How to Plan a Destination Wedding in 4 Steps

It happened.

They got down on their knee and stumbled over their words as they asked you to marry them. Now (as any self-respecting bride-to-be should) you can’t quit staring at your ring every time you move your hand. You are in your little bubble and absolutely nothing can go wrong or wake you up from this dream…. until someone asks you, “so, where is the wedding?!” 

Pop.

Just like that, there goes the perfect bubble you have been floating in since you said ‘yes’. All of the many questions you have been avoiding suddenly flood your brain and it hits you that you have to book a venue.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

 And a caterer.

 And photographer

And pick out your wedding party.

And decide on colors. 

And the list goes on, and on, and on. 

Some brides thrive while deciding on all the tiny little details of their wedding. They have been dreaming of their church wedding with peonies from the time they were seven years old. They know exactly what they want and how they want it. 

Chances are, if you are reading this, you aren't that bride. You are probably considering taking the slightly less conventional approach to your wedding. Maybe your idea of the perfect day doesn’t include 300 people (half of whom you don't even recognize) and thousands of dollars on tablecloths and decorations. Maybe for you, bare feet on a warm, sandy beach surrounded by only your closest friends and family is more your speed. 

If this is you, then Hi, I’m Mary, and you're at the right place. 

Wrapping your mind around how to plan a destination wedding is stressful, but it doesn't have to be. So grab a cup of coffee and your favorite blanket, curl up on the couch and let’s go over the four ‘P’s to destination wedding planning! 

Pick your Planner 

Before you skip over this entire section, hear me out. I’m going to let you in on a little secret that no destination wedding planner wants to admit: you can plan your wedding by yourself. However, by planning your destination wedding yourself, be prepared to add on a whole new level of stress, miss out on deals that will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars, make hard decisions all on your own, and waste precious time that should be spent enjoying your engagement period or and did I forget to mention… manage your guest accommodations and booking. Ahh!!

A destination wedding planner is a key component to a destination wedding that flows smoothly. Your planner will know the perfect locations for you and will be able to score deals you’ll more-than-likely miss out on. They know the best resorts, caterers, airports, car rentals, and excursions to fit your budget. This person will be there for you every time you change your mind about what you want, and through every mental breakdown about your big day. Outside of your fiancé, your planner should be the rock you lean on during this new and exciting season.

When picking a wedding planner for your destination wedding, I highly suggest looking beyond their credentials. Don't get me wrong, past experience and knowledge of the destination wedding world are absolute necessities, however, you and your planner will be getting to know each other very well during the time leading up to your wedding, so you need to have a connection with them. You need to be confident in knowing that you have selected someone who is not only helpful, but who is easy to communicate with, and who best understands what you want to bring your vision to life. 

If there is one message I could let every bride know, it would be that you don't have to do it all by yourself. Destination wedding planners are here for a reason, so let us do what we know how to do, and make your wedding dreams a reality! 

Pick your price

Once you have selected your planner, now it is time to sit down and get the ever-so-dreaded budget out of the way. One of the first pieces of advice any person who has ever planned a wedding will tell a bride is to set a budget and don’t go over it. Most (if not all) brides think that their budget is firm and they resolve in their hearts that they won't go over it, only to swiftly realize that weddings cost more than they expected and they pull out more money little by little. If you are worried a destination wedding won't be possible for you due to the cost, I have some exciting news for you. Contrary to popular belief, destination weddings do not have to break the bank. In fact, destination weddings can oftentimes cost less than a wedding close to home! Shocked? Most brides are when they hear this. 

This is a time when having a wedding planner would be incredibly helpful. If you have set your budget but aren't sure if you’re wedding dreams and your budget align, talk to your planner. If you don't know what locations are possible for your budget, talk to your planner. If you don't even know how to go about setting a budget for a destination wedding, you guessed it, talk. to. your. planner. That’s what we are here for! We can help find deals, help you decide what plans need to shift to stay within your budget, and even hold the brown paper bag for you to breathe into as you write check after check. Seriously, I’m that here for you, girl. 

Pick your Place

The hard part is over. Now, it’s time for the fun.

If you are planning a destination wedding, you might already have a list of places you are interested in, Or, you might be willing to throw a dart at a map to decide and hope and pray it lands somewhere warm. Either way, the location will set the tone for the entire trip. If you have no clue where to go for your destination wedding and the dart option is just a little too out there for you, check out a recent blog post where I go over 5 cost-effective destination wedding locations!

Weddings are hard. I don't think anyone would argue with that, but one super easy part about having a destination is that your wedding location can also be your honeymoon location! It’s a 'kills-two-birds-with-one stone' kind of thing. Once the festivities are over, you and your new spouse can stay, relax, and recuperate without having to travel even more. 

Pick your People

One of the sweetest and best parts of having a destination wedding is getting to be very selective about who you invite to your day. These people won’t only be spending your day with you, but chances are, they are there to celebrate you and your spouse-to-be for days on end! The people you invite to your destination wedding will truly be making memories that will last you a lifetime. 

With that being said, I’m going to give you some tough love. 

You don't owe anyone an invite. 

It’s as easy as that. I know there is unwanted pressure from your mom, older sister, aunts, and uncles to invite every single person who has ever come in contact with your family, but you do not have to. You don't want to spend days with someone who is essentially a stranger to you and your fiancé because someone else wanted them there. 

It is your day(s). Don’t bend on who you want at your wedding to make someone else happy. 

Even if you only invite a small, select few, not everyone will be able to make the trip to a destination wedding. They have to get off work and find someone to watch the dog or their kids, that's not to mention the money it will be costing them. Don't change your plans of having a destination wedding because some people can't make it! There are many cheap and even free wedding live stream options for your guests who would have loved to be able to be in attendance but can't make the trip. Not to mention, I also simply it for them by putting them on a monthly payment reminder plan that will help ease the pain of paying in one lump sum! 

If you feel like you are ready to conquer planning your destination wedding by yourself, you go girl. I hope your day is as magical as you've ever imagined! Now, if you've read this and it only solidified in your mind that you don't want to deal with the stress or time it takes to plan a destination wedding, let’s chat! I think we’d be a great fit for planning your big day;)

Good luck brides, and congrats!