Planning a destination wedding can simultaneously feel like the most exciting and daunting task to take on. Maybe you’ve always dreamt of getting married at a luxurious Irish castle surrounded by luscious green scenery or there’s a place you and your partner hold close to your hearts. Maybe you want to honour a family connection. Whatever the reason for choosing a destination wedding, we appreciate it’s personal to each couple.
Although it may seem like an insurmountable task to plan a wedding from a different country, there are ways to make the process easier. At Dream Irish Wedding we’ve helped many couples from around the world to bring their dream destination wedding day to life.
We are delighted to share our top five tips to assist you in planning your dream destination wedding!
1. Location, Location, Location!
Arguably one of the most important elements of a destination wedding: the destination itself.
There’s a lot to keep in mind when finalising your location. Think about accessibility, will it be easy for your guests to get flights to and from. Is there adequate on the ground transportation at your location?
Make sure to check the climate/weather to avoid times of any extreme weather conditions. The weather will also play its part in deciding the locations at your venue for the various wedding day activities . It can determine whether you include an outdoor ceremony and even where your cocktail reception will be held.
2. Guest List
Complete your guest list before confirming your location or venue to ensure it can cater comfortably for your expected numbers. Allow for a possible reduction in numbers on the guest list of up to 50% for a destination wedding. If you have older relatives that are important to have at your wedding try to find out if they will be able to travel.
To make the process of attending your destination wedding easier you might like to create a wedding website. This is a great way to capture all travel and accommodation information guests might need in one place they can easily refer to.
For added peace of mind and comfort for your guests, consider providing transport. Airport transfers or coaches on the wedding day will help everything to run effortlessly.
3. Review Local Legal Requirements
Chances are the local requirements for marriage are different to what you’re used to in your home country. A search on a local citizen’s information website will provide you with every detail you need to keep in mind. It’s worth noting you may be required to provide specific paperwork or present translated documents in your marriage application.
Make sure to allow adequate time as it can take anything up to six months to complete the process. In Ireland, factor in time for a face to face meeting with the registrar as part of the legalities process.
4. Budget
With any wedding , the budget should be one of the first things you do. It is a very important element to get right. Always have a contingency figure in place as the budget can easily rise with additional costs especially when it comes to planning a destination wedding.
Take time to decide if you will be covering the cost of any flights or accommodation for parents or members of your bridal party. Factor in transfers and transport for guests as well as any additional activities such as a welcome party or rehearsal dinner.
Look for vendors on site using seasonal flowers and local ingredients to avoid extra cost on importing. It also creates a more authentic experience for you and your guests. You can really embrace the surrounding environment of your chosen destination.
5. Hire a Wedding Planner
If you always dreamt of a destination wedding but the reality of planning one is too stressful, it’s worth hiring a wedding planner in the country you’re getting married in.
Not only will they know everything you need to legally marry in that country but they have connections with the best local vendors and are on the ground every step of the way.
At Dream Irish Wedding, we have been working with discerning couples from around the world to bring their destination weddings in Ireland to life. We offer a limited number of weddings per year which enables us to work closely with our couples. By taking time to understand their vision we build a relationship to execute their Dream Irish Wedding.
We work closely with trusted creatives and suppliers to take care of every little detail. All you need to do is arrive at your destination and have the wedding day you always dreamt of!
Bonus Tip!
Don’t forget to check your passport is at least 6 months in date before travelling. You don’t want any surprises at the airport!