How to Plan a Destination Wedding Without Losing Your Mind
Trading a traditional hometown ballroom for an oceanview cliffside in Italy? Here is the logistical roadmap to pulling off a flawless wedding abroad.
The Golden Rule of Destination Weddings
Repeat after us: You must give your guests more time. You cannot send out invitations 8 weeks before a wedding in Mexico and expect people to attend. Destination weddings require guests to request time off work, book flights, and save money.
The Timeline: Save-the-Dates should go out 9 to 12 months in advance. Formal invitations should be sent 3 to 4 months in advance.
Tackling The Legalities
Getting legally married in a foreign country is often a bureaucratic nightmare involving blood tests, translated documents, and residency requirements (e.g., France requires you to live there for 40 days before tying the knot).
The Secret Hack
90% of couples hosting destination weddings do not actually get legally married abroad. They go to their local courthouse the week before they fly out, sign the legal paperwork privately in jeans and a t-shirt, and treat the destination ceremony as a symbolic celebration. It saves thousands of dollars and endless headaches.
Do We Have to Pay for Our Guests' Flights?
No. It is standard etiquette that guests pay for their own flights and accommodations. However, as the hosts, you are expected to:
- Secure a Room Block: Negotiate a discounted rate at 1 or 2 hotels for your guests.
- Provide Transportation: If the venue is remote, you must provide shuttle service from the main hotel block to the wedding venue.
- Host a Welcome Event: Since guests traveled so far, it is customary to host a casual welcome drinks or dinner the night before the wedding so everyone can mingle.
Hire a Local Planner
Do not attempt to plan a wedding in a foreign country by yourself. You need someone on the ground who speaks the native language, knows which vendors are reliable, and understands the local permitting laws. The cost of a local planner will easily pay for itself in avoided scams and negotiated local rates.
Create Your Travel Hub
Use our customizable wedding websites to share room block links, airport info, and weekend itineraries with your guests.
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