If your love for palm trees and ocean breezes rivals none other than your love for your significant other, then a destination wedding might be right for you. Unfortunately, most couples shun the idea of having one due to a preconceived notion that destination weddings are too expensive or too difficult to plan. Fortunately, that’s not the case. In fact, you might just find the opposite to be true. Having a destination wedding has never been easier, and we’re happy to show you how. Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about tying the knot and hulaing a lot.
Your Budget
Believe it or not, a destination wedding is often cheaper than a traditional wedding. That’s because most of your wedding-related costs stem from the venue you book and the food you provide. Since destination weddings are typically smaller in scale, you’ll likely end up booking a smaller venue and ordering less food than you would at home. But that’s not the only difference. If you’re interested in learning more, or want to find out how to budget for a wedding in Maui, click here. So long as you track your spending via a budgeting template or an online banking service, you’ll most likely find it to be cheaper overall.
Your Guest List
Just because destination weddings tend to be smaller doesn’t mean they have to be. In addition to your closest family members and friends, don’t be afraid to branch out and invite others. This way, they’ll be able to make the decision for themselves. You never know who will see this as the perfect opportunity to take the vacation of a lifetime. Just be sure you’re getting an accurate final headcount so you can close in on the appropriate venue and accommodations for your guests.
Your Honeymoon
What could be better than having your wedding in tropical paradise? Prolonging your stay there! Easily double the value of your destination wedding by making it the location of your honeymoon as well. Whether you decide to stay in the same resort (and cash in on discounts for a lengthier booking) or see a new side of the island, the choice is up to you. And since most couples will hop on a plane for their honeymoon anyway, you can see flight tickets as just a part of the whole wedding package.
Your Timeline
Although destination weddings usually require less coordination (you won’t have to worry about providing hundreds of decorations here) and therefore less time to plan, you’ll still want to make sure you’re giving your guests an adequate amount of time to assess their availabilities and plan their vacations. Like a traditional wedding, try to give your guests around nine to twelve months’ notice prior to the wedding. This will also make your life easier, as you won’t feel like you’re in as much of a rush to get things done.
Your Wedding Attire
As exciting as it is to think of yourself getting married on a beach, you might be left scratching your head wondering what you should wear. Luckily, there are a few basic ground rules that you can follow that will have you feeling and looking great. Lightweight fabrics like linen, chiffon, organza, lace, and even cotton provide the most breathability. You’ll find this to be highly preferable if trying to avoid sweat marks on clothing. When it comes to colors, don’t be afraid to be a little unorthodox. Black attire looks suave, but it’s also known to conduct heat. So, why not embrace more tropical colors like white, turquoise, tangerine, peach, or sand brown? Whatever route you decide to go, just make sure you’re comfortable and that the rest of your guest list is onboard with your dress code.
