Throwing a destination wedding surely has a lot of allure. Heading off into an exotic location, adopting a new culture and using a one-of-a-kind ceremony are all reasons brides and grooms elect for a escape to find wedded bliss. However, what about actually planning the big day out of potentially tens of thousands of miles apart? Enter Mindy Weiss.
Mindy has planned her fair share of destination weddings, and also has pulled together the lavish (and key) nuptials of a number of Hollywood's A-listers. After all these years she's learned a thing or 2 about perfectly pulling off a faraway fete. Here are her six suggestions for doing it:
Ask Yourself These Questions
First things first, decide what sort of wedding you want. Are you dreaming about a tropical event, something beachy, from the mountains, or European? "It's also useful to select a wedding destination which you'd like to honeymoon at to cut down travel," Mindy says. "Also consider if there's a destination you two have traveled together and skilled wonderful memories. If you have always dreamt of returning, it could be the ideal location for your wedding."
Think About Your Guests
"One of the most essential things to bear in mind how far your guests might need to travel," Mindy says. "How difficult it's to reach your place, etc.?" Her rule of thumb: if you want a massive destination wedding you'll want to decide on a location that is easy to get to. Homegrinds.com For smaller weddings you can pick areas that are more distant.
Also, when guests go out of town they are inclined to receive a bit needy, Mindy notes. "Make certain that you have a very detailed itinerary so they understand what events are planned," she states. "That lets them experience the environment by themselves also. Don't over plan--your guests will need some downtime, as this may be their only holiday of this year."
Regardless, send out your Save The Dates ancient to allow for a lot of time for guests to plan their journey.
Check Out the Weather
Although they say rain on your wedding day is good luck, it certainly does not make for a joyful bride and groom. When it's a destination you're not entirely familiar with, the weather may come as a shock. "Different parts of the world experience climate phenomenon at different times," Mindy says. "Check your destination for hurricanes and large storms, and extremely hot temperatures."
Look For a One-Stop Shop
It is hard to plan a wedding because it is; throw at several hundred to tens of thousands of kilometers and it can become incredibly stressful. "When planning a destination wedding, it can be quite useful to use a place that offers services in house," Mindy says. "Hotels in a destination are great spots because most offer catering, and it's convenient for your guests to remain in the location of the wedding."
Stick With Destination Themed DĂ©cor and Food
"The decoration must decorate the destination," she proposes. "I find that the greatest mistake is when a few brings a fancy hotel wedding on the shore, or the beach within a hotel. Queen Sown Remember where you are, and deliver the love into the destination you've chosen by using the great resources and designs of the area around you."
This notion also holds true when deciding on food. "I really like creating menus that emphasize what is new and in season in the destination," Mindy says. Honestly, who wants barbecue in Italy?
Budget For Shipping
It's simpler to plan how much to spend on a wedding dress and catering, but it's those sudden costs that catch many couples off guard. "Budget for transport goods to the wedding destination, the cost of travel, and lodging," Mindy says. "And plan for the simple fact that a few guests you are hoping to come, may not be able to pay for a visit at that moment."