Weddings are fairy tales come to life. They’re a chance to make the bride and grooms’ dreams come true. For this reason, many couples these days are choosing to have destination weddings. In fact, 15% of all weddings in America to date are destination weddings. And it comes as no surprise. Destination weddings are a great way to celebrate the once in a lifetime (or twice, depending who you are) occasion of marriage while taking a beachfront vacation with all of your closest family members and friends.
But to planning a destination beach wedding takes a lot time, patience, and clever budgeting skills. But worry not! Here are a few tips that should make planning your destination wedding a breeze.
- Pick a location. Relax. Close your eyes. Where do you see yourself tying the knot? On top of a volcano in Hawaii? On the shores of Lake Como in Italy? Wherever you envision yourself, within reason, your dreams can become a reality.
- Budget Wisely. Once you have picked a location, it’s time to crunch the numbers. How much money do you want to spend? A destination wedding can cost anywhere between $10-50,000. How many guests do you want to invite? If so, what are their budgets like? If you want to have children attend, make sure the hotel or beachfront resort offers family friendly condos or similar accommodations that offer reasonable rates. Booking your vacation during the off-season will mitigate costs for both flights and hotels.
- Spread the word. For destination weddings, it’s extremely important to have “save the date” pre-invitations sent out preferably 6-8 months before the wedding. Sometimes, even earlier. The more of a heads up you give your guests, the more likely they will be able to attend and find affordable hotels and flights.
- Have fun! Wedding planning can be stressful, particularly when it’s a destination wedding. But don’t forget that this is your special day. Relax, and remember to make it count.