Top Destination Wedding Tips for Brides:

Small Destination Weddings Need Careful Planning

Excerpt from Intimate Weddings:

Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style

Even though small destination weddings have fewer guests than a traditional wedding, it doesn’t mean they don’t require some careful planning.

The biggest decision couples face regarding small destination weddings is where to have them.

Some couples might know right off the bat where they want to say their vows. Maybe it’s a favorite vacation spot, or a place they’ve always wanted to visit. Or perhaps, they’ve based their decision on a particular location’s convenience or affordability.

Other couples might not be so sure on where they want to tie the knot. Maybe, for instance, you want a wedding with European flare and your sweetie wants a wedding in the tropics. Or maybe you both want to wed in a place that’s warm and sunny, but you just haven’t been able to make up your minds on which one to choose.

Small destination weddings don’t come without risk. One thing that wedding specialists suggest is that you make sure you either chose a location that you have already visited – or at least plan a visit before your wedding to ensure that the place lives up to your expectations. But that can be expensive.

If you’ve got plenty of good information on the location – which may include recommendations from other couples or travel agents, and you don’t mind taking risks, you might want to forgo the visit.

If Darin and I had planned a destination wedding in Scotland (if we would have chosen a small destination wedding, that would have been our location of choice), there’s no way we would have made a preliminary trip to our chosen location.

But it’s up to you.

I do recommend, however, that you follow these top destination wedding tips for planning small destination weddings.  

Top Destination Wedding Tip #1

Start Early

It’s important to nail down a few possibilities early on. Some wedding specialists suggest that planning for small destination weddings should begin 6 months to one year in advance. The sooner you can start planning your wedding – the better. If you plan well in advance fewer places will be booked up, and you may be able to take advantage of cheaper prices on flights and lodging.

Planning ahead will also give you more time to spend on researching locations. And it will mean that your guests will have plenty of notice so they can book vacation time and save up for the trip.

Top Destination Wedding Tip #2

Learn about the legalities

Once you’ve come up with a few possible locations, the next step is to find out about marriage laws in each region. In France, for instance, there is a 40-day residency requirement, whereas Jamaica only has a one-day residency requirement. Several Caribbean islands, on the other hand, have residency requirements from one to 10 days.

 If you want to get married in Cancun, you and your sweetie will be required to submit blood tests taken within 15 days of your wedding, as well as copies of birth certificates or passports. Hawaii simply requires a driver’s license.

In the U.S., laws vary from state to state, so make sure you research the location and find out about its requirements. You can get information about what documents and health tests are needed by contacting the county’s marriage license bureau. Make sure you ask how long it will take for the paperwork to be processed.

Many resorts/hotels throughout the world provide wedding co-coordinators that will help you understand the region’s legalities, and some will even assist you in filing the required paperwork.

If you aren’t working with a wedding planner, you can find out information on your own by contacting the location’s tourist office, the country’s consulate or U.S Embassy. Some government websites also offer this information. Travel agents are another possible source.

The following are questions you should have answers for prior to deciding on a location:

• What types of documents are needed? Will they have to be translated and notarized? Are originals required, or are copies okay?
• What type of proof do you need if you are divorced or widowed?
• Is there a minimum residency requirement?
• Are there any other waiting periods?
• Are blood tests or other medical tests required? If so, does it matter if your own doctor takes them, or do you have to have them done in the country of marriage?
• How many witnesses are required?

• Are religious ceremonies considered legal, or must they be preceded by a civil ceremony?

Top Destination Wedding Tip #3

Find a place that fits your budget

The budget couples have for small destination weddings often determines their location.  Aside from figuring out how much you want to spend, you’ll need to decide on whether or not you will be paying for your guests’ travel expenses. Some couples’ wedding budgets allow them to do so, which is a nice gesture. Other couples have guests pay their own way, which is also fine.

Find out if the hotel/resort offers group rates, which can save you and your guests a good chunk of change.
Some couples that are on a tight budget have their wedding during the off-season, or choose a country where the exchange rate is favorable.

Top Destination Wedding Tip #4

Find out about wedding packages and wedding coordinators

The next step is to find out if wedding packages for small destination weddings are available and if you will be working with a reputable wedding coordinator.

 It will make things a lot easier if you have someone on-site that can help you with the planning process. Many hotels, resorts, and chapels offer wedding planning services.

Whether the wedding coordinator comes with the package, or you hire one on your own, make sure she has references from past clients - and check them out. Also find out how many out-of-town clients the wedding consultant has worked with.

It wouldn’t hurt to check out some online wedding forums, and talk to other brides about wedding coordinators. They might have advice on who to choose, and who to stay away from.

If you choose a package deal that includes a wedding coordinator, or you decide to do everything yourselves, make sure you get all the nitty gritty on the vendors. You’ll want to see the photographer’s work, and if there are musicians, you’ll want to hear a demo tape. If a wedding coordinator is involved, ask him if he will be onsite during your wedding.

Some people choose to forget the wedding consultant and plan their own small destination weddings. If you go this route, it will be beneficial for you to have at least one contact at the destination that can check out the vendors for you. Or you can work with a reputable travel agent at home that has plenty of experience with small destination weddings.

Top Destination Wedding Tip #5

Research the location

Small destination weddings require lots of research. Before you made a final decision about a location, make sure you spend plenty of time reading about it. Don’t just choose a place on a whim because it seems like a good deal. Find out everything you can about the place including:

• Is the area safe?
• Is the water drinkable?
• Do you need special vaccinations before arriving?
• What’s the weather is like? When is hurricane season (if there is one)? Is the month you’ve chosen to get married an exceedingly hot time of year? What type of attire will be appropriate?
• What types of sightseeing activities are there for you and your guests?
• Are their discount rates for group tours?
• Does the hotel/resort offer activities for children?
• How old is the resort/hotel or other form of lodging?
• How many U.S. weddings have been performed at the resort? Are there references than can be contacted?

Read travel guides and talk to other couples, as well as travel agents who have information on the region.

Top Destination Wedding Tip #6

Get it in writing

Just like if you were getting married at home, make sure you get everything in writing! Do not rely solely on verbal agreements. If someone doesn’t live up to his end of the deal, you’ll have a hard-copy version of the agreement, which will carry a lot more weight.