There’s so much more to think about when planning a wedding abroad. When you don’t live where you prefer to host your wedding, there are logistics to your logistics. Don’t let that deter you from hosting your wedding exactly where you envision it. Instead, go in with an informed game plan to make the complicated process more seamless. Ahead, we’ve pulled together 5 tips to help guide you in the right direction—no matter where in the world that might be.
Choose the Destination
So, you know you want to do a destination wedding. Now what? Well, first things first, you need find the perfect locale as the setting for your wedding. We suggest choosing somewhere that has some meaning to you as a couple. Perhaps it was the backdrop for your first trip together or where you fell in love. Maybe it’s always been your dream destination as a couple. Be it in Italy or Hawaii, so long as the spot has meaning to both partners, it’s going to be special.
Find On-the-Ground Support
It can be logistically challenging to coordinate a whole wedding abroad. Having local support to attend key meetings and work out details live on location is important when you physically can’t be there for all. Needless to say, you’ll want to choose someone with experience and knowledge of local vendors. Scour Instagram to find nearby wedding planners with a similar aesthetic to yours. If you already have a venue in mind, ask about in-house event staff. Some hotels or venues might already employ an event planner who can help bring your destination wedding to life.
Visit in Advance
While you can’t stay abroad for all your wedding planning, once you have some help to figure it all out, it’s time to plan a visit. A quick trip to your chosen destination will give you the opportunity to see everything in person. You can check out your favourite venues and meet with vendors you’re considering. Seeing their work in person and sitting down to chat can help to make final selections easy. While in town, you can even do some tastings of menu options and cakes.
Do Your Research
Since you don’t want to run into last minute surprises, make sure you’re well informed on a few key points. Firstly, you’ll know about any relevant passport and visa requirements, and then update your guests on anything they need to prep in advance. Look out for travel risk warnings and be mindful or major events happening in the area, which might impact your stay. Finally, review local marriage requirements to see which documents you need to bring. Depending on your destination, you might even want to consider having a marriage certificate in advance and hosting the civil ceremony aboard.
Consider Your Guests
Your guests are coming far and wide to celebrate you, and of course, you’ll want to host them in style. Some things you’ll need to consider are accommodations, especially if you’ve chosen a popular destination during peak travel seasons. Transportation to and from wedding events will be important to make sure getting everyone there and back is a straightforward process. You might want to host everyone for a welcome dinner and after-party brunch the next day. Planning a few sight-seeing activities is always appreciated, and a little welcome basket can go a long way.
Have Fun
Once you have it planned and your guests have touched down, it’s time to enjoy it. You’ve put in a lot of work to bring everyone together for a special celebration, and you want to be present for it. When the couple has the time of their lives, so do their guests.
