Guide to Planning a Destination Wedding

Planning a destination wedding can feel daunting - but it can also be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. From finding the perfect venue and booking your dream honeymoon, to choosing a photographer and organizing travel for your guests, there is SO much to think about when planning a destination wedding! In this blog post, I share my top tips for how to plan a destination wedding in an organized way so you can stay on track and ahead of the planning game.

Photography: Rajotte Photo

Choose Your Destination

When planning a destination wedding, the first and most important step is choosing the right destination for you and your partner. The destination should be meaningful to you both, as it will be a special place to start the next chapter of your lives together. It’s important to find a destination where you will both find joy and relaxation.

Think about what kind of vacation you have always wanted to take as a couple and use that as a starting point. Talk to each other about what kind of atmosphere and activities you want during your wedding and honeymoon and use that to narrow down your search. Do you want a tropical paradise, a romantic city getaway, or a mountaintop forest hideaway?

Once you have identified what you are looking for in a destination wedding location - it’s time to narrow down your list. Consider the cost of travel, accommodation and other expenses, as well as the climate, local culture, and availability of activities and amenities. If you can, try visiting the location before booking to get a better sense of what your big day will feel like. If visiting is not an option, I recommend viewing tons of travel vlogs as well as wedding videos by professional videographers at your preferred destination. Youtube is a great resource for this.

Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not you want to stay at the same destination for both your wedding and your honeymoon. If so, make sure it is somewhere that has enough activities and attractions to keep you entertained during your extended stay. In the end, the destination you choose for your wedding and honeymoon will provide you with memories that last a lifetime - so make sure it's somewhere you'll want to be for more than a day or two.

Popular and exciting destinations for a destination wedding that you can consider include:

Vegas, Lake Como, Tulum, Hawaii, & so many more.

I’ve curated blogs on beautiful venues in Lake Como, Tulum, and Portofino to take some of the work off of your plate, complete with planning tips and vendor recommendations!

Hire a Planner

When it comes to planning a destination wedding, having the help of a professional wedding planner is so valuable. A good wedding planner can provide advice on the best venues and vendors in your chosen location, ensuring that you get the best experience possible. They can also help with organizing all of the necessary paperwork, such as marriage licenses and paperwork needed for legal recognition in different countries.

Most importantly, a wedding planner can take a lot of the stress away from you. By taking care of much of the planning and organization, you can relax and enjoy the time together leading up to your special day.

A destination wedding planner will also ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch, allowing you to focus on enjoying your destination wedding.

If you are considering having a destination wedding, my personal recommendation for a planner is Events by Kate!

Pick a Venue

There are a few factors that you should consider when picking a destination wedding venue. Firstly, you should decide on what you want the backdrop of your wedding day to be. For example, you might want a beachfront venue, a private estate, or an intimate garden setting. Your venue will definitely reflect what your photos look like - so find out what type of venue you are drawn to when looking at inspiration.

Sagaponack Farm Distillery Wedding P-1.jpg

Once you've decided on the style - you should then look at what amenities are available at the venue and if they will be suitable for you and the needs of your guests.

Some things to look out for are:

if they offer catering services or require you to hire your own catering team (you can ask the venue for their preferred caterers, or have your wedding planner do some digging to find you great local catering options)
if the ceremony/reception will be in an outdoor space and if there is a backup inclement weather plan (this is especially important if you choose to have your wedding during a rainy month. Be sure to check what the climate and weather is like for the destination that you choose when selecting your date.)
any special accessibility requirements that you may have, such as wheelchair access
you should also consider the size of the venue and how many guests you are expecting.

It is important to make sure that everyone has enough space to enjoy the event, while still keeping the venue intimate. I recommend not maxing out your venue's limits to ensure that you feel comfortable.

Hire Your Photographer

I might be biased, but I believe your destination wedding photographer will be one of the most important vendors you hire on your wedding day. When all is said and done, the only thing you'll have left to remember your destination wedding (aside from your spouse) will be your wedding photos. These photos are SO important. Your destination wedding photographer will likely capture the last time a group of people were in a room together, the last "family vacation," and the last BEST photo taken of someone you love. Think hard on this decision, and be sure that the person capturing your day is someone who you can trust to capture these precious memories in a natural way! Someone who has an eye for the “right moment” and knows how to keep people comfortable in front of the camera.

If you are looking for a destination wedding photographer who captures all the in-between, emotional and moments - you can contact me here. Let’s document those fleeting moments and memories in a nostalgic and story-telling way, together.

Arrange Your Transportation

When planning your transportation, it's important to think ahead. You may think you can save money by arriving the day before your wedding and not having to pay for pre-wedding accomodations, but I do not recommend that at all. Flight delays are all too common in a post-covid world and you do not need that to completely derail your wedding.

My recommendation is, plan to arrive 2-3 days before your destination wedding. This gives you enough time to book new flights and arrive at your destination in time if something doesn't go as planned. Don’t forget to research your airline and make sure you are booking with a company that isn’t known for excessive delays.

My personal airline recommendation is Delta.

Make It Legal

If you're planning a destination wedding, it's important to remember that you may need to get legally married in the United States before your big day abroad. This process can be different depending on which state you live in, but generally, you'll need to obtain a marriage license and have a ceremony performed at home before you can officially tie the knot overseas.

To start the process, contact your local courthouse or other government office to find out what the requirements are for getting a marriage license. In most states, you'll need to bring along valid forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and will have to pay a fee. Once you have your license, you’ll need to find an officiant who can perform the ceremony. You can usually find officiants online, or you could ask a friend or family member if they would be willing to do it. Just make sure they have the right certifications required in your state!

My last tip - and I can't stress this enough - DON'T CHANGE YOUR NAME ON ANY DOCUMENTS UNTIL AFTER YOU RETURN FROM YOUR HONEYMOON!

You might think you want to get ahead of the game - but once you change your passport or ID, you need to have them all changed right away. You can not travel abroad if your passport does not match your ID. The last headache you need is to be scrambling to re-arrange plans because you changed one document and not the other. Just save it for last, there's no rush. Besides, you can still make it Facebook official!