The intricacies of planning a destination wedding are enough to give you a headache, but if you change perspective, you can find that all these little details are for you, your partner, and your loved ones. So as you dive into it, how about approaching it this way: how can you plan an overseas wedding with your loved ones’ best interest in mind? How can you make this trip something they will enjoy and enjoy with you? With this shift in the way you plan your wedding abroad, you can feel more positive about all the nitty gritty details. Making the trip worthwhile and comfortable for friends and family will make all the difference. Just imagine the joy you will be sharing with everyone on the day! Here are some tips in how you can be more mindful of your guests while planning a destination wedding.
(1) Choose an accessible location overseas.
If your guests will be flying out, choose a wedding venue that is easily accessible upon landing. Long haul flights are tiring, especially for older member of the family. If your potential wedding venue entails a lot of other transfers, think again. You want guests to enjoy their quick getaway without feeling too tired from the travel. In addition, a more accessible location will also be less costly as transfer expenses will add up if your wedding venue is far.
[From: A Picturesque Wedding at a Chateau in Bordeaux France / Photo: Traveller Ki]
(2) Be mindful of the cost.
Aside from accessibility, cost is the next detail you should consider when choosing a destination location and venue, not only for you, but also for your guests. Not everyone will be able to afford to attend, especially if it will be very costly. So if you want to have more attendees at your wedding, be mindful of the cost or provide some cost-efficient solutions here and there. If you can, negotiate for discounts wherever possible.
(3) Send your save-the-date cards early.
If you’re planning to get married overseas, let you guests know as early as possible so they have time to prepare. Some family and friends may need more time to prepare financially as well as make the necessary arrangements at work. Hence, the earlier you let them know, the better.
[From: A Romantic Wedding in Australia That Was Almost Three Years In The Making / Photo: Aliki Anadena]
(4) Offer accommodation options.
Since guests will be going out of their way for your wedding, you can take care of them by helping them out with accommodations. Offer options near your wedding venue and check if you can even avail of group booking discounts. Guests will appreciate the extra effort on your end to help with their travel arrangements.
(5) Assist with travel logistics.
If your guests need to travel from their hotels to your wedding venue, assist them with on-the-day transportation and logistics. You can ask your wedding planner to arrange a shuttle bus that can go back and forth for guests.
[From: This California-Based Couple Planned a Dreamy Destination Wedding in Koh Samui in Six Months / Photos: ProudRad]
(6) Provide local information.
Some of your guests mights want to extend their stay or even fly in earlier to explore the location longer or even turn the trip into a vacation. When sending reminders and updates as the big day draws near, send over some local travel guides too. This will help guests navigate through their other days at your destination.
(7) Plan a group activity for those who will be extending.
If you have a lot of friends and family extending their stay, why not join in on the fun and plan a group activity after the wedding for everyone? Since your wedding day will be busy as is, this is the perfect opportunity to bond with your guests.
[From: A Cozy and Intimate Garden Wedding in Cotswolds England / Photos: KC Chan Photography]
(8) Add breathing space in your wedding schedule.
For destination weddings, some couples like to include a lot of activities right before and after the wedding, i.e. welcome dinner, brunch the morning after, etc. Think hard and long about whether these other activities are really necessary. Remember, your guests traveled to the wedding and still have to travel back, so maybe clear up some hours for them to rest and recover. Those who will want to spend more time with you or do something will still have the option to do so, while those who need time off can also just relax.
(9) Ask if any of your guests has specific needs.
Whether it be a local or destination wedding, one thing you can do to be more caring towards your guests in by asking if they have special or specific needs, common one is dietary restrictions. Check with everyone and help make arrangements for these needs with the help of your wedding planner.
[From: A Picturesque Wedding in a 14th Century Castle in Catalonia, Spain / Photos: Volvoreta]
(10) Be present and engage with everyone on your wedding day.
Finally, try to spend time with your guests on whatever way possible. They came all the way for you and your partner so it will mean the world to them if they can squeeze in some time with you. If that’s really not possible, you can also just find ways to be more present on your wedding day to you can soak up every moment, from preparations to the actual day. This way you can truly enjoy every moment with your partner and guests. Read this for some ideas on how.
