While it’s easy to bliss out with visions of you and your mister at some tropical locale barefoot in the sand at sunset, you are having your wedding in another location, country or culture, so here are some insightful tips to ensure yourself a breezy destination wedding.
Plan ahead. Although it is possible to do a last-minute destination wedding (think Las Vegas, where 100,000 wedding licences are issued annually to non-residents), try to allow yourself at least three months to plan, send out invitations and organize any paperwork issues. Anne Brobyn, a recent destination bride and Weddingbells alumna, gave herself even more time. “I wanted at least six months to pull it all together,” she notes. Allowing yourself more time not only allows your guests to budget for their attendance but also can provide you with the opportunity for a minimoon at your locale of choice pre-wedding to fully investigate your options. This allows you to really prepare for the actual day and take away a lot of the pressure—plus you get a few days away in the sun!
Research, research, research. There is more to consider when choosing your destination location than the beach and the resort amenities. It’s important to know as much as you can about the country’s regulations before deciding on your locale. Many countries have different wedding requirements, such as blood tests or a mandatory 48 to 72-hour occupancy. “We researched our destination thoroughly and double-checked on the paperwork required to get married in Maui,” Brobyn adds. And everything is constantly changing when it comes to travelling internationally as a Canadian, from security measures to recent passport procedures, so begin your research at the Government of Canada Consular Affairs page voyage.gc.ca, where information such as travel warnings and passport information is provided.
Breathing room. With all the excitement and planning behind you, you’ll most likely want to say “I do” as soon as you land. However, we recommend you don’t set the ceremony for the day after you arrive—give yourself (and your guests) time to start unwinding in paradise. “Definitely don’t do it right away,” Brobyn advises. She and her mister married in Maui six days after their arrival. “If you’re stressed it gives you time to meet with the wedding co-ordinator to ensure everything you discussed via phone and email is as you ordered. You can also check out the venue and hopefully get a nice tan for your photos!” Brobyn adds it was also great to have the opportunity to spend time with guests before the wedding. “They didn’t shy away from us because we ‘were on our honeymoon.’” With that in mind, Brobyn booked a second week for a serious honeymoon à deux in nearby Kauai—a Weddingbells must-do!
With notes from Jennifer Haskett
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