Four Considerations When Planning a Destination Wedding.

Many brides and grooms are choosing to have destination weddings whether they’re deciding to elope or have their wedding party and guests join them.  When you’re planning your destination wedding, there are four factors you’ll want to consider - who, what, where, and when.

1. Who Are You Going To Invite.  When you decide on who you want to share your special day with, you will have a better idea on what to plan for.  If you have several guests that you’d like to attend, you need to think about whether or not they can travel.  Your older friends and family members may not be up to a long flight and neither will your friends with small children.  You’ll want to also think about the climate of your wedding location.  Many people may not want to attend if it’s too hot or too cold.  For some brides and grooms, the more people that attend the wedding, the more formal it becomes.  Consider who you want to attend your wedding, and you will get a better sense of where to have it.

2. What Are You Going To Wear.  What you will wear will almost always be determined by where you get married.  Understanding how to shop for a wedding dress is crucial.  If you have a wedding on the beach, consider wearing an informal gown.  Many dresses for outdoor weddings in tropical locations can be worn again at a later date in a similar warm climate.  If you get married in the winter, however, you might want to wear a long-sleeved dress or by adding accessories, such as gloves and/or a wrap or shall.  But if your ceremony and reception are in the same location, you can wear a dress that is comfortable in any climate.  You’ll want to make sure you have something to cover up with if you leave to a honeymoon suite.

3. Where Are You Going To Get Married.  Without really needing to say, the key to any destination wedding is, of course, the destination.  One of the primary factors that can determine the location of the ceremony is the budget.  If you and your fiancé can afford to travel to a different location and stay in a hotel for several nights, then you can go where you will be most content.  Some couples want to get married in a familiar place while others get married in a location they both want to visit.  A great idea is to get married in the same place you want to honeymoon, such as the ever popular choices of Caribbean, Europe, Bali, Cancun, and Kauai weddings.

4. When Will You Have The Wedding.  Where you get married should help determine when to have it.  Consider the climate of the destination and let that establish when to get married.  For example, if you choose to get married in Hawaii or Bali, you should plan to get married in April and May, when the weather is dry and calm.  Anything south of the equator has seasons opposite of the northern hemisphere, so when it is winter up north, location south of the equator will be getting sunshine.  By letting the weather be your guide, you will be sure to get the most out of your destination wedding.

Many couples that have destination weddings may want to have a reception in their home town(s).  This can help ease any issues associated with having a destination wedding because your friends and family will still get to see you and share your special day with you – even if it’s a few days or weeks later than the actual ceremony.

No matter what, remember that this is your special day.  You can invite who you want, wear what you want, get married where you want, and have it when you want.  Your friends and family should respect your wishes to spend your wedding day any way you want. Personalized wedding items and gifts are available from Weddings by Colortech to commemorate your special day.