This article brought to you by Michael John Photography, a Brides of Long Island Preferred Vendor!
Want to say “I do” abroad? Here’s how to choose the best destination for your destination wedding
You love being a bride of Long Island, but your ideal wedding day would happen…well, on another kind of Island.
Plenty of brides want to get married somewhere other than home. And that’s great! Destination weddings add excitement and novelty to your big day. But how do you go about choosing the perfect destination? While you may have a few places in mind, there are some important factors to consider. Here are some tips to help you pick the best destination for your destination wedding.
Decide on your budget
Solidifying your budget is the first — and most important — thing you should do. You don’t want to get your heart set on a location you can’t afford, and you don’t want to go into massive debt just for one day.
Before you start searching “Italian villa weddings,” have a solid budget in place.
Brainstorm with your fiancé
You’re thinking an oceanside ceremony and reception on the pool deck, but they’re thinking cocktail hour at the lodge and a first dance by the fire place. Make sure you and your fiancé are on the same page, and if you’re not, find a compromise.
Even if you both know exactly where you want to get married, have a few other destination options in mind. You may find that your first choice is out of your budget, or that it won’t work for some other reason.
Think about your VIPs
Let’s go back to that oceanside ceremony. It’s your dream, but have you thought about how your grandmother with a walker will make it down to the shore? Or how your bridesmaid who’ll be 7 months pregnant will feel about flying internationally?
While it would be impossible to make decisions that make everyone happy, you should think about the people that you absolutely want in attendance. If they have mobility concerns or health issues, that may limit the destinations you should consider. You may also want to do a bit of research on accessibility at the destinations on your list.
Consider the weather
You’ve decided that October is the best month for your wedding, but October is not such a great month in the Caribbean. Why? Hurricane season. There’s nothing stopping you from planning a tropical wedding anyway, but just know you’ll be taking a huge chance on the weather.
When you’ve narrowed down your choices, check the seasonal weather patterns at each destination. That could make your decision a lot easier.
Research marriage laws
This is a big one if you’re considering international locations. There are some places that require couples to be physically present in the country for a certain amount of time before getting legally married.
If you don’t want to have a legal ceremony before or after your wedding day, and you don’t want to spend weeks (or more) in your destination’s country, you may have to look at other destinations instead.
Compare pricing
You’re stuck between two different destinations that both seem perfect. Now’s the time to get into the nitty gritty — money. One destination may be hundreds (or even thousands) more than the other. If both would be equally appealing, going with the cheaper option could give you some extra spending money to splurge on fun extras.
Be sure to also compare prices of area vendors, lodging, and transportation!
Search for reviews and inspo
Now that you’ve gotten your final choices on a list, take some time to read reviews and look at previous weddings. You’ll get a sense of exactly how your day would go, and you’ll be able to scope out a vendor team you can trust.
Plus, seeing real weddings could give you some great ideas for your own big day!
If the thought of planning your destination wedding seems overwhelming, check out one of BOLI’s preferred destination wedding and honeymoon specialists!