Why You SHOULD Visit Your Destination Wedding Site Before Your Big Day!
I totally get it! Planning a destination wedding to a place you’ve never been to is challenging. How do you know you’ll like it? How can you be sure it will match your vision? Is the food up to your standards, what about the service, or the wedding locations?
This is why a pre-wedding planning trip is recommended and should be a part of your overall budget. Follow these tips to maximize your pre-wedding planning trip and make the best use of your time and resources.
TIP 1: Visiting a Destination
When choosing a destination for your wedding, prioritize safety, accessibility, and guest comfort. Ensure there are no recent travel warnings, political issues, or health concerns. Consider the feasibility of travel for all guests, especially those with specific needs.
Discover the must-see attractions, experiences, and sites that your destination has to offer. This will be part of what your guests may enjoy and you want them to create memories while celebrating with you.
If golf is on the list, find out your options that are nearby where you and your guests will be staying and ask about setting up a group.
Consider The Weather: Understand the climate of the destination and how it will be around the time of your planned wedding. Always have backup plans in case of bad weather.
Consider hosting additional events like a bachelor/bachelorette, a welcome party, or a farewell brunch. Check out locations in the area to host these events and enhance your guests' experience. They can also be held at the resort venue you choose as well.
Tip 2: Visiting The Resort Venue – What to Consider
When scouting for a resort wedding venue, several important factors must be considered. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Recommended by LinkedIn
NOTE: Make sure that the resort you choose does have quality spots for a backup plan if needed when weather is bad.
Tip 3: Meeting With The Onsite Wedding Team
One advantage of doing a pre-destination wedding visit is being able to meet with the onsite wedding team to see how you relate and communicate with them. Your comfort level of course is of utmost importance when working with a wedding team.
Here are some areas to consider during your visit to maximize the productivity of your meeting.
Your meeting should make you feel like you can collaborate effectively with the onsite team to make well-informed decisions for your wedding, resulting in a memorable and enjoyable experience for you and your guests.
NOTE: Unfortunately the reality is that many of the resort wedding venues have high turnover in the onsite wedding staff. It’s very possible that the team you start with, won’t be the team you end up with as you get closer to your wedding. With that said, I always advise couples to consider hiring a destination wedding consultant to help them with every aspect of their destination wedding, including keeping in constant communication with the onsite team, and any changes that may occur, so that you don’t have to constantly be trying to keep up with it all. A destination wedding designer will be able to take great notes and quickly jump in to make sure your wedding vision is going to happen, no matter what changes happen with the onsite team.
Tip 4: Turn Your Pre-Wedding Planning trip into a Mini Getaway Experience
While a pre-wedding planning trip can be busy, try to enjoy a little break while there. Take at least one day to relax on the beach, sip some margs, and rejuvenate. The details of your wedding will come together and you won’t plan everything in an entire weekend, so relax!
Enjoy your visit and come back excited and energetic to make your final decision and start planning your destination wedding!
Pro tip: have some professional pics taken while there so you can send out the save-the-date cards with a photo of you two at the destination! How cool would that be?
Your pre-wedding planning trip could be an important chapter in your destination wedding journey. This is where your wedding vision has a chance to become reality. These tips will help you make the most out of your trip, from choosing the perfect venue to connecting with the onsite team to embracing the destination’s culture. Your trip can help you plan and execute a destination wedding that leaves a lasting impression on you and all of your wedding guests.
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and want to ensure you cover all your bases with your destination wedding planning, Or you would like to do a pre-planning destination wedding trip, I’d be delighted to chat with you. Here is a link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation - no strings attached!