31 Oct A Destination Wedding Checklist
Having a destination wedding is a great way to tie the knot in a foreign destination while having your friends and family there to celebrate your special day with you. Many like that they can have their wedding and honeymoon in the same location while enjoying the sights and sounds of the area of their choice. Destination weddings are also a great way to keep your wedding small and intimate and can give you some of the most beautiful backdrops possible for the big day. While having a destination wedding can be worth it for many reasons, that doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing while you are in the planning stages. Destination weddings can come with their own set of challenges, but this helpful destination wedding checklist can help you successfully navigate the wedding planning process.
Destination Wedding Checklist: How to Plan for a Wedding Abroad
12-16 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
Come Up With a Guest List – Knowing how many people you plan on hosting can help you set and define a wedding budget.
Set a Wedding Budget – Include the typical wedding expenses, but don’t forget to consider international marriage license options, accommodations, and airfare. This is one of the most important steps on the destination wedding checklist, so don’t rush this step.
Where Do You Want to Get Married? – Deciding where to get married and looking into the seasonal weather patterns is important.
Look Into Marriage License Options – Requirements can vary drastically depending on where you get married, and in some cases, this can add a lot more “steps” and even cost you more money. Be sure to look into this so you can decide if it’s worth going through what the country /location requires or if it’s wiser to have a civil ceremony at the nearest courthouse locally and then have your celebration abroad.
Make Sure You Have a Valid Passport or Travel Visa – While this may seem common sense, it can often be overlooked. Some countries require documents that have been valid for a minimum of 6 months, so make sure you do this early!
HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER – If you feel like you don’t need this and would rather save money, this can ultimately cost you more. Hire a planner, preferably one from where you plan on holding your wedding, because they will help you manage the process and can help you save money. They can know the ins and outs of wedding planning in the area and can help you throughout the process (especially since you are not local). They can help you secure a wedding venue, find vendors, help you through the insurance and legal requirements, research and block out accommodations, and even help you reserve your honeymoon suite.
9-11 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
Confirm Your Wedding Party – Come up with and confirm your wedding party; since it’s a destination wedding, not everyone might be able to make it. For those who can, ensure they have all the necessary identification for travel.
Purchase Airline Tickets – You don’t want to push this until the last minute. Securing your airline tickets early can help save you money and a headache.
Save the Dates – Be sure to send out your “Save the Date” notifications to give your guests plenty of time to make the necessary arrangements.
Create a Wedding Website – While this goes along with the “Save the Dates,” a wedding website allows you to offer much more information. Much more than you can put on paper, as a wedding website can offer details on the location, accommodations, airport information, local maps, and local weather and provide direct links to your gift registry.
Find and Book Vendors – While this is difficult to do when you are not local, it can be possible if you do your research and do video chat consultations. However, this can be extremely difficult to do if there is a language barrier. When it comes to local vendors, a wedding planner can help you find and book appropriate vendors.
Go Dress and Tux Shopping – When searching for the perfect wedding dress or tuxedo, be sure to consider the local weather and the fact that you have to travel with your wedding attire. Also, traveling with your wedding attire can be difficult if you decide to opt for a poofy dress or something highly intricate.
6-8 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
Order Your Wedding Invitations – Your wedding invitations can include many of the same details as your wedding website and allow your guests plenty of time to RSVP.
Get Fitted for Your Dress – Unless you did this earlier, now is the time to schedule a dress fitting and get your wedding party attire together and ready for the big day.
Create Your Wedding Menu – Start to plan and create your wedding menu with your caterer.
Plan for the Rehearsal – Find out and book the wedding rehearsal and where you plan to have the dinner.
Book Transportation – If needed, book your wedding day transportation for you and your wedding party.
Have All Vendors Booked – Make sure your wedding vendors are booked and locked in. But before you do, make sure you have everything in writing and review your contracts before you sign!
3-5 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
Rings and Accessories – Now is the time to purchase wedding rings, veil, undergarments, and wedding shoes.
Finalize the Guest List – Now is the time to finalize your guest list, meaning no one should be added or removed past this point. Unless, of course, the guests themselves remove themselves.
Wedding Favors – If you plan on having wedding favors, you want to ensure you have everything you need by now.
Having a Honeymoon? – Now is the time to finalize your honeymoon plans!
6-8 Weeks Before Your Destination Wedding
Have All Your Documents? – Ensure that you have everything that you need for travel and have all of your legal documents. If required, ensure you have your vaccines up to date before traveling.
Wedding Party Gifts – Buy gifts for the bride and groom’s parents and those in the wedding party.
Wedding Favors – If you are offering wedding favors or welcome bags, now is the time to start arranging them for your guests.
Confirm, Confirm, Confirm – Now is the time to finalize and confirm all of the necessary details, including your wedding menu, RSVPs, meal choices, song list, timeline reception, rental times and pickups, shot list, and flight and accommodation bookings.
3-5 Weeks Before Your Destination Wedding
Have Your Final Dress Fitting – Make sure to bring everything (shoes, accessories, and undergarments) to your final dress fitting.
Mail Out Items – Whatever you can’t take on the plane with you, now is the time to mail it to your wedding coordinator. Just ensure you get shipping insurance and use a timely shipping method.
Wedding Rings – Pick up your wedding rings, and if you paid for an engraving, proofread them before walking away.
Make a Packing List – Making a destination wedding checklist of all the items you need to pack can help ensure you don’t overlook anything.
1-2 Weeks Before Your Destination Wedding
Confirm Flight Details – Confirm arrival times and flight numbers for everyone in your wedding party.
Finalize Seating Arrangements – Ensure you have your seating chart and/or place cards ready.
Pick Up Gown – Pick up your wedding gown and tuxedo.
Start to Pack – Start to pack for your wedding and all of your scheduled festivities. This can give you the time to triple-check that you have everything. Just don’t forget to pack electrical converters (if needed) and a wedding emergency kit!
4-5 Days Before Your Destination Wedding
Fly to Your Destination – You want to get to your wedding destination a few days prior! Just be sure to pack your wedding attire, accessories, and rings in your carry-on; this way, you don’t have to deal with the potentiality of lost luggage.
Do the Necessary Final Steps – Now that you are in your wedding location, you can do a walk through your venue, physically meet your vendors, do a makeup and hair trial, and do anything else that needs to be tended to before the wedding.