Once you've picked out your ideal wedding locale overseas, the next step is figuring out how to plan a destination wedding miles away from home (and then take a few deep breaths). Throwing a destination wedding means you're in for a much more intimate ceremony and can basically enjoy a two for one wedding and honeymoon. But, before you jet off to a foreign land to marry your love, you have some important details to consider as you start planning a destination wedding. 

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1. Choose a Meaningful Location

Keep in mind that your destination must have all of the resources you need. That charming beach town where you spent your childhood summers won’t work if it only has one hotel that can’t accommodate all your guests.

2. Notify Guests Well in Advance

This is one of the most important destination wedding tips. It's important to give your nearest and dearest plenty of time to calculate if they can afford the cost of traveling to your ceremony and reception.

3. Embrace the Setting to Save Big

Slash your decor budget by incorporating local blooms—think olive branches and grape leaves in Tuscany or exotic flowers and plants in the tropics.

4. Consider Your Guests

Try to put everyone in one reasonably affordable hotel. If price is an issue, find a less expensive spot 10 minutes away—15 tops. Don’t set your date until you’re sure there’s room availability for everyone.  This is why we at Wood Travel recommend using a travel agent.  We offer wedding guests group rates and do all those bookings for you, keeping your headaches to a minimum.  You have enough on your mind without answering phone calls from guests about your resort location or booking questions.  We love what we do and will take some of those tasks head on!

5. Hire a Pro

Make sure to find a planner or coordinator that specializes in destination weddings. This way, instead of spending hours on phone calls trying to overcome a language barrier or making executive decisions about flowers and ceremony site from miles away, you have an expert on hand to take care of it all for you.

If a planner isn’t in your budget, look for a resort with a strong on-site coordinator.  Wood Travel recommends AM Resorts and Riu for their exemplary on site wedding coordinators that will work with you directly via email and phone.  These are normally included in your package and we can discuss these during our free consult.

6. Call your Travel Agent

You have dates and locations in mind, now what?!  Contact Wood Travel for a free in person or on the phone consult.  We can discuss what is important to you and offer ideas you perhaps not aware of.  We suggest 9-12 months in advance, the sooner the better for planning and quoting!  

7. Visit in Advance

Ideally, you’d see your venue once before booking and again three to four months before the wedding to finalize details. If a second trip’s not possible, arrive at least five days early to make those decisions and do a hair and makeup trial if possible. 

8. Tailor Your Wedding Dress to the Destination

Breathable fabrics work best in hot, humid locations. Lightweight lace in Mexico is stunning, as is an embellished ball gown at a villa in France.

9. Never Check Your Dress

Always carry your dress on board the plane, even if it means having to fold it. Just make sure someone at the other end can press and steam it.  Airlines are very accommodating with these request, simply ensure your travel agent has this information to be added to your file.