For some couples, nothing beats a wedding close to home. We’re talking an English country manor and a roast wedding breakfast. For other couples, though, all that homely stuff is too close to everyday life. Instead, such individuals might prefer the out-of-this-world experience that’s only possible with a destination wedding. Picture it; sun, sea, sand, and all the cocktails you could want. Oh, it’s the life, alright!
The trouble is that, while wedding planning is always stressful, destination weddings can be even more of a worry. After all, there’s so much more to think about when you’re planning to tie the knot overseas, especially if you want your loved ones to enjoy the day with you.
One prime consideration you’ll need to take into account is that of timing. Typically, weddings take at least a year from proposal to the big day, but planning a destination wedding may mean that you need even more time to play with. If you’re in any doubt about why that might be, consider the following reasons why a more extended period of planning could be key to your wedding success.
You might need a civil ceremony back home first
While few of us realise it until way down the destination planning line, it’s often not possible to legally marry in another country. Even in countries like Jamaica, where your destination ceremony is lawfully binding, restrictions apply such as a necessity to arrive at least 24 hours in advance and provide the correct documentation. More commonly, though, couples find that destination weddings are more of a symbolic ceremony than a legally binding one, with many countries having much longer residency restrictions before actual marriage is possible.
In these instances, couples typically choose to book a private official ceremony back home before jetting out for their ‘big day’. The last thing you want, then, is to leave planning so late that you’re unable to book at the registry office before you’re due to fly. This could unravel your entire plan, cost you a whole lot in lost deposits, and generally leave your destination dreams drowning.
Your guests need plenty of warning
Giving guests plenty of warming about a wedding is an etiquette most of us adhere to, even when we’re getting married back home. They need plenty of time to book the day off work and potentially make accommodation arrangements, after all. But, all that becomes even more pressing when you’re hosting your wedding abroad. Suddenly, guests will need to book a few days instead of one, and there will be a great deal more pressure for them to find accommodation and flights to ensure their attendance.
As simple as that, you may find that you need to send out wedding invitations like those offered by Pure Invitation as much as six months to a year sooner than you would if you were marrying closer to home. Even before official invitations head out, you might find it useful to let key guests know what you’re planning and roughly when so that they can start laying the groundwork for their trip, by sending save the date wedding cards. In fact, the more notice you’re able to provide, the less stressed your guests are going to be. And, given that you’re probably stressed enough for everyone, that’s got to be a good thing!
There’s more than just a venue to book
Speaking of advance notice, getting ahead is also crucial when you consider that there’s more than just a venue to book here. Even with weddings close to home, top venues can be booked up to one or two years in advance. Now, consider that you have to book not only your venue but your own flights, accommodation and even your ceremony officiant. You’re also going to need to consider how you can manage to hire flowers, catering, and more from another country!
All this, unsurprisingly, takes time, and the last thing you want is a limited period in which to do it. By giving yourself at least two years to get everything together, you ensure you can take one thing at a time. The guarantees the destination venue of your dreams, and a whole lot more besides.
You’ll want plenty of time to get excited
Everything else aside, destination weddings are one of the most exciting things any bride-to-be can embark on. It’s like the wedding of every little girl’s dreams, and it’s soon to become a reality for you. The last benefit of planning with plenty of notice, therefore, has to be that you’ll give yourself plenty of time to get excited.
Too often, brides on limited time frames are in such a rush to get everything planned that they barely even realise they’re getting married before it’s already happened. This is a crying shame, not to mention a waste of all that money you spent securing the dream destination!
By making sure you have time to play with, you can spend at least a few more dreamy days picking the perfect destination and imagine yourself there. You can take your time over finding the dream dress, and generally guaranteeing that every last aspect is right. You can even take the time necessary to find the ideal honeymoon suite that’s guaranteed to be the cherry on top of your wedding cake!
Whatever you do, then, make sure that you have time to enjoy the destination wedding process before it’s already passed you by. Remember; this is the dreamy start to the rest of your life. Make it count!
A final word
Destination weddings might not be everyone, but, when you know, you know. Still, even if this is a long-held dream of yours, things can quickly go wrong when you’re rushing the destination wedding process. You might even forget your passports at the last hurdle, and then you’d be screwed! Avoid that eventuality, and make sure that your destination wedding is as dreamy as it’s supposed to be by giving yourself plenty of time to get every single aspect of your day just right.
This is a collaborative post
