If you want to celebrate the biggest day of your life with your loved ones away from the city rush, a destination wedding is a perfect idea. From the beaches of Hawaii to cultural backdrops of Mexican locations, there are numerous options to choose from. There’s one thing you must know – You cannot do everything alone! You need a team that can help you decide between locations and execute your ideas. Fortunately, destination wedding planners like Beach Bridal Vacations offer comprehensive support. Before you start, here is a detailed checklist.
- Keep time in hand: At least 18 months before the big day, you need to set the wedding budget. The sooner you start with the planning process, the better choices you will have. Also, many planning services are booked months in advance, and missing the best ones would also mean subpar work.
- Find a wedding planner: Shortlist planning services based on location and budget. Keep in mind that you need someone who knows the location and has handled similar events, which will help reduce common risks. Review portfolio of work, check recent events, and ask for references when comparing options.
- Set your budget: How much are you willing to spend at the maximum? Remember, despite setting a budget, there will be contingencies, which means you need to keep at least 10% of the amount aside. If you know the final price, you can shortlist between locations easily.
- Sort your guest list: You have to make a list of the guests who will be attending the wedding, and while you may have a tentative list, ask for RSPVs a year before. You will need the information for travel and resort bookings. Make sure your planner is aware of these details.
- Consider legalities: Can you and your guests get visas for the chosen location? Can you marry there legally? If not, are you okay with a symbolic wedding? Ask your wedding planner about these details and ensure there are no last-minute adjustments on these fronts.
- Plan your theme: Having a mood board always helps execute weddings without confusion. If you know what theme you are looking for or the decor you want, share those ideas with the planner. For instance, they may tell you that certain floral arrangements aren’t possible at the given location or would push the budget. In such cases, you can easily make adjustments.
- Manage the last six months: Six months before the wedding, consider calling your guests again before bookings are finalized. You may also want to check with the planner whether you can arrange other activities to keep guests busy before and after the event. This is also the time when you should ensure all vendors are finalized and signed.
Other tips to remember
- Ensure there is some level of flexibility in your wedding package. If you have to change certain details, the planner should be able to help you, provided that doesn’t compromise the budget or other aspects.
- Ask the wedding planners how they intend to manage different risks. For instance, what happens if there is a hurricane warning for a given date? Can they shift the beach wedding to a new, indoor venue?
- Discuss what is non-negotiable. If there are certain things that are an absolute must, you should let the planning team know in advance. They will make arrangements accordingly.
- Check how you are expected to pay. Payment terms may vary, but you will usually pay in tiers, and everything should be detailed in the contract. Having milestones will help track the work of planners.
With a competent and dependable destination wedding planner, you can prevent the usual chaos and take your time to enjoy the event.
