Are you having a hard time planning a destination wedding?

Did you know that the wedding industry has a value of 55.1 billion USD despite the pandemic? This means that you’re still going to spend a lot when you opt for a traditional wedding. This is often the number one hurdle for most couples as it means that they need to have a high budget to get married.

If you go for a destination wedding, though, you forgo most of the costs of a traditional wedding. How to plan a destination wedding, though? Check what we have below to learn how you can plan a destination wedding and get married in the most scenic way possible.

Choose a Meaningful Destination

The first thing that you should plan when going for a destination wedding is the destination itself. Deciding on this will help you plan out the rest of the event with ease. What’s great is that there are tons of locations for you to choose from.

The best destination weddings are amazing because the bride and groom choose a location that’s meaningful to them. So, to make your as enjoyable and successful, make sure your venue has a meaning behind it. Select a special location from your childhood memories if you want it to add more memories to the venue.

You can also pick among the best destination wedding locations if you’re strapped for ideas. These are sure to give you and your guests a good time before, during, and after the wedding.

Set a Budget

Now that you have a destination in mind, use that as a reference to what your budget will be. Make sure that you include the cost of the accommodation and the fees for travel in your budget to know how much you have left.

Use that budget to plan out the rest of the event. A great way to cut on costs and extend your budget is by forgoing traditional wedding decor. Replace them with local flora, instead, as they’re likely cheaper than cloth and fabrics.

You can also choose local delicacies to make all the investments going towards food friendlier to your budget. Doing all these things should help you with your budget for the wedding.

Create an Invite List

With your budget in mind, you should now choose who you’ll invite to your wedding. A good rule of thumb is to invite the people who matter the most to you first. Once you complete that list, consider how much you’ll need to pay for each of them and if it fits in your budget.

If you still have room for more, consider who can and will go abroad to celebrate your special day with you. Including these people is sure to help you fill the seat count for your big day.

Ensure You Have All Necessary Documents

Once you have the destination nailed down, prepare all the documents you need. This goes beyond a marriage certificate and license. Traveling abroad for a wedding means you must also have a Visa and passport at the ready.

Make sure to prepare the change of name documents, birth certificates, and death certificates for divorcees. You never know when you’ll need them, and it’s a pain to get those documents if you’re in another country.

Make sure to include written authorization letters for your guests, too. Anyone under 18 will need this to travel abroad if they don’t have their parents with them.

Choose Someone to Officiate Your Wedding

Next, you need to choose someone who will officiate the wedding for you. If the country you’re traveling to shares the same religious beliefs as you, it should be easy to find one. If not, though, it can be a pain to find someone who will.

Check the local laws to see who they allow to wed people in destination weddings. If you see that they allow anyone who’s gotten ordained before, you can have your friends officiate for you. Doing this makes your wedding one of a kind and is a great way to save on money.

Pick a Theme

Now that you have most worries out of the way, it’s time to pick the theme of your wedding. You’ll want to pick a theme that suits your destination for the wedding. If you’re doing the wedding at a beach, going for a tropical theme is a good idea.

If you don’t want to pick a theme, pick a color scheme, instead. Pick colors that will benefit you and the guests at the destination. Dark colors for cold environments, and lighter ones for hotter environments.

Notify Your Guestlist In Advance

With most of the items on your checklist done, it’s about time for you to notify your guests. Doing this will help them know how much they have to set aside for their fare. Most guests have no idea until a short time before the wedding, making them miss the event.

Doing this also helps your guests pack for the location. They will know what to wear for their leisure time and what they should wear for the wedding itself.

Handpick Your Vendors

Before it’s too late, visit the location and handpick your vendors. It’s better to do this early on so that you can consider your budget and scout the local talent. One way to do this is to ask the locals for referrals.

They’re more familiar with the people in the location and can point you towards the best of the best. This will give you time to negotiate the prices and secure their services for the day.

Learn How to Plan a Destination Wedding Today

Planning a destination wedding shouldn’t be a stressful thing to do. It should be as relaxing as the venue you’ll set for the event. Check our guide and learn how to plan a destination wedding today!

Do you want to learn more about weddings and event planning? Check out more of our posts and guides to learn all you can about event planning today!