For the brides and grooms that want to use their wedding as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a destination wedding feels like a vacation and wedding celebration all wrapped up into one. With an ongoing pandemic, many brides have opted for smaller weddings, which means they typically have more wiggle room for planning a more elaborate celebration in a dreamy location. Whether your special day is large or small, a destination wedding allows you to skip some traditional wedding features. Still, it may require additional forethought than a wedding held in your hometown. From extra planning steps to dependable vendors, here are the top seven must-haves for a destination wedding.
Detailed Travel Plan
Out-of-town guests typically require some guidance when it comes to lodging, but when you’re having a destination wedding, your guests need a detailed itinerary that explains everything from flights and transportation to accommodations. If your destination is international, you may also need to remind guests of other details relating to passports or COVID-19 testing. While you can save time on traditional vendors and other wedding frills, a well-thought-out and executed plan makes all of the difference if you choose to plan a wedding in a vacation destination.
Top-Notch Communication with Guests
In addition to having a solid plan, consistent communication with your guests is key to optimizing attendance as it to minimizing potential problems. Save-the-dates sent far in advance allow your guests time to make the appropriate reservations. Having a complete wedding website that details hotel blocks, airports, and all other necessary information puts your guests in the best position to make arrangements. To save time and money, you can also send out e-blasts to provide your guests with updates or any reminders along the way.
Catering
Food is central to any special occasion, and having your wedding in a new destination allows for indulging in some delicious local cuisine. Whether your big day is in the Caribbean, Europe, or even in a southern city like Charleston, you can add flair to your wedding by choosing a caterer that features flavors of the destination.
Photographer
Choosing a destination wedding typically means amazing backdrops for wedding photos, which means finding a skilled photographer is a must. If you love a photographer from your hometown, ask if they are willing to travel. Keep in mind that you will likely have to pay for their travel and lodging expenses. Otherwise, do some research into photographers at your destination. A local photographer in the city of your wedding is more likely to have a greater knowledge of the best lighting, locations, and more.
Entertainment
No wedding is complete without a band or DJ. Choosing a unique destination for your wedding is so fun is the added entertainment and music options to enhance the experience. In the same way that choosing a local caterer can serve as an homage to the place of your wedding, music, and performers are another way to make the most out of the destination’s culture.
A Planner or Day-of-Coordinator
Having a wedding in a place different from where you live makes it more challenging to plan and coordinate. This is why it’s crucial to hire a reliable wedding planner or day-of-coordinator who is onsite and can help guide you through the process. As we previously mentioned, communication is key for your guests and between you and your planner. Having someone who understands your vision and can help make it a reality can make or break your dream wedding.
Lashes and Lace
Did you know we travel? Lashes and Lace is pleased to provide destination wedding hair and makeup for you and your bridesmaids. We want you to feel your most beautiful on your special day, which is why it is essential that you choose vendors you trust. We provide trial runs, the option to try multiple styles and take pictures of your final look so your hair and makeup can be recreated perfectly on your wedding day. For a wedding that is picture-perfect, having Lashes and Lace by your side on your wedding day is a must.
Contact Us
No matter where you plan to celebrate your wedding, the team at Lashes and Lace is here to help you with all of your beauty needs! We specialize in waxing services, hair, makeup, spray tanning, and more. We can travel out of state or internationally depending on your desired destination wedding location. Contact us today to learn more and book a consultation.