When you think of your perfect wedding day, the location might not be where you live, and that’s ok! Destination weddings are popular choices for those who want to have an exotic, intimate wedding. Guest lists are typically small and include only your closest family and friends. Sometimes a destination can even save you money be more cost friendly! Even if you live somewhere that’s expensive to host a wedding in town, like New York City.
Whether your destination is a few hours by car or plane, there are some considerations you need should be aware of to make sure the day is perfect for you and your guests. Follow this guide, and you’re on your way to hosting the perfect destination wedding for everyone involved!
Keep Everyone in Mind
Of course, you should pick the destination for your wedding, but if you’re genuinely hoping those you invite can make it, consider what they’ll be excited for also. The guests who attend will be spending quite a bit of money to travel to your wedding, so making it a place they’ll happily go to is icing on the cake for everyone.
When considering where your destination wedding will take place, think about how many people are in each party and how much it will cost them to travel. If someone is a “must” on your guest list, you can either choose a place that’s affordable for them to get to or possibly assist with the cost of travel. You can also assist to pay with some of the travel bill costs that will make sure that your perfect destination wedding includes your closest family and friends if money is keeping them from being there. If you’ve got some travel points, you can even gift those.
Go All-Inclusive
Whether you’re having your wedding close to home or a destination wedding, all-inclusive options are fantastic and provide some ease of mind when it comes to planning. If your destination wedding is hosted at a resort or other all-inclusive option, you’ll likely have a coordinator provided for the big day. If you’ve never been to your particular location, they will know the details of your site and be your boots on the ground when it comes to everything related to your wedding.
In addition to the coordinator, some other benefits can come along with hosting your wedding at an all-inclusive resort. If you’re hoping for a child-free ceremony and reception, there might be daycare option available, so guests don’t need to find a babysitter. Also, you’ll have a built-in destination for your honeymoon without needing to hop on a plane. You’ll already be there and can continue enjoying your stay.
Epic Welcome Bags
If you’re not traveling together with guests, it’s polite and sweet to leave them a welcome bag for when they arrive. This can be left in their room or given to them when checking into their room. Some items that are common for welcome bags include water, and snacks for downtime, and tips for traveling to the area. Have fun with the goodies by personalizing them with your wedding colors theme.
If you’re not arriving before everyone, ask your coordinator or a staff member to gather items for you. They might be willing to go into town to get some local items for your guests. Alternatively, you can bring the details along with you or shop yourself once you arrive.
Research Local Activities
If you’re asking loved ones to travel far for your destination wedding, it’s a nice idea to provide them with some information on the area. Some people may decide to make their own vacation after traveling so give them options for local activities in the area. This can include restaurants, shopping, and physical activities.
You might even consider inviting some guests to join you on adventures after the actual wedding. You don’t need to invite everyone to all the things you’re doing but asking some people to come along with you to something is a great way to incorporate some more face time with your guests. For example, if you’re going to dinner at a nice restaurant one night, make a reservation for 4 four and invite a couple you’re close to. The extra time will make them feel special, and you can thank them more personally with your time for making the journey to watch you tie the knot.
Help With Arranging Travel and Lodging
If you have several guests who will be flying to your wedding, look into discounted group rates for some airlines. You might need to book months ahead of time, but it can save guests some money. This means you’ll need to select a location and date months in advance to give guests ample time to take advantage of any discount options. Also, you can be part of the group! That’s two fewer people to satisfy any group requirements.
When it comes to lodging, reserve a hotel block. Hotels and resorts are willing to give some good discounts when you create a room block because it’s guaranteed rooms that will be filled for them during that time. Negotiate on behalf of your guests to have special rates extended in case they decide to arrive earlier or stay after the wedding without breaking the bank.