Eva Longoria joined the ranks of Katie Holmes, Rachel Ray and Gwen Stefani as the latest celebrity destination-wedding bride this past summer. Longoria and basketball star Tony Parker tied the knot at the Château of Vaux le Vicomte on July 7, 2007. The 17th century castle, located just south of Paris, is the largest privately owned château in France. As more celebrities tie the knot in Europe, many couples have become interested in having their own destination wedding.
Kit Burns, president of Doorways, Ltd., a travel agency specializing in European villas (villavacations.com), has planned several dream weddings abroad (including her own daughter’s). She offers these nine tips for your own European dream wedding.
1. Decide on the location. Burns suggests choosing a country that has personal meaning for you. Let ethnic ties, scenery, or simple love of a country's culture guide your choice. Whatever location you decide on, use a travel agent or wedding coordinator who specializes in your destination.
2. Calculate your budget and number of guests. Happily, destination weddings often cost the same as, or less than, at-home weddings because the guest list can be trimmed down to only very close family and friends. Most destination weddings have a guest list of between 12 - 40 people, including immediate family, best friends and close cousins. This is exactly why destination weddings are so appealing; they are personal, romantic, and surprisingly affordable.
3. Find the right place to stay within your country of choice. Some areas are just made for romance. Imagine saying “I do” at a fully-restored villa nestled among olive groves, mountains, and vineyards in Tuscany. So shop around; it is possible to rent a private villa that includes a full staff and personalized wedding planning.
4. Locate a good wedding planner abroad. It’s important to establish contact with a planner while you are still at home. At her company, Burns herself puts brides in touch with villa owners who offer personal service and experience. For Trea Robinson, a destination wedding bride who worked with Burns, the villa owners were an integral part of the planning process. Robinson says: "The villa owners had everything under control and never let us see them under any pressure if there was any. They recommended restaurants, handled translations, the florist, cook, pastry chef, and numerous details that made our wedding day and week - absolutely perfect!"
5. Find out the legal regulations at your destination. To avoid a lot of red tape, Burns suggests some couples marry legally at home and then host a symbolic wedding ceremony in their destination country. Some countries, Italy for instance, offer civil ceremonies that are internationally recognized. Your travel consultant should be familiar with the legalities in your destination of choice.
6. Notify your family and friends. Send out a "Save-the-Date" email as soon as your date and location are confirmed. Keep in mind that some people plan their vacations a year in advance, so you should let everyone know the date and country as soon as possible.
7. Buy your dress and figure out how you will transport it. Have your gown altered before the big day. Then, wrap it in tissue paper and pack it in a large box. If you check it with your luggage, be sure to label clearly your destination address and phone number, and insure the dress separately. Some brides prefer to ship their dress ahead of time. If you choose to do this, there are delivery services you can use. They’re pricey, but can be worth it. Be sure to arrange the delivery and storage of the dress with your villa in advance.
8. Maintain communication. Create a website where guests can find answers to their questions without always having to call you. The theme of the website can match your invitations. It’s also helpful to provide guests with your travel agent's contact information, details of the big day, special travel requirements, and anything else you’d like to share.
9. Arrive early and finalize details. For Trea Robinson, it was the details of her destination wedding that were most memorable. "The fields of mint that we walked through to get to the vineyards for pictures were amazing. Guests enjoyed cocktails under the villa's arbor that was brimming with grapes." It will be this same European magic that will make you feel like a celebrity bride on your big day.
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