Destination Wedding Planning to Remember

Good creative destination wedding planning can make the difference between an ordinary wedding and one that will remain in the memory of you and your new husband for ever.

If you have decided on a destination wedding, rather than being conventional and getting married in your home town or city, there is a lot that can go wrong and spoil the day. Not only that, but unless you are blessed with unlimited funds, it will be a wedding that is attended by relatively few guests and so a little creativity can go a long way towards making it a memorable occasion for them also.

Not everybody you would like to be there will be there, and creative planning is also necessary to handle that situation. Who do you invite, and not invite. If you invite everybody to that Paris wedding you have always promised yourself, you could be thought of as making invitations in order to receive gifts from as many as possible. If you fail to do so, then those not invited might feel slighted. This situation can be overcome diplomatically, but it takes creativity and good planning.

There are several steps involved in planning a destination wedding starting with that invitation list that is your first hurdle. You should inform everybody that you are planning a wedding outside your home town, whether it is in another county or state, depending on where you live, or even in another country. Popular destinations are the Paris previously mentioned, the Caribbean, several destinations in the USA, UK and Europe and cruise liners are becoming increasingly popular.

Some couples take the approach of asking friends and relatives if they would be able to attend such a wedding were it to be held, as a preliminary to drawing up a guest list. Others simply ask their parents, plus best friends as matron of honor or chief bridesmaid, and best man, and offer to pay their expenses if they are able to. You should never invite your friends to your wedding in an official capacity unless you know that money is not a problem to them, or you are able to offer to pay their costs. Many couples can pick up part of the tab, and provide their guests with a great few days, but for many more that is not possible.

Many couples have their dream wedding in the exotic location of their choice by themselves, and then have a blessing in their home church or chapel, followed by a full reception for their family and friends. That is creative destination wedding planning at its best for the ordinary couple that can afford their dream wedding and honeymoon, but are unable to pay the traveling and accommodation expenses of their guests. You should not deny yourself your dream just to keep others happy. A little imagination can formulate a way for you to have what you want and also provide your family and friends with what they want.

That is how your creativity can resolve one of the most difficult aspects of any destination wedding: how to keep everybody happy, including yourselves. The next planning stage is to get the actual venues booked. It is one thing deciding that you want married in a specific location, but another in organizing that. Creative planning will likely conclude that you need to hire somebody in the actual destination to handle the organizing at that end, although it is possible for you to handle it yourself.

For that you will need good communication with the local authorities of the town or city in which you intend to be married, so that you are aware of any legal restrictions such as whether or not you need a local marriage license, any local readings of Marriage Banns that vary throughout the Western world, any residential qualifications, blood tests and doctor’s certificates that might be required.

You will also need effective communication with the venues of your ceremony and reception, and also the accommodation of any guests. If you are planning to me married by yourselves, without guests until your reception back home, you will have to arrange a minister or judge for the ceremony, and probably the requisite number of witnesses. Many resorts or other destinations offer a complete package, including witnesses, a cake, photographer and champagne for the couple, including accommodation and even honeymoon facilities if needed.

That is why many opt to hire a wedding planner to look after all of this for them, so that you need only tend to your end of things. After all, there is little to plan once the invitations or home reception, destination venues and ceremony legalities, travel details and the honeymoon have been looked after.

Creative destination wedding planning can be used to give you the fabulous unforgettable wedding that you want, and also to keep all of your family and friends happy whether they can be with you or not. Forward planning is the crux, and whether or not you use the services of professionals to help with it is immaterial. It is the end result of your planning that counts. It is your wedding, and if you and your new husband are happy with your planning, then that is all that matters.

Wedding Do’s And Don’ts

1. Do send out save the date cards as soon as you can, preferably 6 months prior, so that your guests have enough planning time.

2. Do make it a point of finding out all the legal requirements for a marriage license at your choice destination. It would be awful to get there and find out that there is a waiting period to get married.

3. Do make a point of setting aside some time to spend with your guest. Arrange a special dinner or brunch explicitly for these guests. This can be done before or after the wedding. They have traveled a long distance to share in your special day.

4. Don’t try and go at it alone. Planning a wedding can be a daunting task. Hire a wedding coordinator if at all possible. They have the experience and the connections to get the job done just the way you want it. They can make your life easier and less stressful.

5. Don’t forget special gifts for your guest such as baskets in their rooms filled with flip flops, sun tan lotion, visors, etc. It keeps with the theme and adds a special touch. Remember to include a note of thanks in the baskets. Your guest will feel very special.

6. Do pick a wedding dress with the climate and location in mind. Also remember that the dress will need to travel with you so choose carefully.

7. Do preview your hair and makeup prior to the special day. Be sure to bring a picture of the dress, a certain hairstyle and makeup, so that the stylist has an idea of the look you want to achieve. There is no time for surprises on your wedding day.

8. Don’t limit yourself to only summer months to plan your island /beach wedding. Remember, these destinations have beautiful weather all year round.

9. Don’t worry about having to stay with a beach or island theme. You can definitely build on the island surroundings and create your own.

10. Don’t stress out. If you don’t hire a wedding planner make sure you put someone in charge to handle details and issues as they arise. Your best man can be in charge of tipping and making last minute payments. Put the payments in individual envelopes labeled with the service, i.e. photographer, bartender.

Once the day arrives, let go and enjoy. All the hard work is done. Unwind and have fun. That is what it’s all about.

Sunny Locations For Your Next Trip

Who doesn’t crave a vacation in a sunny climate? Sunny holidays are the perfect thing to beat the winter blues, or just experience a change of scene. When planning your next journey towards the equator, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Take the time a few months before your trip to figure out your travel arrangements. You can often get great discounts on hotel rooms or other accommodations if you book early. Talk to a travel agent or go online to a travel booking website to find the best deals. You might even find a package where you get your flight and your hotel for one low price.

It is important to keep your money safe when you travel. Many tourists opt for traveler’s checks, which can be converted quickly into cash. These days, it is very easy to travel solely with plastic; you’ll be hard-pressed to find a city where the shops and restaurants don’t take major credit cards. ATMs are everywhere at your disposal when you need to withdraw money. Additionally, if you misplace your plastic or, in the worst case scenario, it gets stolen, you can easily call your credit card company to cancel the card or dispute any charges. Just make sure to keep the crucial phone numbers in a place separate from your wallet, just in case that goes missing too.

If you are traveling with children, make sure that they are going to have enough recreational activities to keep them busy and out of your hair. Nothing puts a damper on your sunny, dream vacation faster than whining, bored children. Check into a hotel that has play areas or supervised pools for their entertainment. Many hotels offer childcare services as well and safe, child-centered activities. This way you can leave the kids in good hands and go off to explore the grown-up scene, which brings us to our next holiday element…

Nightclubs! If you and your significant other are the partying types, be sure to investigate the nightlife of your destination in advance of your trip. What are the bars and clubs like? Are there safe places to go drinking or dancing where you’ll encounter other tourists? You’ll have your best luck in places with a reputation for late night partying. Try Las Vegas or Key West. These are sunny destinations that stay just as fun when the sun goes down.

There are so many activities to choose from in sunny climates. You can swim or lounge by the pool, drinking boat drinks. You can fish or snorkel. You can go jet-skiing or scuba diving. You can also explore aquariums and maritime museums if you are married to the luxury of air-conditioning. Make sure to pack lots of sunscreen and floppy hats to shield your winter skin from the equatorial climate. Try not to stay in the sun too long. Nothing ruins a beach vacation faster than a first degree sunburn. Dress appropriately for the hot weather. Bathing suits and minimal clothing are your best choice in sunny locations.