How to Plan Your Destination Wedding | Part 1 of 3: Establish your vision

How do you even plan a destination wedding? Where do you start and how do you do it from so far away? In this blog series I’ll walk you through the process I’ve been through with numerous couples: planning a destination wedding.

One of the most important parts of planning any wedding is establishing your vision. This will determine your location, decor, vendors, food, and so much more! You get to decide if you want something topical and jet set to Hawaii. Maybe you’re more traditional? Try Santorini. Are you guys adventurous? Maybe try Iceland or Mexico!

Once you’ve decided on your vision for your wedding, let’s think through your vision for the whole weekend. Your friends and family are investing time and money to attend your wedding. They’re dedicated to celebrating with you and also making it a vacation for themselves, so keep them in mind while you plan. It’s traditional to welcome your guests to the location where you’re getting married. Plan a welcome party for guests the day before your wedding instead of a typical rehearsal dinner. Everyone who made the trip should be invited! This is a great time to hand out welcome gifts with essentials like water, chapstick, maybe even a little sunscreen! Make the most of the time together and plan an excursion if you have an adventurous crew or a sunset dinner cruise for the more laid back vibe.

The last item on your vision board will naturally be your wedding decorations and maybe some vendors! It is so fun to put together a vision board on Pinterest full of epic table settings, beautiful ceremony florals, plus photos and videos! One of the easiest ways to establish what’s realistic for your budget is to pick your top 3 ideals: are flowers, food, location, your dress, photography, or videography most important to you? Pick your top 3 and prioritize them above anything else.

Pro tip: price out your ideal vendors or decorations to get a realistic idea of the cost of that item. This can help you adjust your expectations or your budget. Once you know how much what you really want costs, you’ll be able to plan better.

See you in part two where we’ll talk more about the planning process!