Destination weddings have become a wedding trend over the past couple of years. Most couples want a destination wedding are clueless as to what gives.
See a few tips below.
1) Pick the Perfect Spot
The location of your wedding determines not only the mood (rustic, urban, sophisticated, beachy), but also the travel, time and budget required to pull it off. You want your guests to walk away from your wedding weekend saying, "That was so Toke and Lanre!" Your wedding elements not just location, but also activities, itinerary and overall vibe should say something about the sentimental parts of your relationship, personal style and your passions. Did he propose on vacation in Santorini? Then your destination wedding should relate to that. Are you a beach person? Think about gathering your crew in a place like Caribbean islands or even some places in Africa. Let your destination wedding have a story to tell for you.
2) Make Sure The Timing Is Right
Tourist season is always the best time for a destination wedding. The only down side to that is higher rates, tourist season attracts higher rates on services, hotel rooms and also availability. If you choose to marry during high season, you'll want to reserve hotel blocks and venues immediately and send out save-the-dates 10 to 12 months in advance so guests can book their flights and accommodations before prices skyrocket. If you chose a different season, you and your guests may save a few bucks but the weather may not be in your favour.
3) Take a Trip
We reckon this is the most fun part of planning a destination wedding, heck, travelling is always fun. We seriously can't recommend this enough: Take at least one planning trip or more if you can afford it, two or three is very ideal. On the first trip, you'll need to scout and secure your key venues Chapels, priests, Imams and reception spaces, hotels for guests, a rehearsal dinner venue and local suppliers such as caterers, florists and photographers. If you can swing it, your next should be for scheduling "tastings" with your caterer, see sample bouquets from the florist, plan a hair and makeup session with a local salon and organize a lot of fun group activities for your guests.
4) Think Extra Costs
People have tried to prove that, if done right, a destination wedding can cost nothing more and maybe even less than having a wedding in Nigeria, even after you factored in tickets, hotel expenses and planning trips. You still need to think about extra costs you'll need to factor in the wedding, including importing key vendors and décor, additional activities for guests and travel costs for you and your immediate families. If you’re lucky, your immediate family can foot their own bills.
5) When In Rome You Act Accordingly. Do Your Research.
The legal side of tying the knot in a different country can be complicated. Many countries have a "residency requirement" for example in the UAE, some countries require their citizen to file application of intention to marry at the embassy or consulate in the UAE. So you have to research the local marriage requirement as soon as you decide your ceremony destination.
6) Research Visa Requirements
When choosing the destination for your wedding, it is advisable to choose a visa-free country or a visa-linient country so there are no difficulties. However, do your research in order to be able to provide your guests with the right information. No one wants to get stuck at the airport of a strange country.
7) Important!! Get Help
Control freaks, beware: If you're hosting a wedding in a different country, you will need to entrust at least part of the planning to someone else's capable hands. A local wedding planner should be able to handle most of researching and sourcing local vendors and needs. Dealing with logistics like tent rentals and lighting or handling any last-minute mishaps should be on your planner. Your planner should take care of the little details as well, creating gift bags for guests, keeping people busy with fun activities once there, sorting special requests. Many resorts with destination wedding package include a coordinator in their wedding packages. If not, set aside about 10 to 15 per cent of your total budget for a local planner. Generally speaking, a local planner is your best bet because they have the experience to operate in the locale but if you wish to bring a planner from Nigeria, make sure they have the experience of planning a wedding in your desired destination. You mane also need factor in covering transportation and hotel bills for your planner.
8) Be Upfront
You need to consider the finances of your guests. Tell your family, friends and bridal party about the destination before you invite them or ask them to stand by your side so that they can gracefully decline if finances are tight. Don't be upset if some of your closest friends or relatives can’t attend.
9) Respect Mother Nature
Don’t just assume Mother Nature will be fair all year round. Even destinations with gorgeous weather don’t stay gorgeous all year round. Consider that. Natural disasters hit some of the best wedding destinations.
10) Take Care of Guests
This is very important. You don’t want your guests regretting coming all the way from Nigeria and wasting money to attend your wedding. Make it worth their while. Make sure they have fun and have the best time, pre, during and post your wedding. Prepare and send welcome bags to their rooms, full of essentials for the trip, like suntan lotion, water and bug spray. Taking care of your guests is not only about getting the best rates for their travel. Go beyond that.
11) Dress Accordingly
Don't forget to consider the weather when choosing your ideal wedding dress. You don’t want to go with a wedding dress that will leave you swimming in sweat.
12) Get On it
This is not to freak you out but you need to put in double of everything you would put in if you were getting married in Nigeria. You need to pre-think everything and be damn sure before your make decisions.