Destination weddings have become a huge hit in recent years for couple’s with a flare for adventure and world cultures. According to The Knot, the top destination wedding venues worldwide include Italy, St. Lucia, Bali and Anguilla. We love the inspiration that comes from planning a breathtaking destination wedding, but know it comes with a few obstacles as well (nothing we can’t handle).

1. Venue Accommodations and Attractions

The biggest decision you will likely make is selecting a venue. It’s always best to consider the basics – size and location. Does the venue provide a suitable event space that fits your vision and budget? Be sure the venue can meet your needs rather you having to compromise your vision to make it work. The venue should also be able to provide you with referrals for preferred vendors in the area, which takes a lot of time to research on your own. In researching venues, we recommend asking about other events happening and the possibility of construction taking place on-site during your wedding weekend.

Next, determine the approximate distance from the airport and consider how the drive will affect your guests’ experience. Oftentimes the resort will provide its guests with transportation to and from the airport. A major thing to consider in planning a destination wedding is ensuring your guests have a delightful trip and take part in visiting local attractions. The local visitors bureau will be able to provide you with local tourist attractions for all interests and ages.

2. Weather, Seasons and Climates

In planning a destination wedding, the last thing you want to deal with is poor weather considering most places are designated vacation spots. In tropical climates such as the Caribbean Islands and Mexico, the best time of year to visit is January through March due to the mild temperatures. The summer months are just too warm and right in the middle of hurricane season. If you’re hoping for a Hawaiian destination, we recommend scheduling your wedding in the springtime when the temperatures are warm and dry.

3. Booking Vendors

One of the major challenges of planning a destination wedding is establishing a group of reliable vendors. Unlike planning a local wedding, you cannot simply ask your friends and family for recommendations and/or schedule in-person interviews. More often then not, the selection of vendors will be limited for certain destinations. However, other regions may have a wide variety of vendors to choose from. The reliability factor is very important here and it’s best to enlist your venue or planner to assist in the vetting process. Securing reliable and vetted vendors can be difficult from afar but it’s completely possible! Also, consider the potential added expense and logistics of shipping décor and other items that might not be available for purchase in certain destinations. This is very common for a destination weddings but the expense often goes overlooked.

We’d love to assist you in planning your upcoming destination wedding. Please contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!