Travel Weddings: Choosing Travel Over Tradition - Planning a wedding that goes the distance

Sun, sand, surf and saying, “I do?” Destination weddings have become a popular choice for Canadian couples about to tie the knot—and for good reason. Getting married abroad is often less expensive than hosting a wedding at home, plus you get to enjoy some fun in the sun with your nearest and dearest. If you’re considering seashells with your wedding bells, read on. We’ve got your go-to guide for planning your dream destination wedding.

Location, Location, Location

According to Brittney Struck, destination wedding specialist with Flight Centre in St. Albert, one of the biggest stresses couples have while planning their destination wedding is finding a resort that fits their needs, expectations and budget. Struck’s advice? “Don’t ask for everyone’s opinion of the hotel; pick a resort based on what you want. Also, work with a travel specialist. We’ll help take the stress off by helping you pick the best hotel […] We have good relationships with hotels and suppliers since we book a lot of weddings a year.”

Another point to consider when choosing your destination is ease of travel. Destinations that involve multiple flights or are far from major airports may be more difficult for some of your guests to reach (older or more inexperienced travellers, for example). Opt for a location with a direct flight that is easy to get to from the airport.

Budgeting for Your Big Day

Overall Costs

A 2015 survey by Wedding Bells magazine found that the average cost of a wedding in Canada (including the honeymoon) is $30,717. According to Struck, the average cost of a destination wedding is significantly less than that: $6,000 to $10,000, which means “guests would pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, on average.”

Free Wedding Packages

Many resort hotels offer “free” wedding packages, which typically include the following: a wedding planner, a marriage officiant, decorations, a sparkling-wine toast, a bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere, a private or semi-private dinner, recorded music for the reception and a small wedding cake. Anything outside of what’s outlined in the package will cost extra, so you may want to consider bringing a few things from home—like wedding favours, welcome gifts for guests, a guest book or any special decorations for the venue.

Perfect Timing

Destination weddings require more advance planning than in-town weddings do. Your guests will need time to plan for the trip financially and may need to save vacation days. Struck says that couples should start planning about 18 months in advance and adds, “the earlier you book, the better the rates.”

Most experts suggest sending a save-the-date card as soon as you’ve decided on the basics. The message can be as simple as, “We will be married in Mexico in February, 2018. More details to follow!”

Your formal wedding invitations with specific details should be sent out at least nine months before your wedding day.

Dive into the Details

Vendors

Although most hotels don’t include vendors like hairdressers, makeup artists or photographers in their basic wedding packages, they will still refer you to local professionals. “The hotel will have specific suppliers that they use that have portfolios that the couple can take a look at before booking,” says Struck.

If you aren’t comfortable using a vendor from your destination of choice, another option is to fly in your own experts (just be prepared to cover their travel costs, along with their service fees).

Marriage Requirements

Each country has its own set of rules when it comes to legal marriage, so it’s important to look into your destination’s marriage requirements. For example, some countries call for a lot of paperwork, a waiting period and even medical tests before a marriage can legally take place, so you will need to plan accordingly.

Another option is to get legally married at home before you leave and to hold a symbolic ceremony at your destination.

Contracts

When it comes to hotel and vendor contracts, it pays to read the fine print—at least twice. Make sure you understand all the terms in the contract, and if you aren’t sure, ask questions before you sign.

Struck says that working with a travel specialist will help ensure that things go smoothly and will save you time (and stress), “We know how to read the contracts from suppliers and the hotel, and we are in contact with the supplier to take care of all money transactions. If you were to book this on your own, you would be acting as the travel agent, which can quickly become like a second job.”

Etiquette

Courtesy Invitations

Even if you are sure that certain friends or family members aren’t up for travelling to your wedding, send them an invitation anyway. This tells them you are thinking of them and would love for them to attend. Plus, you never know, someone may surprise you!

Gifts

Guests spend a significant amount of money to attend a destination wedding, so gifts are not obligatory. In fact, you might want to specify that their attendance is the only gift you’d like.

Guests at Other Hotels

If some of your guests have chosen to stay at another hotel, it’s a nice gesture to arrange and pay for their transportation to your wedding ceremony. If your hotel charges a fee for visitors who are not staying at the property, it’s up to you to cover that fee for your guests to attend your wedding.

So… still considering seashells with your wedding bells? Congratulations! We hope our tips help you plan a wedding that goes the distance.  t8n

Fun Facts

According to Flight Centre in St. Albert, most of the destination weddings they plan have between 30 and 60 guests, and the most popular wedding destination chosen by St. Albert couples is Mexico’s Mayan Riviera.

Wedding Bells magazine estimates that 22,000 Canadian couples hosted destination weddings in 2016.

(Wedding Trends in Canada survey, 2015)

Best Websites for Destination Weddings

Looking for some wedding-planning help online? These three sites cover everything from how to word your invitations to what to include in your wedding welcome bags!

theknot.com

topweddingquestions.com

destinationweddingdetails.com