Destination wedding planning – a step by step guide
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? In truth sitting down with a good old fashioned pen and paper and putting down your thoughts about what your dream wedding day would look like is a great place to start. For me, I wanted a small intimate wedding day to be full of exquisite food, mesmerising photo opportunities and for it to be unlike any other wedding I’d been to before. Some questions to think about: - When you picture the ceremony, what is it like? Indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, is it on a beach or in a garden? Perhaps you’re thinking of a religious service in a church setting. What kind of outfits are you and your bride / groom wearing? - How big is it going to be? Do you love to be centre stage and are always the life and soul of the party? Is it a wedding for two that you’d prefer?
WHEN AND WHERE TO GO? Once you’ve worked out what the most important facts are, it’s time to think about the when and where. Often the date for your wedding is largely decided by the location you choose. The picture-perfect Caribbean beaches look dreamy year-round, but would you be comfortable to travel during the infamous hurricane season? How hot do you like your holidays to be? I am not someone who sunworships at all, so we felt going somewhere warm rather than hot was a good way to go. Perhaps your career plays a part in settling on a date – teachers or key workers are a great example.
How far you’re prepared to travel can also really help you to decide the location for your wedding abroad. My husband and I wanted to have our parents and grandparents attend our special day, no ifs no buts. As such, we knew that a short flight with minimal transfer times and not too much walking was important. We had friends that wanted to join us, but couldn’t commit to a whole week away for a variety of reasons (childcare, annual leave and budget to name but a few). Italy worked brilliantly for this reason! Our guests stayed in a real variety of hotels and apartments to suit their budgets and timeframes. We actually travelled to Italy by car so we could take plenty of stuff with us (so my dress was a bit of a big one) – great option for couples and their guests who prefer not to fly, as is travelling by rail.
THE FINER DETAILS Like weddings held in the UK, there are a great variety of options available to couples wanting to enhance their weddings. This can range from the usual bridal bouquets and wedding cakes, to a full entertainment programme for your guests – with plenty in between. For my own wedding, I opted not to have a reception back at home upon our return, and didn’t want to have a DJ / disco in Italy, so we opted instead to charter our own lake cruise, treating our guests to fabulous views of Lake Garda whilst sipping prosecco. The perfect entertainment for us! The suppliers I work with all have a wealth of experience in this field and work alongside me to help craft the wedding you want, not the bog standard off-the-shelf variety. Depending on the destination and how much you’re looking to spend, cocktail receptions, exclusive excursions, steel drum bands, casino nights and much more can be organised. It’s your day – no dream is too big or too small!
In terms of venues themselves, there are so many. The world really is your oyster. I have organised beachfront weddings, hotel based weddings….I have attended a wedding at the renowned Santo Winery in Santorini which had views to take your breath away. My own wedding was in the stunning Scaligero Castle in the Italian resort of Malcesine. The Cloisters in Sorrento are a really popular choice too!
THE LEGAL STUFF There are some destinations that are difficult for British passport holders to get married in. Some destinations offer a symbolic ceremony which looks like a wedding, but is not legally recognised in the UK. In this situation you could look to have a simple wedding in the UK, then jet off to your chosen location for the day you dreamed of. Other countries have a minimum stay requirement prior to your wedding day, and many require the completion of forms and submitting of documents. I will be glad to discuss this all with you!
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT? Get in touch with me and let’s chat. I love to share my own experiences as well of those of brides and grooms I’ve helped with their destination weddings.
