How To Do A Destination Wedding? The Simple Guide To Planning A Destination Wedding

Yay! He finally put a ring on it! Congratulations and welcome to the exciting world of the newly engaged!

The two of you have talked it over and agree with The Knot that a destination wedding is the best way to have a wedding that is completely you.

But now what?

You’re new to this destination wedding planning thing, obviously, and it all probably feels completely overwhelming right now, so let’s keep this simple. It really all boils down to asking yourselves: Who, What, When, Where, Why. (Though not necessarily in that order) Here is the simple guide for how to plan a destination wedding.

Why

WHY do you want to have a destination wedding in the first place?

Before getting bombarded by all the details that make up a wedding day, it helps to be clear about your vision. Answering this question should create a scene in your mind. For some, this might look like getting married on the beach at sunset, while for others it’s a massive party in the jungle with everybody they know and love. Your wedding vision will be as unique as the two of you, and getting clear with it will help you to eliminate the noise endless options. Then you can move onto the next stage of destination wedding planning with a real purpose.

Ak’iin Beach Club, Tulum

Where

WHERE can you make this a reality?

With your vision in mind and a big old world of possibilities out there, this can often feel like the most daunting part of planning a destination wedding! But the decision is really very simple. Ask yourselves:

• How far can you reasonably stray from home?

If you and your loved ones do not have much vacation time to spare or much money, then stay close to home to minimize travel. Whereas, if you have been banking your holiday days, and you are not worried about your guests hating you for having a destination wedding far from home, then the world is your oyster!

• Where have you already been that you absolutely loved, or where are you dying to go?

It can make wedding planning easier on the nerves if you have visited the location before, and felt a connection to it. It’s easier to picture in your mind. However, if you have always wanted to visit someplace new, what a perfect opportunity to combine that trip with your wedding! If you can, we recommend leaving some room in your wedding budget to do a site visit beforehand, to help with the nerves and building your vision.

• Do you want an all-inclusive resort for your guests, or are you after a more uniquely-You experience?

Here in the Riviera Maya weddings happen either on the resort property or at an alternate location like a beach club or hacienda. Both have their pros and cons and are worth some research to make sure you get the right fit.

(Need help with destination wedding venues in the Riviera Maya? Here is our Ultimate List Of Best Wedding Resorts, and here are our 5 Best Off Resort Wedding Venues!)

When

Have you already settled on WHEN your wedding date will be?

If you are not already set on a particular day, like say your anniversary, then consider the following:

• When is the high vs. low season where you want to get married?

You may be able to score some great deals when traveling in your destination’s offseason. But then also weigh that against the fact that the weather may not be ideal.

• When can you get away?

Is there a good time of year when you can both take the time off work? When can your friends and family get away? These are important factors when choosing when you should get married.

• And most importantly, WHEN is the right time to book?

The answer is NOW! Never procrastinate when it comes to destination wedding planning. It’s the early bird who gets the honeymoon suite!

Who

Do you already have an A and a B list for WHO you want with you on your wedding day?

That’s normal. It’s about balancing your needs and your wants. Consider this:

•  How big do you want your wedding?

Do you picture an intimate affair, or are you hoping for a huge party with all of your family and friends? Go back to phase one; your vision.

(Note: Once you establish how big your guest list will be, get your Save The Date cards out ASAP. It is a good destination wedding etiquette to give your friends time to book their vacation days with work, and to budget for this ‘holiday’.)

• Do you want your wedding to be kid friendly?

Will you be inviting children or will this be an adult only celebration? Read The Knot’s advice and remember to keep in mind how this might affect your RSVPs.

• Who do you want to hire as wedding vendors?

Some vendors need to be booked quickly, to avoid disappointment. Especially wedding photographers. If you have a preferred destination wedding photographer, then book them as soon as you can, as they are often booking at least a year out from today. Here’s what you need to know about finding the best wedding photographer.

See Jot & Amy’s Tulum wedding

What

Now you have the bones for a destination wedding! And you can move onto all the little details that remain with a clear purpose. Jump into the many ‘WHATs’!

• What time of day will you have your ceremony? For help with beach wedding timelines read this.
• What kind of wedding dress should you wear? For advice on choosing the best beach wedding dresses, read this.
• What kind of ceremony will you have? Legal or symbolic? If you’re getting married in Mexico, here’s what you need to know.

Destination weddings are dynamic events with tons of moving parts. Go easy on yourself! Start with our tips above, and you will have a solid framework to work with.

And if you are looking for the best Playa del Carmen wedding photographer for your beach wedding, then contact us here today. We are Fun In The Sun Weddings, the best Cancun wedding photographer in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

What are your biggest concerns in planning your destination wedding? We want to hear about it in the comments below!