Weddings are fantastic, and holding one far away from home in an exotic location is a fabulous way to start your married life. It is also a perfect way to combine a wedding and a honeymoon. That said, a lot goes into planning a destination wedding; doing it without help miles away can be pretty frustrating. And don’t forget, it will create a considerable dent in your pocket.

Consider the factors discussed in this article when planning a destination wedding, and you’ll have an easier time achieving the wedding of your dreams. But, first, ask yourself why you want a destination wedding.

Why Do You Want a Destination Wedding?

Many people hold a destination wedding because they want to have a small and intimate event with few friends and families. And travelers love destination weddings as it’s a way of life and want to start their marriage that way. And romantics wish for an exotic location, especially one that is their favorite.

No one gets married expecting a divorce; with that in mind, couples must protect themselves and their children by signing a prenuptial agreement and indicating how long a prenuptial agreement is good for. This ensures that the kids will be taken care of, and no one will be on the losing end.

7 Factors to Consider When Planning a Destination Wedding

If you are planning to hold a destination wedding, consider the following factors if you want to actualize your dream wedding in your favorite location.

1.  Choosing a Destination

The first thing you must do is to choose your destination. You must ensure the weather is pleasant when you want to hold the wedding.

You must also ensure your guests will have an easy time getting there, so getting a place where the flights are direct would be awesome. And an English-speaking country would be fantastic.

The essential point when choosing a destination is not to rely on photos; visit the place in person and confirm that it’s what you want. You don’t want to appear on your wedding day and find it a disaster.

2.  Marriage Regulations

You must check marriage regulations in your chosen country as marriage laws differ from place to place. Except for Vegas, you might later find out that your marriage is not legal because only people who’ve resided for a few weeks or months are eligible to hold a legal wedding ceremony.

You might also find that some countries require you to provide documents proving you are single and no one objects to your marriage. So, do your research before settling for a specific destination.

3.  Budget

Compared to a local wedding, destination weddings are expensive. You have to factor in the exchange rate, especially now that the dollar rate is high. So, you may be required to adjust your budget. Be ready to spend to get the wedding of your dreams.

If you want a luxury wedding, resorts will tempt you with free packages, special perks, and upgrades, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s cheap.

4.  Hire a Wedding Planner and Travel Agent

If you don’t want to spend a staggering amount of money planning the wedding yourself, you’d better hire an expert wedding planner from the area, and they will get you the best deals on everything. Your wedding planner can recommend the best florists, photographers and videographers, and caterers.

You’d also benefit from working with a travel agent to make your travel hassle-free. This is because they will book your flights, organize airport transfers, and book accommodation.

5.  Guest Accommodation

Yes, you are the one holding a destination wedding, so you are obligated to pay for your guest’s accommodation. You’d better send all your potential guests an email wedding invitation asking them to RSVP. This will give the estimated number of guests to avoid wasting money on flights and accommodation. You may be lucky to find that most of your guests want to lessen your burden and take care of their flights and accommodation.

When the guests are RSVPing, you can include a list of the food provided by the caterers and ask them to choose their preferred meals and beverages. This will help you customize your meal plan to suit your guest’s palate, thus, giving them a wholesome experience of the cuisine.

6.  Overall Experience

Do not just plan for the wedding day alone; you’ll probably all travel on a Friday, and the wedding will be held on Sunday. Ensure your guests have a great time by having your travel agent plan a weekend packed with fun activities. You can plan to explore the town where you are holding the wedding.

Yes, you want your wedding to be flawless, but don’t be uptight, let your rehearsal dinner be fun, and host a post-wedding-day brunch. You can light a beach fire and share stories at night if it’s near the beach. Allow your guests to interact and make friends.

7.  How to handle Problems That Arise

Brides have a knack for having their hand at everything being planned. But remember, something might not turn out as expected; you might be tempted to rant or vent, but don’t because if you do, your guests might start getting nervous. Try and stay calm and carry on as if nothing happened.

Your focus should be on your big day. For instance, you ordered a vanilla cake, and instead, you got a strawberry cake. Yes, you’ll be mad, but don’t throw things out of proportion; after all, you have a cake, create memories with your partner and forget the rest.

Final Thoughts

We all want our big day to be spectacular; it can be small and private or larger and exquisite; the choice is yours. For those who prefer a small and intimate wedding, a destination wedding might be what you are looking for. Just invite a few friends and families to an exotic island.

It would help if you considered the above factors when planning a destination wedding. You don’t want to get married only to realize that it is not legal. Hire a wedding planner as they know everything about wedding regulations and the extra services you need.