Imagine having a weekend with your closest friends and family, enjoying a whole weekend together. Destination weddings are phenomenal and I love them very much. This is great for couples taht want to take their guests to a unique location and a different experience than just the day of. If you have guests from several countries that you want to invite or guests from different cities in the country you live it is also a great way to meet somewhere halfway or just the fact that you have guests that live in different places anyway makes it easy to invite them to a special location for you. Destination wedding can be anywhere, the whole concept is bringing your guests to a wedding that is at a destination that they have to travel to. It can either be château in South of France, a unique villa in Tuscany, a wedding on the beach in Bali or anywhere you want to take your guests.
First, think about where you want to go? Did you grow up somewhere special than where you live now or is your fiancee from a different country and do you want to go there? What is you? Just remember to choose a place that is safe and that has most of what you need there.
When I mean safe I’m thinking about travel warnings or political reasons not to go there, and if there are, then please inform your guests about this matter.
When considering location I recommend you to think about the flight trip for your eldest guests. How many flights do they have to take to get there or how many hours does the trip take in total? Will they be jet lagged and with your pregnant guests take that trip? These are just some matters that might be important to think about.
Then, hire a professional. Hire a planner, first and foremost, but hire a planner that specializes in destination weddings. It is so important to have a person there locally that can make sure everything is stress-free for you and your guests. An extra bonus is to find a planner that knows the area where you want to get married well, but remember that the planner has to have the right vibe for you also. The planner doesnt have to live there, but its a bonus that they know the area or at least has some knowledge around destination wedding planning.
An example, I plan many weddings in South of France, but I live in Norway. I know the area in South of France well because we go there several times of year and I am also learning to speak French fluently, even though I already can communicate a lot in french I am learning more which makes it even easier for my clients to trust that I can communicate on their behalf. This doesnt mean that I dont know how to plan a wedding in Italy or Spain, it just means that South of France I know even better, but because I do plan destination weddings full-time, I know what needs to be thought of. So it does help my wedding couples even more.
However, if a planner isn’t in your budget then check with a coordinator from the hotel or an on site coordinator from the venue. Often there is one, but this is not a planner, they just deal with the details and what is happening on your day of.
When you have found a venue, make sure to start thinking about where your guests should sleep. Would you want them at the same venue as yourself or would you want to have them at a separate hotel. Some of the châteaus we book in South of France, or other locations can’t accomodate all your guests, but then we have them at a hotel close by and have the transportation fixed for them, so all they need to think about is to show up on the times that they have been informed.
We always do a site visit before the big day. Many of our clients do a video tour with the venue and myself online if we have to sign the contract with short notice, but either way after that we go and visit it together and I love to dream big with you at these site visits. It’s so much fun and I really get to understand your wishes and the extra fun part is when you and your fiance realizes that it’s actually happening and that sparkle starts in your eyes.
When it comes to vendors or local people that will help me realize your dream wedding there are many here that I have worked with for many years that know what I wish for my clients and that understands your vision. We work together as a team to take care of all your wishes and throughout your wedding weekend.
Would you consider getting married at a unique venue send me a dm.
This is a project I hope you will look back at and remember as something fun you did together and that you created a once in a lifetime experience, not just for all your guests, but specially for the two of you.
If you want more tips when planning your wedding, then pop into our podcast Bride and joy HERE.
Make sure to download the ultimate wedding planning checklist HERE, and start having fun with your planning. For more inspiration and tips you can follow me on instagram HERE, and please send me a dm HERE if you have any questions.
For our wedding planning checklist in Norwegian, you can find it HERE.
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