Destination Weddings | ABCs of Wedding Planning

Traditionally, weddings are held close to home.  While this is convenient for your guests, what bride-to-be doesn’t love the idea of spending her wedding weekend in paradise?  Destination weddings take an already-exciting day to a whole different level.  While planning your destination wedding, it is important to include details that make your guests feel welcome and appreciated.  After all, lots of time and planning goes into making trips for destination weddings, so you want your guests to kick back, relax, and have a blast.

One way to make your guests feel welcome as soon as they arrive to their hotel is to provide welcome bags.  To add a personalized touch to your welcome bags, you can include an item that represents you as a couple.  If you and your fiancé love a particular sports team, consider including a koozie with the team logo.  Your guests can even reuse it after your wedding!  It also might be a good idea to include snacks for your guests to munch on after a long day of travelling… there’s nothing worse than having jetlag AND starving!  If you are having a beach wedding, including some essentials such as sunscreen or a personalized towel will let your guests know that you were thinking about them during your planning process.  An itinerary of various events will allow your guests to plan their stay around your wedding-week activities, and will also ensure that they always have something to do.  Finally, you can include a thank you note and let your guests know you are looking forward to seeing them.  Leave the welcome bags at the front desk and have the concierge provide the bags at check-in.  Your welcome gifts will set off your guests’ trip on the right foot, giving a warm welcome as soon as they arrive.

Photograph: www.jesihaackweddingsblog.com, Photographer: Gabriel Ryan Photographers, California; Paper goods: www.weddingchicks.com

How bizarre would it be if your guests made a long trip for your wedding and didn’t even get to see you until the ceremony?  Having a welcome cocktail hour not only allows you to personally greet your guests, but also lets your guests know that you are genuinely excited to spend time with them.  This also allows your guests to meet one another and break the ice before attending the formal ceremony.  Make sure to keep the cocktail hour low-key though, because it’s highly likely that your guests will be exhausted from travelling.

Photograph: www.oncewed.com

As much as we hate to admit it, time flies when you’re having fun!  Your wedding week will come and go quickly (probably much more quickly than you want it to)!  After having such a wonderful wedding, it is important to end on a high note and give your guests a formal farewell before they return home.  Consider holding a brunch the morning after your wedding.  Allow your guests to come and go during a wide timeframe to allow them to get some extra sleep and pack up their things.  If you’re looking to add some luxury to your guests’ weekends, consider having breakfast in bed delivered to them.  This final touch is sure to blow them away and make them feel extra-appreciated.

Photograph found on Pinterest