Destination weddings are more popular today than ever before. If you and your significant other are interested in having your special wedding day at a special destination, then you should take time to plan ahead and follow these simple guidelines.
1. Start With Your Dream Destination
What if you have a very specific location already in mind? Maybe you want to get married at Ruby Falls or on a beach in the Bahamas. You’ll need to keep in mind that if you start with a location, then you need to be flexible with the date. You obviously don’t want to plan a wedding during the hottest months or the rainy season. You can absolutely use your dream destination, but make sure to research local weather patterns and choose the best possible time of year.
2. Working With A Budget
Budgeting can very tricky with a destination wedding. Not only do you need to worry about local currency exchanges if it’s outside of your country, but you also need to consider travel and lodging for yourself and for non-local vendors. For example, if you’re using a preferred photographer from your town, then you’ll most likely be expected to pay for their airfare and their lodging during the wedding.
As for vendors who are local to the destination, they will need to be paid in the local currency. Take time to research the exchange rate ahead of time so that you aren’t caught off guard when it’s time to make payments. And don’t forget that those exchange rates can change from day-to-day. Many happy couples have found themselves going over budget because they didn’t keep up with exchange rates. And ultimately, not too happy after all. Especially when the wedding budget goes over by $5,000 – $10,000.
3. Keep Your Guests In Mind
Keep in mind that choosing a destination wedding is going to put extra expenses on your guests. This means you should do everything possible to make their trip easier and less expensive. One way you can do this is by sending invitations as early as possible. Early invitations will mean that guests can plan ahead and secure the best rates on airfare and hotels in the area.
Planning your perfect destination wedding will certainly take more than these three steps, but they are some of the most important. Remember to choose your destination first, send out invitations as soon as possible, and keep local currency exchange in mind when setting your budget.