How to Choose the Best Destination For Your Wedding
A lot goes into choosing a venue for a wedding when planning a traditional event. But when it comes to a destination wedding, it can be a little bit harder - for many reasons. Do we want mountains or beaches? Do we want an all-inclusive resort or a fabulous villa? Do we want somewhere easy for people to get to or is that not on our radar? Do we want to go somewhere we have been or a new place? Questions, questions, questions …
Photo by: Odessa James Photo
Here are a few things to do when you start trying to choose a destination location for your wedding:
Hire a wedding planner. Who saw that coming? Find someone you connect with that can understand you and your vision so they can help you narrow down not only the venue but the locale.
Think about what your guests are like. Are you inviting mostly your party people or is the guest list full of the older crowd who doesn’t want to go at a fast pace? Are the people you are inviting good at traveling or should you consider a destination that isn’t too long of a plane ride away?
Plan for a place that you can give guests a good experience. Most of our clients want to plan excursions or group activities or multiple parties so it really feels like a getaway and celebration for the guests. From big welcome parties to a sunset boat tour to adventurous excursions in the jungle or visiting a winery, if creating a weekend experience is important, consider places with great options.
Stick with a budget. Most places have fun packages that are budget friendly and full of amenities and concessions for the wedding couple but again, think where your priorities land. Do you really want your planner to rock your wedding design and give you an aesthetic dripping in flowers and candles? Is photography your top priority and you will fly in the photographer you’ve been stalking on IG? Or do you want to have a low key wedding where everyone relaxes on the beach around bonfires? PS - your guest count highly affects your bottom line.
Do what you want! Don’t let other people guilt you into doing a destination you don’t care about or are not excited about. Don’t let others guilt you into NOT having a destination wedding. Talk about what locations really speak to you and why and have a planner help you fill in the blanks for venues, vendors, decor, activities, accommodations, etc. Point of it is, planning a wedding is difficult and doing it away from your hometown is harder. Pick a place that is special to you and everything else will fall into place if you stay true to you.