You want to say your vows on a palm fringed beach in the Mediterranean sunshine, but how do you even start to plan a destination wedding? Here are our top tips to fast-track you to organise the wedding day of your dreams.
How do I plan a wedding?
The first thing you need to decide is THE DATE of your wedding!
This is the first question every destination wedding professional will ask you, from the venue to the floral decoration – if they are not available for your date then there is no point taking the conversation any further.
Now be very honest about your wedding BUDGET and start looking for your ideal VENUE.
Do I need a wedding planner?
Having decided on your wedding date you now need to decide about how much help you need with organising your special day in the tropical sunshine.
Here are your options
Organise your destination wedding yourself
If you have local contacts, speak the language and have a talent for organising, great! Do it yourself!
Our top tip: Just make sure you actually enjoy being the bride or groom on the day however, and not the one problem solving or liaising with caterers when instant decisions need to be made.
Book the coordinator at your wedding venue
Most hotels at tourist destinations have their own event coordinators who will suggest the hotel’s preferred wedding suppliers and help you decorate your wedding space.
Our top tip: remember that venue coordinators work for the venue, they don’t work for you. You might have to be quite stubborn to get exactly what you want.
Contract an on-the-day wedding planner
This is a great compromise used by lots of destination wedding couples. You start your planning by organising the majority of your suppliers yourself, making your own decisions about wedding styling, but on the day you contract a professional wedding planner to take over all the responsibility.
This is a great compromise!
Use a destination wedding planner
Destination wedding planners can definitely save you lots of time and often save you money too!
They speak the local language, they can negotiate the best prices with local wedding suppliers, they build teams they trust and they work 100% of the time for YOU, the wedding couple.
Full disclosure, we love wedding planners!
What should be on my destination wedding to-do list?
- Save the date
- Set the budget
- Decide on a DIY wedding or wedding planner
- Start looking for venues and locations
- Book your photographer and videographer
- Book your wedding celebrant
- Book your florist
- For larger weddings you may also need a caterer, wedding car, musician or DJ, wedding crafts, hair and makeup artist
And you’re good to go!
Featured photo: dosmasenlamesa.com/weddingphotography
Author bio: Debbie Skyrme is "Celebrant Spain". Award winning bilingual destination wedding celebrant officiating elopements, vow renewals and wedding ceremonies in the Spanish sunshine.
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