Every little girl dreams of a romantic wedding and everyone has an idea of the dress and the wedding itself. Destination weddings are the dreams for many brides. All those images of beautiful weddings on a gorgeous beach at sunset or in a flower-strewn garden with all your loved ones gathered to celebrate the new couple. Those weddings will be truly memorable and will surely beat any local venue.
Planning your wedding usually takes months. Brides will start with Bridal Magazines, a Pinterest board and talking to lots of people. A wedding journal will help remind you of all the tasks you need to consider and to make sure that you don’t miss anything important. For travel addicts, a destination wedding is another excuse to explore a new place, you can extend your stay and make your honeymoon something memorable too.
1. Is a Destination Wedding Right for You?
Before you get too carried away with you dream wedding planning, first take a reality check. Consider these issues before you start.
- Budget – Start with your budget, not just for your wedding, but consider what it will cost your family and friends to get there. Everyone is watching their spending nowadays, so many people will think twice before accepting a wedding invite to a different country. Unless you are a multi millionaire and can cover the costs for your guests, you might have to consider a smaller wedding party.
- Guest attendance – Many guests might not be able to travel to your destination due to costs and other considerations.
- Research the legal requirements for getting married
2. Choosing Your Destination
Once you have a budget in mind, start a wishlist of destinations. If you would like a beach, a mountain or a truly unique destination that has special meaning to you both. With your list in mind and some dates, research costs on booking platforms. The top 3 most photogenic destinations by the number of hashtags on social media are Turkey (142.1 million hashtags), Bali (Â 83.1 million hashtags) and Ibiza Spain (20.4 million hashtags) Consider these issues.
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- Climate and season
- Proximity to airports and availability of flights as your guest might be flying from different airports
- What are the visa requirements or travel restrictions
- Cultural and legal marriage recognition
- The types of venue, a beach hotel, all-inclusive resorts or other independent venues
While there can be pressure to snap up limited availability and time-sensitive offers, it’s worth slowing down and choosing thoughtfully. This is a significant milestone in your lives, and every decision should feel intentional and reflective of your relationship, rather than rushed for the sake of convenience.
3. Setting Your Budget
The budget is going to direct how you plan your wedding. Get some quotes from hotels and wedding planners ahead of time to determine the costs. Follow these tips for planning a cost effective event and to keep from going overbudget, as weddings are tend to do. These are line items you need to cost out in your budget.
- Choosing your wedding bands and your wedding outfits
- Venue and catering packages
- Photographer and videographers
- Guest accommodation blocks
- Hair, makeup and dress logistics abroad
- Wedding favours
- Four string quarter and DJs
4. Working With a Local Wedding Planner
To take away a lot of stress and research, work with a local wedding planner based in the same place as your destination. They will have local knowledge, local contacts and tons of experience in dealing with all the moving parts of a wedding. If you have already picked a hotel, ask them about wedding planners they have worked with before. With their working relationship, this will make your planning much easier.
5. Your Guests – Making It a memorable trip for them too
Your guests are not just making a trip to attend your wedding. They are spending time and money to join you in celebrating your wedding. Most people will also be looking to spend some time exploring the destination after the celebrations. You can help ensure that they enjoy the wedding and the rest of their trip by organising some group activities and sightseeing tours. Usually, this is also an opportunity to catch up with family members who they don’t often meet.
You can help reduce the costs of their trip by negotiating some discounted rates and block book some rooms ahead of time. You can also consider these:
- Creating a wedding weekend itinerary, not just a single day
- Goody bags with wedding favours and local treats
- Coordinating group transfers or arranging transport options
6. Resort Spotlight: Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Casablanca, Morocco
Read my review of the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort near Casablanca in Morocco. When I was there, they were hosting a big wedding with a couple from New York and their extended family from around the world. There was a beautiful setup in the garden overlooking the sea, which was the perfect setting for sunset photos.
8. Your Destination Wedding Planning Checklist
To help you organise your dream destination wedding, here is a handy checklist that you can download to help with your planning.
As the sun dips below the horizon and you’re surrounded by your closest people in a place where special memories have been made, a destination wedding becomes more than a celebration. It becomes a shared experience you’ll relive for years to come. The smaller guest list, the magical atmosphere, the sense of discovery, this all results in something deeply personal and unforgettable. If you’re ready to start planning your dream wedding, explore my full hotel review for an in-depth look at where to hold your wedding, save and share this post with anyone involved in the plans.
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