Congratulations on your engagement! This will be one of the happiest times of your life as you start planning your destination wedding! But thinking of everything you need to pull together to host a destination wedding can be overwhelming. You will have to manage so many different things for everything to run smoothly. How do you choose location, venue, transportation, and all the other things you must concern yourself with?
This destination wedding survival guide is just what the doctor ordered to help you fit all the pieces together perfectly for a smooth and wonderful destination wedding in paradise.
Ok, so let's jump into these six destination wedding essentials!
1. Get Started Right Away
In today's post-COVID environment, dates & availability are booking up faster than ever before! Many couples are eager to finally say "I DO!" in an amazing location, just as they had hoped before the pandemic! Currently, dates are booked fast, so don't procrastinate; start researching resort wedding venues and availability now!
2. You Don't Have To Know It All
You may think you have to know everything about planning a destination wedding before you begin, but that's simply not true! You don't need to have it all figured out to get started. The two most important things you need to start working on are making a list of potential destinations where you would like to get married and then a list of possible resort wedding venues to hold your wedding & wedding group.
3. Consider Having a Pre-Wedding Planning Trip
Who doesn't like the samples at Costco before you buy a 12-pack of hot chocolate bombs? Right?
Once you have chosen a destination wedding location, it's time to figure out which wedding venue & resort to have your ceremony and host your group. One of the most effective ways to choose a wedding resort & venue is to visit it before deciding. In fact, many resorts offer special "wedding visit" packages to encourage you to visit their resort, hoping you will choose them for your destination wedding.
4. Get a New Email For Only Wedding Related Correspondence
To have a successful destination wedding, you have to be organized. I suggest you create a special email address exclusively for your wedding & honeymoon. This way, all of your wedding correspondence & conversations will be in one spot! Believe me, this will save you so much time and probably money in the end. The last thing you want is a confirmation email requesting you to verify your wedding date & time at the resort, and you miss it in a crowded inbox sandwiched between emails from Peleton & your uncle's upcoming birthday party!
5. Consider Getting a New Credit Card That Earns Miles
As long as you are going to be charging your wedding expenses, you might as well earn some reward miles to help you pay for your travel. This is a great time to open a new credit card that will earn you miles or points for future or even current travel. You could actually get your airfare paid for if you play your credit cards right!
6. Consider Working With a Destination Designer or Specialist
If you want to ensure that your destination wedding will be planned correctly and reduce the stress and frustration you may feel when planning this all on your own, it may be worth investing in a destination wedding designer or planner. A destination wedding planner or designer knows the ins and outs of a destination wedding and has plenty of experience setting up wedding groups, negotiating contracts, and managing all logistics for you and your guests. They will also ensure that you receive ALL the amenities & perks you qualify for. These are things that many resorts won't tell you unless you ask.
No matter how much you plan for your destination wedding, there's bound to be something that will come up that you weren't prepared for. This doesn't have to ruin your wedding; you just need a solid resource to help you through these challenges when they show up.
If you can use the help of a destination wedding designer to take all of this planning off your shoulders, please use this link to schedule a free 30-minute strategy session with me! I would be honored to help you figure out everything you need for your dream wedding to come true!