Planning a destination wedding can be a little more challenging but if done right, can be amazing. That’s why we’ve asked Bláithín or ‘The Wedding Expert” as she is more commonly known to give us her insider knowledge on how to successfully plan a destination wedding.
Marriage Laws
If you want their destination marriage to be considered legal, then yes of course marriage laws need to be considered. Every country is different. Depending on where your destination wedding is taking place and where you want your marriage to be legally recognized you will have to adhere to all the paperwork and requirements. Often this can be a challenging aspect of a Destination Wedding for a couple, particularly if there is a language or time barrier so it’s a good idea to work with a Wedding Planner or Representative to help make the process easier. For the most part, requirements include proving you are both legally fit, free and capable to enter the marriage and some countries have residency requirements an important factor to take into account with budgets, advance trips and your duration of stay at your chosen destination.
Make Your Guests Feel at Home
In advance it’s always a good idea to share as much as possible with your guests about the destination location. A wedding website is ideal for this. Things like climate, activities, what to bring, pictures of the areas and accommodation options are all great ways to help your guests familarise themselves. And on arrival it’s always a lovely touch to have welcome baskets or gifts prepared/ left in their rooms. These could include maps, refillable water bottles, sun screen (if appropriate), local delicacies, a schedule of wedding related activities or other trips people might like to take.
The Same Etiquette Rules Can Apply
Even for a Destination Wedding it’s the guest’s responsibility to get to and from the wedding, and to arrange accommodation as well. That said, in recent years many brides and grooms (having a wedding ‘at home’) have chosen to cover some or all costs when it’s comes to parents and their wedding party, as a gift of thanks. Because travel and accommodation costs for a Destination Wedding can quickly mount for several people, this might not be an option for couples choosing to marry aboard. But what can be a nice idea is to help/ gift someone who you would very much like at your wedding the cost of their flight or accommodation or both on the QT, if you know they can’t afford it and you really want them there.
A Few Important Aspects to Remember…
Brides can sometimes forget how difficult it may be transport their chosen wedding dress on flights. Or can purchase a large, heavy wedding dress for a beach wedding/ a wedding in a very warm climate and become overheated and uncomfortable very quickly. Remember to consider your climate when making any wedding decisions.
Couples often choose a Destination Wedding as a cheaper alternative to the wedding at home, not factoring in the ‘at home’ after party, 1-2 week long vacation, travel costs and ancillaries that come with a Destination Wedding; for some, it’s not always the cheaper alternative they had hoped for.
For more information on Bláitín and her wedding team, get in touch through The Wedding Expert
