Destination Wedding
Destination weddings let you truly get away from it all for your special day, but they raise some unique considerations for both your wedding party and your guests. Make sure you’re observing the right etiquette for your event with these quick tips.
What to Wear
Suit your attire to the locale, and respect the sanctity of local churches and other religious sites with suitably modest choices if you’re using them. If you’re headed to the beach, you can go vacation casual, black-tie formal, or anything in between. Specify the attire in your invitation as a point of proper etiquette so your guests know how to dress.
Catering to Your Guests
Guests go through a great deal of trouble to travel to a destination wedding, so they typically expect a little extra attention. Destination weddings are often smaller and more intimate, so you can ditch the family-only rehearsal dinner for an inclusive meal.
Keep the excitement going the day after your reception with a brunch or special excursion for everyone. Staying at an inclusive resort or onboard a cruise ship can help streamline these activities and eliminate some of the stress of who pays what and when.
The Finer Points of Finances
The only events you’re required to pay for at a destination wedding are the ceremony and reception. However, your guests will appreciate any efforts to secure discounted room rates, group discounts for excursions, or other added perks. Do some research so you can suggest affordable restaurants and activities in the area, and let your guests know how to budget.
The easiest way to manage expenses for a destination wedding is to book a complete package. These come with the services of our wedding planners who can handle all the finer points of planning while you’re away. It is traditional to tip your wedding planner, musicians, bartenders, and servers.
Culture and Traditions
Research local wedding traditions to add some native flavor to your ceremony. For example, Guatemalan couples bind themselves with a silver rope during the ceremony. In Spain and Mexico, couples exchange gold coins to symbolize how they’ll support one another. A light blue petticoat is a traditional choice for Latin American brides. Little touches like these add charm to your destination wedding.
Stay mindful of your guests’ experience as well as the local environment to pull off a flawless event.