5 Things to Think About When Planning A Destination Wedding

Top Five Tips From a Wedding Planner on creating your dream Destination Wedding

This week I’m lucky enough to have been joined by the lovely Meera Majithia of Carriages Weddings and Events, who specialises in creating beautiful, meaningful weddings for her clients. Meera is an expert in planning gorgeous celebrations, particularly abroad, so I picked her brains on her top Five things to think about when planning a destination wedding.

If you’ve been dreaming about tying the knot abroad then this post has come at the perfect time, as together, we’re going to run through some of the important wedding details you’ll want to consider when planning a destination wedding, before officially going ahead and making any kind of commitment to your location. Destination weddings are a lot of fun. Not just for the couple and their immediate families, but for all of the guests too, who quite often end up combining a much-loved celebration with the trip of a lifetime. But, as a realist (and planner), it’s my job to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. So, here’s presenting 5 things you need to think about if you’re planning a wedding abroad:

1. Budget clearly

It’s important to be clear from day one about what your wedding budget will cover and what it won’t. For example, you may decide to cover all food and beverage for your guests but not their accommodation or transport costs. Be sure to make a list!

Think about: The time of year you’re looking to get married and the average costs of flights and accommodation for your guests. Is this something they’re going to be able to afford?

2. Visit ahead

I won’t lie, I have actually conducted weddings where the bride and groom have fully trusted me to plan their event in its entirety and didn’t even visit the venue beforehand. This is quite rare and really not likely to happen, especially if you don’t have a planner. It’s important that you visit your desired location and get a real feel for the space and staff on site before you put down any deposits.

Think about: The time involved to fly back and forth. Do you have a flexible job that will allow you to do this? If not, do you have someone else you can trust?

3. Be prepared

It’s easy to assume a wedding abroad will guarantee good weather. While this is true 99% of the time, there is a very small chance that you could get caught up in a storm, or gushing winds.

Think about: Your plan B. It’s always important to have a wet weather option in mind along with a contingency in place for anything else – even if it includes just putting up a marquee.

4. Think food

One of the best things about getting married abroad is the delicious food. You’ll probably have a few events which means you can get pretty adventurous with your chosen dishes if your guest list allows. Just be mindful of your guest list when making your choices as you’ll want to ensure everyone is catered for.

Think about: Specific dietary requirements or allergens that need to be considered. Be sure to check your venue or caterer can accommodate any such requirements beforehand. 

5. Free time

While there’s no doubt all of your guests will be thrilled to be a part of your wedding celebrations, it’s likely that they will appreciate some free time to explore the local sights or simply just lounge around by the pool.

Think about: Organising a trip for all of your guests on a free afternoon or evening and possibly even incorporate it into a pre wedding celebration.

Huge thanks for Meera for lending her expertise to this article! If you’d like to learn more about Meera’s services, take a look at www.carriagesevents.co.uk.

If you’re looking for a photographer whilst you’re planning your destination wedding, I would love to talk to you about your plans! Get in touch to drop me a line!