What Not to Do When Planning a Destination Wedding

Learn what to avoid when organizing your big day in a faraway locale.

A destination wedding can be a simple way to make your big day even more special. Instead of tying the knot in your hometown or the city in which you currently live, you and your closest friends and family get to travel to a far-off location and have a longer celebration!

By Emily Lasnier

greek-orthodox-wedding-ceremony-at-aegean-sea-view-church-in-mykonos-greece
Photo: Branco Prata

A destination wedding can be a simple way to make your big day even more special. Instead of tying the knot in your hometown or the city in which you currently live, you and your closest friends and family get to travel to a far-off location and have a longer celebration! However, hosting your nuptials overseas (or simply a great distance away) also tends to make the process more complicated. Destination weddings can often put the burden on your guests, as well as create logistical problems for you. To help make sure things go smoothly and that everyone has a great time, learn about the mistakes you should avoid when planning a destination wedding. 

wedding ceremony on lawn in maui overlooking the ocean

Photo by Chris J. Evans Photography; Planning & Design by Unveiled Hawaii

- Forgetting legal procedures. If you’re getting married in a foreign country, it is vital that you figure out what the laws are for getting a marriage license. In many cases, it will be easier to have a civil ceremony at your local city hall before traveling for what you’ll consider the “real” big day. 

- Inconsiderate costs. It’s probably a given that flights will be expensive if you’re getting married at a desirable location, but it’s one thing to get married a short drive from a major airport overseas, and another to choose a remote spot where the only accommodations are prohibitively expensive for your guests. 

- A short timeline. An engagement nine months or shorter is tough to plan under the best of circumstances, but for destination nuptials it’s also tough for your guests. It’s necessary to provide as much notice as possible so prospective attendees can organize travel arrangements. 

- Not checking weather. Different parts of the world have different weather patterns. You can’t count on the seasons where you live to be a guide. While there’s always a chance for weather to be unpredictable, you’ll want to do research in order to lessen the risk of rain. 

- Strict itinerary. Of course you’ll want to have activities in order to spend time with your guests, but don’t forget to give people space to relax.

For more advice, discover tips and trends for fall weddings, learn how to plan your rehearsal, and preview our fall 2019 issue. 

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