With more and more couples opting to say their vows overseas, destination weddings are fast becoming one of the most popular choices for under 35’s.
Sun, sea sand; destination weddings really do seem like a dream come true, but they can also be hella stressful if you don’t plan ahead. So, to help stop you from turning into bridezilla, here are our dos and don’ts of planning a destination wedding.
DO… Give your guests plenty of notice
Giving your guests plenty of notice is important with any wedding, but especially so with destination weddings as they can often require further expense and time of work for guests. This means that those save the date cards, or links to your personal wedding website should be sent out at least 6 months prior to the big day if the wedding is within 2-3 hours away, or 12 months if it’s somewhere expensive like Hawaii or Mexico. This should give everyone plenty of time to plan their travel and annual leave/think up a good enough excuse not to come!
DON’T… Expect everyone to come to your destination wedding
Between the extra expense and issues with accessibly, a destination wedding may be difficult to navigate for some of your guests, so don’t turn into Bridezilla if you get a few ‘thanks but no thanks’ RSVPs. Whilst your big day might mean the world to you, making your guests fork out or travel for hours to watch you say ‘I do’ might be a little unreasonable. Be prepared for a few no’s and make sure that anyone who can’t make it knows that they can celebrate with you when you get home.
DO… make sure your destination wedding is legal
Each country has different laws when it comes to getting married, and in some places, you have to be a resident for an extended period of time in order to make your ceremony legal. If this is the case, it might be worth having your legal ceremony at home and just enjoy a symbolic blessing abroad. The best thing you can do is to check the laws of the countries your interested in prior to going to visit any destinations.
DON’T… bank on good weather
When you’re planning a wedding abroad it can be easy to assume that the sun will be cracking the flags – but it’s not worth tempting Murphy’s law. Instead, just make sure that you have a back-up-plan in case of rain or other bad weather conditions – and make sure you keep checking the weather forecast prior to flying out to help to dictate your packing list!
DO… Negotiate with vendors
Though it can seem cringy AF, if you’re planning a wedding you need to remember that everything is negotiable. Negotiating isn’t always about bartering vendors down to the price you want, but rather about ensuring that you get the most for your money. Whilst you might not always be able to persuade vendors to lower the price, you may be able to score some extra invites or room-upgrades – especially if you’re already spending a lot with a particular company.
DON’T… Fly out last minute
I know you probably want to start your holiday with the ceremony, then enjoy the remainder as your honeymoon, but flying out to your own wedding the day before can be a risky little game. I’d suggest arriving at your wedding destination at least 3-5 days before your wedding, giving you plenty of time to run any last minute errands, and be on-hand to welcome any of your guests who choose to arrive early!
Faye is the Junior Lifestyle Editor here at The Daily Struggle. She interested in fitness, travel and long romantic walks to the fridge. Faye also loves to try new things, from frogs legs to the latest fad diet – and report back to the rest of your crazy bitches!
