterer, videographer/photographer, rental/linen company, hairstylist/makeup artist, etc.) who travel or are already on site, and can manage all of the details that you might not even think of in time. Bonus points if your wedding planner is also fluent in the local language! A travel advisor is a must too, as they can often negotiate travel deals, hotel block rates, and perks or upgrades, all while helping you avoid unexpected fees and plan for things you might not have considered when traveling. If one or both of these professionals are definitely not in your budget, then you’ll want to gather lots of information on wedding planning tips (such as here, on destination wedding planning, as well as other generic wedding planning tip lists to cover all the bases).
4. Communicate Thoroughly: Send out save the dates early (10 to 12 months in advance) so your friends and family have plenty of time to save up for the trip and secure time off. Provide extensive details about transportation, passport requirements, room block deadlines, wedding-related events and the corresponding dress codes, etc. Having a wedding website that guests can check as needed is one great way to keep everyone in the loop! Something else to keep in mind when communicating with your guests is the creation of your gift registry. Remember that guests will already be spending a lot to travel and celebrate with you, so it’s recommended that, for destination weddings, you keep your registry simple and consider letting guests know that their presence is more than enough as a gift.
5. Prepare for Packing and Traveling: Knowing all of the rules for your chosen method of transport is, of course, the first step. For example, you’ll need to look up the airline rules and guidelines if you’ll be flying. Whatever you do, however you will be traveling, NEVER let the rings, attire, or important documents out of your sight. On a flight, keep them with you as carry-on so they never leave your side. If you’re traveling other ways, try to avoid shipping such important items to avoid anything getting lost in transit (just imagine arriving at your destination wedding venue to discover that your dress is MIA with the shipping company or airline luggage). For some great tips on traveling with your wedding dress, check out this Avery Austin blog about packing and traveling with your bridal gown. Some things you might need to plan on having shipped include wedding gifts, favors, and welcome bags you personally prepared, as well as any personalized wedding decor. You should ship these items in advance to your on-site wedding coordinator, so choose your shipping method/service wisely and don’t forget to insure the package(s)!
6. Plan for Emergencies: Let’s be real. If you’re traveling to a tropical or wintry destination for your wedding, there’s a chance that there may be some emergency situations that pop up, so you’ll want to be prepared. Have a contingency plan in place so you’ll be prepared in the event of something like foul weather, which will impact travel and the ceremony itself. Work with your wedding planner to iron out a solid back-up plan if weather or other issues might arise. It’s also worth looking into some type of wedding insurance, which could cover liability or cancellation issues that pop up, potentially saving you a lot of money if the unexpected does happen.
7. Choose a Destination Wedding Dress that Travels Well: Whether you’ll be taking public transportation, going on a road trip with the bridal party, or flying out to your destination wedding, you’ll need to make sure that your gorgeous bridal gown will travel well and still be in pristine condition once you arrive. Look for styles made from wrinkle-resistant fabrics, and consider silhouettes or styles that are not too bulky and suited to the destination’s climate and venue. Need some destination wedding dress ideas? You can shop Avery Austin’s collection of beach wedding dresses that are perfect for warm-weather locales.

Pro Tips: Additional Destination Wedding Advice

Now that you’ve got the absolute most important destination wedding planning tips under your belt, it’s time to dig a little deeper into what we’ll call “pro tips,” because they really will make your life a whole lot easier if you keep them in mind as you flesh out the details of your big day. Take a look and be inspired!

• Make Yourself a Destination Wedding Timeline: You can draft it on your own, ask for one from your wedding planner, or search online for checklist-style resources, but having a timeline of some sort will go a long way to helping you stay on top of tasks that need to be done way in advance of your wedding day. For example, Avery Austin has a 12-month wedding timeline and checklist that you can personalize to suit your needs by adding specific items related to your destination wedding planning.
• Secure a Passport or Travel Visa ASAP: Since passports and visas can take months to process, it’s important to get going early! Some countries even require that your passport be valid for at least six months before you can hold the ceremony, so don’t delay.
• Arrive Early (Before Guests): Allow yourself time to breathe, and to handle any important details and legal items, as well as tours and rehearsals, before you need to put on the charm for all of your guests. Having everything squared away before the celebration will put you on the right path to having a stress-free destination wedding.
• Keep Your Health in Mind: Ever have your doctor ask if you’ve traveled to certain countries recently? Healthcare professionals usually know exactly what precautions you might need to take when it comes to international travel, so it’s worth talking to your doctor in advance. Ask if there’s anything you need to know or do to prepare for traveling to or returning from your destination wedding venue. For example, some countries require certain vaccinations before you can enter the country, so your doctor can help get you up to date on any/all vaccines required by that location.
• Review Your Cell Phone Plan: Do you know if your plan allows for international calls and texts? Best to check ahead of time so you’re not hit with surprise fees later or, worse, completely unreachable due to lack of service. At least if you know there’s a chance that your phone will be unreliable, you can get your wedding planner’s help as a point of contact, work with hotel reception to keep communication flowing, or appoint a trustworthy bridal party member to help.
• Give Your Credit Card Company a Heads Up: You might have alerts set for yourself regarding international purchases and such to try to prevent fraudulent purchases, so just imagine how that could complicate things if you are actually in another country making purchases. Maybe it will be as minor (though mildly annoying) as having to confirm each flagged transaction while you’re abroad, but if there’s a chance that your credit card usage could be restricted, it’s best to avoid such a scenario. As a fail safe, consider keeping some of the local currency on hand, especially if you’ll be handing out tips or going to cash-only establishments.

With all of the information in this destination wedding guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating the wedding day of your dreams. Be inspired by all of the destination wedding ideas at your fingertips, then start working out all of the nitty gritty planning details once you’ve settled on where you want to get married. And don’t forget to shop for your Avery Austin wedding dress along the way! You can explore every beautiful style among the full assortment of wedding dresses, or consider shopping the collection of wedding dresses under $500 if you know you want to splurge in another area of your destination wedding budget. Either way, you’ll have a gorgeous, high-quality style that will help you bring your destination wedding ideas and dreams to life!