Planning a Destination Wedding

​As a wedding photographer in Saratoga Springs, NY, a high percentage of the weddings I photograph are destination weddings. In addition, I have been hired to go to other locations to photograph destination weddings.
All of this has made me aware of many of the little considerations you might want to take into account when planning your own destination wedding.

​Visit the area

I highly recommend you visit the area where you are planning your destination wedding at least once.
​It would actually be ideal if you could visit it more than once.
In addition to helping you feel more comfortable, meeting with local wedding professionals in person will faciliate their understanding your needs, preferences, and expectations especially if there is a language barrier.
If you are working with a coordinator at the venue, make sure they understand both your vision in addition to your
budget- budget being the key word here

During  your  visits,  make  sure  to  check  out  the  hotels,  restaurants  and  other  local  businesses--you can  then  let  your  guests  know  where  to  eat  and  shop.  You  can  also  let  them  know  what  to  expect  in 
terms  of  expenses  for  meals,  etc.  so  there  are  no  unpleasant  surprises  on  their  end. 
 If  you  can’t visit  more  than  once,  it  helps  to  arrive  several  days  to  week  ahead  of  time  so  you  can  take  care  of  any  final  details,  have  a  hair  and  makeup  trial,  and  generally  relax  a  bit  before  the  big  day.  

​2. Timely Matters

Did  you  know  that  by  being  flexible  with  your  date,  you  could  possibly  save  a  substantial  amount  of  money  by  avoiding  peak  tourism  weeks?
​You  could  literally  book  your  event  a  week  later  and  save  big.    Many  of  the  most  popular  destination  wedding  locations  are  also  very  popular  tourist  locations. 
Find  out  before  making  a  final  decision  on  a  location  what  the  peak  dates  are  for  tourism.
During peak tourist season, rates for everything will naturally be higher. You might not care so much, but your guests definitely will! Additionally, it may be more difficult to book room blocks during the most popular weeks.
Hotels will need to be reserved well in advance for you and your out of area guests-sometimes by as much as a year ahead of time. Also keep in mind that on the off season for any destination location the weather might not be ideal. 
You would not want to book a destination wedding in a tropical location during peak hurricane season.

​3. Research local marriage requirements

I highly recommend that you investigate local marriage license requirements well in advance of your event. Requirements for a legal marriage vary from county to county- even state to state. Some countries even have a residency requirement. In England that requirement is seven days. France has a 40 day requirement. If you want your marriage to be legal, you cannot emit this step.  Calling the local City Hall is a great first planning process.

​4. Use local wedding vendors

Seriously consider using the local wedding vendors for your event. While you may be tempted to bring someone in from your home state for entertainment, photography, etc., it may not be the most cost or quality effective decision.
Local vendors are used to working in their local venues. The bands/Djs know what equipment they need to bring specific venues to get the best quality sound for your entertainment. Likewise, the local photographers know all the best locations/times of day to ensure beautiful photos.
In addition, bringing in out of town vendors will require expensive travel fees on your end. They may even require special work visas, depending on the country you are getting married in.

​5. Take good care of your guests

​When planning your destination wedding, be sure to consider the comfort of your guests. This entails more than providing cute Welcome Bags. This entails booking room blocks and group rates at hotels. At the very least, consider providing a detailed listing of different hotels in different price ranges to accommodate all budgets.
​If you have guests arriving by plane, it would be great if you could help them navigate transportation from the airport to their hotel. If you don't want to be responsible for actually getting them from the airport to the hotel, perhaps you can introduce people so they can coordinate arrivals to share taxis. A wedding website or private social media page would greatly facilitate this.

Inviting all of the out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner and day after brunch is thoughtful and considerate. Consider planning a fun group activity such as a bowling dinner cruise as an "ice breaker" for your guests.

If your destination wedding takes place in multiple locations, you may also want to provide shuttle buses to and from your venue so people do not to rent cars and drive around in an unfamiliar location. It is also a good idea to put together a simple little guide with your recommendations for local restaurants and 
salon/spas, as well as other local businesses. it will help them really enjoy their time in a special location.

​6. Money matters

Weddings can be expensive in general, but sometimes destination weddings can really add up. Be sure you can factor in possible extra/hidden expenses. Be sure to ask lots of questions so you are not surprised with the final tally. Some venues charge additional fees for setting up the ceremony site with chairs or decorating the reception site. Other things to consider are hidden taxes and gratuities, pressing or steaming your dress/suit, and transportation for guests, to name a few. Make sure you get everything in writing before the event.

​7. Choose an appropriate attire

Carefully consider your wedding destination when choosing your attire. If you are getting married in a tropical location with high humidity, you will want light weight, breathable fabrics made from natural fibers.
If you are hosting a winter wedding, you might want to have heavier fabrics in addition to appropriate outerwear for outdoor photos-who doesn't love a real faux fur ?
Here in the Adirondacs, I always suggest to my brides that they invest in a good pair of snow boots if they are getting married in the winter. Some of my brides even bring thermal underwear to wear under their dresses for outdoor photos in the winter. Regardless of where you are holding your destination wedding, these tips will help ensure you have a fun and stress-free event.

About the Author : Susan Blackburn is a Wedding and Portrait Photographer based in Saratoga NY. She believes in capturing authentic and timeless memories for her clients that express their individuality as
a couple.

​Susan Blackburn Photography
Website : Susan Blackburn
Email : blackburn795@aol.com
​Phone : 5185844237