Destination Weddings? Are They Your Ticket?

When I talk to brides who have gotten married in Las Vegas or at some other destination foreign or domestic, I'm not surprised with their stories.  For one thing, what they thought was going to be the easy way to go, hasn't always ended up being the easiest path to get to that aisle of "I do".  Perhaps in their minds, they were thinking that it was all just magically going to happen much more easily...someplace else.  I detect a little bit of denial that it's all going to be done by someone else. I'm not at all against destination weddings, but I don't think people are prepared for some of the extra challenges they might face with a destination wedding.

Here are 9 basic things that brides should consider when they are planning a destination wedding.

1.  Brides are likely going to be spending a lot of money on phone calls depending on their phone plan. They can also expect a lot of emails, even more so than planning a wedding near their home.

2.  Not only is there often a difference in time zones between countries, sometimes there just isn't the sense of urgency that we are accustomed to which can add to delays.

3.  Laws in other countries can put stipulations on how many days you have to be there before you can have a wedding ceremony and sometimes the hotel/wedding venue can make people wait even longer.  It has changed in Tahiti, but a bride and groom were required until rather recently to be there for the 30 days in advance of their wedding.  

4.  Brides and grooms are quite possibly going to be taking a lot of flack from family or friends, who would normally be within miles of where the wedding is, but are suddenly facing major travel expenses. Members of the bridal party, who are probably not yet as financially established as they would like to be, can really feel the pinch. Their normal investment would only be the standard gift, bridesmaids dress and so forth, and a plane ticket can feel like the cost of a flight to another planet.   Especially with the economy being what it is for the millenials.

5.  A bride would be doing well to be prepared for friends or family who can't afford or feel able to travel, to feel like they are nothing more than a solution to trimming a bride and groom's guest list. It's doubtful that that would be a bride's intention and she would probably feel horrible!  Brides just need to be sensitive to issues that are going to appear more prominently with a destination wedding.

6.  We all know that traveling is more of a challenge than it used to be.  Preparing to travel for a destination wedding is much different than taking a vacation or even for a business trip. It can make packing for any other trip seem like a picnic.  Brides should think seriously about this when purchasing a wedding gown for a number of reasons that I'm sure you can think of in just a few seconds.  It's also much easier to return home to pick up those forgotten items when you are within a short driving distance of your wedding.  If this happens, brides should make sure that they have a trusted someone back home who can arrange to ship items to your destination ASAP.  

7.  Destination weddings are the perfect solution for many brides and grooms and their friends and family.  It's absolutely wonderful when this sounds like a piece of heaven on earth for everyone. Often they are a wonderful vacation and an opportunity to get away to be with so many of their loved ones and get acquainted with their new family and friends especially if everyone has to wait a few days before the wedding.  However, this waiting time has caused some brides to be more stressed out before their wedding.  

8.   I've been to wedding receptions where people showed the video of their destination wedding and I'll tell you that people will often cry as much as if they were actually there.  That's actually good news!  You can try to have a very small intimate destination wedding followed by a reception back home which will make everyone feel included.  It all depends on what your reason is for having a destination wedding.

9.  I've save what I think is the most important for last.   For destination weddings, my biggest suggestion would be to find an independent bona fide travel agent! The ones that give you personal service.  Believe me, an agent like this is worth their weight in gold!  It's a completely different traveling experience when you do this! 

Okay, a little trivia here.  Did you know that 50% of the brides that fly to Hawaii to get married are from the Seattle area?  This is according to a very experienced Wedding Coordinator I know in Hawaii.  I would trust her to any of my clients and would say don't get married in Hawaii unless you speak with her first! Seriously!  

Wishing you the greatest of days!