Destination Weddings - Helpful Tips

I recently overheard an interesting conversation between two co workers involving destination weddings. One had recently attended one, and the other had one coming up soon. The general sense I got was that both were a little confused and a little frustrated because they had not been given a clear understanding of what was expected. Having recently attended a destination wedding myself at Eagle Rock Lodge, I thought I would throw out a few helpful tips for the wedding couple and guests alike.

After some google searching, I think the most helpful website I found regarding destination weddings is destinationweddings.com. Not only is their website easy to navigate but they also offer vendor discounts for couples planning their destination wedding.

The general rules for destination weddings are pretty much the same as any other as far as couples, parents, and guests responsibilities go. The couple is expected to pay for the ceremony, reception, and any mandatory events such as a rehearsal dinner. Guests are expected to pay for their airfare, lodging and any additional recreational activities. It's up to the couple and their family as to who pays for the ceremony and the reception - traditional guidelines provide a nice structure but in todays modern world the couple may or may not be footing the majority of their expenses.

Some helpful things to keep in mind for destination weddings to avoid hurt feelings and missteps are:

Plan ahead - way, way ahead. A destination wedding is going to be pricey for the couple and guests alike (guests can expect to spend approximately $1,000 when all is said and done) so give people plenty of time to book flights, hotel rooms, etc. This goes double for your bridal party to ensure the people most important to you don't have any conflicts that prevent them from travelling.

Let your guests know if they should bring gifts or ship them. It's perfectly acceptable to have guests send gifts to the couples house or the house of one or both parents.

Limit your invitation list. If you know that someone won't be able to make it, or if you are limited to a smaller wedding party and still want to let acquaintances or distant relatives know about your big day, utilize a wedding announcement instead of sending an invitation.

Use a wedding website like The Knot, which has a free, easy to use wedding website planner that several clients as well as family members of mine have used. It will give you a central location to compile key information for your guests.

Be prepared to be flexible - many things happen only a day or two ahead of time when you plan a destination wedding including meeting your officiant, seeing the actual space and picking out your music. At my cousins (outdoor) wedding, it poured all day and night - but with the proper tent set up none of us minded.

Know what is included. The wedding I attended at Eagle Rock Lodge, a small and picturesque bed and breakfast, was one of the most beautiful weddings I have been privileged to be a part of. If you go this route, most likely there will be an on site coordinator to help you put together an a al carte package. Because of the size of the venue, guests will not be required to stay on location. A resort like Sandals will have an all inclusive package for the bride and groom as well as guests.

With a destination wedding, you are getting a picturesque location with an amazing atmosphere. Weddings are experiences that bring the couple and guests together for a beautiful experience that creates a lifetime of memories and bonds, and a destination wedding intensifies this. They may be a little more work but in my opinion they are totally worth it.