Planning a destination wedding requires more than just buying a plane ticket and booking a nice hotel: find here some topics you may need to consider if you are starting to plan a wedding abroad.
1- Location, choose one Easy to Get to.
Pictures of beautiful landscapes are usually seen by many couples while picking their wedding destination, but it is important to realize that it takes more than beautiful scenery to make the wedding of your dreams happen.
Some places or islands require many stopovers and different ways of transportation. You need to think if you and your guests would be willing to make it. Where will most of your guests be flying from? Can they get there without changing planes multiple times? Check to make sure there are reasonably priced flights and sensible itineraries.
Flying into the Dominican Republic, for example, is extremely easy; especially to Punta Cana, whose international airport is one of the busiest in the area, where any commercial direct flight from all over the globe can land.
2- Dealing with Forecast and High Seasons.
Know the weather. Be aware of average temperatures for the month you are planning! Many coastal areas or islands have lower rates in the late summer and fall because… it’s hurricane or rainy season.
Usually weather conditions in the Caribbean or Mexico, are very nice, but be careful if you are planning a wedding in those destinations during August, September or October. You can check out a backup indoor option too, in case there’s nothing you can do, and set up a clear plan B beforehand.
Check the local calendar. Try not to plan your big day during any other price inflating or massively crowded event.
3- Wedding Planners, Wedding Venues and All inclusive Resorts.
Most of the Wedding Venues and Resorts provide wedding coordinators, which comes really in handy to avoid language barriers and misunderstandings. Consider coordinators are, usually, locals and they are, also, familiar with the area. If, either way, you think you may also need someone of your trust, you could arrange with your resort or venue to bring your own professional wedding planner.
Punta Cana has many beautiful Wedding Venues available. Always depending on your budget some examples are: Jellyfish Beach Restaurant, Kukua Beach Club, La Barcaza, The Palms Punta Cana, Punta Cana Resort, Cap Cana, etc. All-inclusive Resorts are also a very good option, but not always the most intimate atmosphere: Barcelo Hotels & Resort, Majestic Resorts, Dreams Resorts, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Riu Hotels & Resorts, etc.
4- Extra Notice to your Guests.
For many things, Destination Weddings require extra planning, especially for guests. It is recommended that you give nine months to one year’s notice; in fact a bit more than you would for a local wedding. Remember, guests need time to organize their trips: a simple and informal word of mouth could be enough, so they can have it in the back of their minds and save vacation days… and money!
5- Wedding Gowns & Destination Wedding Climate.
Thinking in your attire is a must. Tropical beach destination weddings, like Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, are exceptional picks, but consider the heat and humidity. Choose light fabrics and colors that won’t show sweat. Linen is an excellent choice for the groom and groomsmen; it is light and fresh enough to get through the ceremony and the photo session on the beach. For the brides the ideal fabrics would be silk, organza or chiffon.
6- Hiring Vendors.
Photographers, videographers, DJs or make-up artists, some couples will definitely think about bringing them straight from home, but not all countries allow the use of an outside vendor.
Turks and Caicos, for example, have some serious laws and controls on bringing in vendors from outside the country. None of those restrictions exists in places like Dominican Republic or Mexico, so you could bring whoever you want. However hiring local vendors is also an intelligent option to avoid spending money on your vendors travel expenses.
Punta Cana, as one of the most popular wedding destinations, has a wide range of vendor possibilities of all kind. Budgets are considerably convenient and professionalism and quality of work worth a Google search.