Approximately 48% of respondents in The Knot 2016 Real Weddings Study said that having a reception venue with a scenic backdrop or locale was their top priority. While weddings once placed a lot of importance on the attire, there has recently been a shift toward the destination. This desire for unique outdoor backdrops has caused an increase in destination weddings. Although destination weddings can be extremely exciting, they do require a different level of planning than traditional weddings do.
Give yourself enough time to efficiently plan
Normally it is a good idea to book your wedding reception site as soon as possible once you are engaged, at least a year to nine months before the wedding. Destination weddings, however, usually require longer. When you get married at a popular destination, you are competing against brides from all over the world for space. These venues are much more likely to be booked up, sometimes for years in advance. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
Booking a destination venue multiple years in advance will also ensure that you have sufficient time to plan. When you have to plan for vendors and guest accommodations to another city or state, things become more complicated. It may take you much longer to choose a DJ or officiant. Be sure that you are giving yourself enough time. You also want to give your guests plenty of notice, so they can save up for travel and cottage rental fees.
Book group travel and accommodations
Normally, when you book a wedding, you leave the travel and lodging accommodations up to your guests. They can make the decision of whether or not they will rent a room, and where that room will be. However, when you travel to a specific destination, the majority of your guests will require both travel and lodging. Booking group rates can not only ensure that all guests will be together for the events of the wedding, but can also cut the costs for everyone. Many cabin and lake resorts will offer discounts to those that book large blocks of rooms.
Give guests a detailed timeline
When you invite guests to a destination wedding, you are also inviting them on a form of vacation. During a traditional wedding, you might only be required to entertain them during the wedding ceremony and reception. After the wedding festivities are over, they either head home, or find their own form of entertainment. When guests are expected to travel to a new city, they should be provided with some type of entertainment. It can also be helpful to give them a detailed timeline. That way, they can plan their vacation events around the specific events of the wedding. Guests are spending a lot of money to be in town. Try not to take away from their vacation by informing them of all events, ahead of time.
Consider a variety of pricing options
Some guests will find it difficult to afford a destination wedding. You are likely to see a decrease in the guests that RSVP. You can, however, increase these numbers, by giving your guests a variety of pricing options for travel. You cannot expect that all guests will have the ability to fly out of the country and stay in the most expensive of mountain resorts. If you book a lakefront resort for the wedding that is expensive, also allow guests to stay at a nearby cabin resort. A lot of lake resorts have cabin rooms, camping options, and resort rooms.
Wedding trends are constantly changing. While things like attire and food choices were once priority, couples are focusing more on location today. About 40% of brides and grooms to be are looking for unusual venues that better reflect their personality, such as lake and cabin rentals. This sometimes results in a destination wedding. If you are planning on a destination wedding, ensure that you are giving yourself enough preparation time, that you create careful schedules for guests, and that you find a variety of pricing options for those that attend the wedding.
