on January 1, 2024
A dream destination wedding is a bucket-list favourite for many people for all the right reasons!
After all, what can be better than entering the holy matrimony with the love of your life, surrounded by your loved ones in a picturesque location? But we know how difficult it can be to plan everything, especially if the location is new to you.
That’s why we are here to help you by listing some of the do’s and don’ts for your big destination D-day. Dive in now!
The geographical diversity of India gives you ample scope to choose your dream wedding location.
You can choose to take your vows on the serene beaches of Goa, a royal fort in Rajasthan, or at the foot of the mountains in Shimla. But you should keep in mind how accessible the city is, at least from the place where most of your guests will be coming from.
For instance, there are only two non-stop flights from Delhi to Jaipur (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), meaning you will have to plan your wedding festivities accordingly. And flights from different states or cities with 2 or more stops will invariably cost more- something your guests should know.
Besides, the timing of your guests’ arrival (most of them, if not all) will help you determine the time of your rituals. So, if most of your guests arrive late in the evening, you’re better off starting the rituals and functions the following day.
As a rule of thumb, prepare your wedding itinerary at least 5 to 6 months in advance to give your guests enough time to purchase flight tickets and get the best deals. Moreover, working people would need adequate time to plan for leaves.
You can prepare small ‘save the dates’ cards to send along with the invites or design a wedding website with all the important details. Don’t forget to mention the venue and time of each function as well.
When planning a destination wedding, confirming accommodation plans with the hotel or venue your guests will stay at is extremely important.
By this, we don’t only mean confirming the accommodation for your guests but also if any other large groups will occupy the venue during the specified dates. After all, there’s nothing worse than a bunch of sales reps taking the pool by storm at the same time as one of your festivities outdoors!
It’s highly likely that you will have to share the space with other ‘residents’ of the venue (especially if it’s a hotel). So, speak with the management to make sure there are no disturbances to your guests or the events.
One of the best things you can do is plan for a site recce (if you can afford to). This will give you a practical idea of the venue and its surroundings, which will, in turn, come in handy during the planning and preparation.
For example, you can designate separate areas for the bride and groom if you plan to have joint functions like Haldi. Besides, you can arrange special assistance, such as wheelchairs for the elderly people on your guest list if you deem fit.
Once you’ve decided on a location, make sure you do ample research to understand the weather conditions of the area during your wedding dates. For example, the monsoon in Goa peaks during June- August. So, you surely wouldn’t want to get married during intense rainstorms, especially if it’s a beach wedding.
Moreover, knowing about the weather will help you arrange for standing fans or additional cooling and ventilation devices if the days get too warm or humid.
When it comes to destination wedding etiquette, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing the do’s. As such, you should avoid:
Planning for accommodation for hundreds of people can be a daunting challenge, both financially and mentally. And the most effective way to take some of the load off your shoulders is to ask your guests to RSVP at least a couple of months earlier. This will give you a near-precise idea of how to go about accommodation and transportation.
That said, keep in mind that there may be some last-minute entries, but don’t shy away from emphasising the need for confirmation in advance. Likewise, make sure to ask your guests to inform you immediately if their travel plans get changed or cancelled.
The whole point of a destination wedding is to indulge in the natural beauty of the location you choose, especially in the case of an outdoor wedding. And going heavy on decor will invariably take away from it.
We’d suggest going for a minimalist theme, complementing the natural surroundings and the time of the day the wedding ceremony is planned for. Not only will this prove to be cost-effective, but it will also allow you to focus on other important factors like accommodation, transportation, and food.
When planning an accommodation budget, you may find that keeping all guests at the venue (if it’s a palace, hotel or resort) is becoming too expensive. And that’s perfectly okay.
In such a case, you may look for other accommodations nearby that are more affordable and divide your guests between the two locations. You can accommodate your closest family members and people involved in the rituals at the venue for convenience.
And that’s all we had for you today!
But before we wrap up: here’s a final pro tip, if you’re hiring a wedding planner, be sure you communicate your requirements properly to them well ahead of time. This can save you a lot of trouble and last-minute unnecessary jitters!
© 2020 Trunnk In Love. All rights reserved | Crafted By Vishakha Sodha
