7 minute read
DESTINATION WEDDINGS
DESTINATION & DESIGN London Calling
TIPS FOR PLANNING
A DESTINATION WEDDING
Planning a destination wedding is no easy feat. From language barriers to cost differences, there are quite a few details to consider. But with the right team of professionals, you'll be sure to pull off an unforgettable event! Here, Valentina Ring of The Stars Inside shares her top 10 tips for planning a wedding abroad.
CHOOSE A
MEANINGFUL LOCATION.
One of the joys of destination weddings is getting excited about the location. Think about choosing a place that's important to you in some way—somewhere linked to a fond memory, a bucket-list location, or an embodiment of the passions and hobbies you share as a couple. Enjoying that travel experience with your loved ones will make the celebration all the more memorable! While brainstorming locations, try not to set your heart on anywhere too specific until you’ve had some time to find out whether it's within budget, safe for travel, and has all the resources you need for the kind of celebration you have in mind.
DO YOUR RESEARCH SO
YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR
EXPECTATIONS ON BUDGET.
The cost of a destination wedding depends on the location you choose, the style of wedding you want, and the value-for-money of the specific elements that are priorities for you. For example, you might find that a particular European country has very cost-effective catering and venue hire fees compared to what you’ve seen
VALENTINA RING OF
THE STARS INSIDE
The Stars Inside is a bespoke planning and design studio, specializing in soulful elopements and intimate destination weddings all over the world. Valentina’s specialty is creating magical atmospheres that couples can enjoy to the fullest. She loves working closely with her couples to help them weave their passions, stories, and values into their celebrations. Her work is all about making time and space for creating deeper connections with loved ones through heartfelt, elevated, and welcoming wedding experiences. She’s based in the UK, but supports couples in styling and planning breathtaking weddings and elopements all over the world.
in your local area, but requires a higher-than-average investment for florals and productions (i.e. music and lighting). Or perhaps the style of rentals you want is really tricky to find in a particular location, and so is in higher demand and therefore more expensive. Approach your first round of vendor research with an open mind, flexibility, and a willingness to manage your expectations depending on what you discover.
GIVE YOURSELF EXTRA TIME TO PLAN.
As a rule of thumb, destination weddings have more logistical challenges to plan and prepare for, and you may also discover that the speed of communication and approach to paperwork is different from what you were expecting. With that in mind, couples wanting to say their “I dos” abroad should give themselves plenty of time to plan so there are buffers for these possible delays. Better to feel like you can go with the flow and make decisions at their natural pace. If you do find yourself with a short planning lead time, though, don’t panic. The planning process just might require a bit more flexibility, quicker decision-making, and possibly some phone calls to get answers from venues and vendors, decisively and promptly.
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH
THE LEGALITIES WELL IN ADVANCE.
Make sure you spend time researching and familiarizing yourself with the legal part of the marriage too, even before choosing the country. Some countries will have easier, more friendly eligibility criteria for non-residents to marry there, while others may be exceptionally complicated (or may not allow it at all). Know the gist of what bureaucratic hoops lie ahead before committing to a location, or, alternatively, keep your plans more flexible by considering the option that you may end up doing the paper-signing legal bit locally to you, and a symbolic (but no less meaningful!) ceremony abroad.
PHOTO CREDITS
Alex & Madi / Photo & Film
GIVE YOUR GUESTS PLENTY OF NOTICE.
Whether they're juggling work, holidays, childcare, other trips already planned, or something as simple as getting their passport (or wardrobe!) ready, your guests will be grateful for the chance to plan well ahead for your adventure abroad. Send your Save the Dates as soon as you know where and when you’ll be tying the knot, and then plan to send your invitations anytime between 4–8 months before the wedding.
EMBRACE THE CULTURAL, SEASONAL, AND GEOGRAPHICAL QUIRKS.
Spend smarter by choosing native, seasonal flowers and local ingredients and specialties. Not only will this allow you to save money (to invest elsewhere if you wish!), it'll also infuse your wedding with the scents, flavors, and colors of the beautiful country you've chosen. Get to know the location you’ve chosen by reading some travel advice articles, looking through galleries, and ideally speaking to friends or family who have visited. You may discover some really helpful insights on what to lean into and what to avoid. In particular, look out for recent travel warnings, political issues, or health concerns in the region.
HIRE A TEAM OF
PROFESSIONALS YOU TRUST.
Working with a planner who knows the area, or who has experience supporting couples internationally, will give you peace of mind knowing that every supplier will be managed and briefed and everything will come together seamlessly on the day of. Many planners specialize in working in new venues all over the world, sometimes sight-unseen, and will know exactly what problems to anticipate, how to make the most of your team and venue, and what questions to ask. Whether or not you’re partnering with a planner, make sure you take the time to research your vendors thoroughly, share lots of details with them, discuss their contracts in-depth, and wait to book until you find someone you feel completely confident with. Having a team you trust and who understands your vision is extra important when hosting a celebration abroad.
IT’S OKAY FOR YOUR GUESTS
TO PAY FOR SOME THINGS.
It’s absolutely fine to ask your guests to cover part of their costs, like contributing to the welcome dinner, to
any extra activities they want to participate in, or to their accommodations. It’s very likely that your guests will turn the wedding into a longer holiday, and they'll absolutely understand if covering their expenses for multiple days isn’t something that is (or should be) part of your wedding budget. Tactfully layout expectations by setting up a helpful website where you can provide recommendations or explain the cost of rooms and meals. This is also a great way to give tips and advice for arranging travel, activities, and accommodations without feeling like you need to help every single guest book their plane ticket!
PLAN A FEW TRIPS TO YOUR CHOSEN DESTINATION AHEAD OF THE WEDDING, IF YOU CAN.
If possible, visit the location a few times before the wedding. Trying some local activities and restaurants, arranging a local catering tasting, or scheduling hair and makeup trials will allow you to plan more intelligently and more intentionally. If visiting isn’t possible, don’t worry! It’s absolutely still possible to plan a magical and seamless celebration. It’s all going to come down to hiring professionals who are trustworthy and communicative. If you can, plan to arrive at least fi ve days before the wedding so you can catch up with vendors, and gently overcome any jet lag too!
BE SAFE.
This tip goes for all weddings and is even more important for destination weddings—make sure you have wedding insurance well ahead of time. Investing in wedding insurance will protect your fi nancial investment and also give you some emotional peace of mind. Not to mention the fact that many foreign venues actually require it these days anyway. Make sure you know exactly what coverage you're signing up for, and read the fi ne print of the policy so that you’re prepared in case of having to make any diffi cult decisions down the line. Most likely, you won’t need to use it and it'll just be a one-off payment that you make and then set aside—but it’s absolutely better to be safe than sorry!
PHOTO CREDITS
By Julieta
