Our top tips for planning a destination wedding, we did it and so can you!
Your wedding day should be the most memorable and special day of your life. As you know, we chose to get married in the stunning Cinque Terre, Italy, at the Buranco Vineyard in Monterosso al Mare. Recently, there has been an influx of people choosing other destinations such as Vietnam for their special day.
Would you believe that a whopping 25% of U.S. couples are now choosing to get married abroad in comparison to just 5% a couple of years ago?
The place you choose should not only be special to you and your fiance, but it should also match your personality and tastes. Being open-minded about where to hold your wedding is important and it isn’t always easy to come to a decision.
One of the huge advantages of having a wedding abroad is that your friends and family can enjoy a vacation too. Although Italy is undoubtedly the ideal choice in our eyes, it’s always good to research other areas. Some of the following ideas might just convince you to choose a destination wedding like we did!
1. It’s a holiday for your guests
I reckon one of the best parts of choosing a destination wedding is that your guests are all getting to have a mini holiday. In fact, they’re probably looking forward to your big day just as much as you!
My top tip – Is to ensure there are plenty of accommodation options close to your venue so your guests don’t have to travel too far on your big day!
It’s a good idea to give your guests a list of accommodation options with your invitations. We actually wrote a blog post about where to stay in Monterosso, Cinque Terre – the town in which we got married and emailed it to our guests. Many of them booked their accommodation through that blog post as essentially I did all the research for them and only included the nicest and best-rated hotels.
2. Your big day will be bursting with culture
Why not have a local conduct your ceremony? For our Cinque Terre wedding, our celebrant was from the Cinque Terre. In fact, he was our wedding planner’s husband! And all our guests commented on what a unique touch it was to have an Italian leading our ceremony, he even did part of it in Italian and wrote a poem for us. Which was lovely!
For us, it was super-important that we embrace every aspect of the Cinque Terre culture and tradition.
I have already touched on the celebrant, but what about the local cuisine? Your wedding dinner will be completely different from any of your friends and family’s if you choose a local dish as part of your dinner menu.
Embracing the local cuisines will make your destination wedding that much more special because you will be giving everybody a true taste of where they are.
3. You will likely enjoy the planning process
The average wedding can take from six months to a year to plan, but if you’re considering a destination wedding you might want to add another six months on to this. You may be dealing with a time difference or a language barrier so be patient and allow that little bit of extra time to plan your special day.
You may even want to visit the location a few times throughout the year if you can, so make sure you think about this when booking your wedding date.
The timescale of your wedding is completely up to you, but there is nothing more enjoyable than enjoying the planning process fully. Rushing it isn’t something you should do.
4. Good weather is almost guaranteed
Opting for a country like Italy, Spain, or Mexico that has warmer climates all year round will almost guarantee clear blue skies on your special day. Try not to worry too much about the weather; it’s not something you can control so why get anxious?
Make sure you do a little bit of research into the local weather conditions of your chosen location.
5. It can be an intimate wedding
The awesome thing about having a wedding abroad is that you don’t have to invite as many people as you think. It is likely that a lot of your extended family, acquaintances, and work colleagues probably won’t expect an invite for your wedding abroad.
Although most people will attend if they’re lucky enough to be invited, a destination wedding is a great excuse to keep the numbers and costs to a minimum. You can always enjoy a local celebration back at home after the big day and invite anyone who couldn’t attend.
6. Your photographer will have an easy job
Arguably the picturesque views and stunning scenery abroad will be so much more wow-worthy than anywhere back home. You could enjoy a beach shoot, a shoot in a colorful town or even a staged photoshoot on a rocky outcrop (like us). There are so many more options to choose from if you pick a place with breathtaking scenery.
7. You can stay there for your honeymoon
Kill two birds with one stone and stay on in your chosen wedding destination for your honeymoon!
Why travel to a different location when you have everything you need right there? The venue will always have a special place in your heart, so make it even more special by enjoying an extended stay as a married couple.
Important information about our Cinque Terre wedding:
- The venue: Buranco Vineyard
- Our wedding planner: Cinque Terre Wedding
- The photographer: Pure Wedding Photography
- Our band: James Band 003
Thanks for Reading!
There is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding abroad, just have fun with it. Embrace the local cuisines, enjoy the planning process, and make the most of your special vacation. Whether it’s just around the corner or a couple of years away, your destination wedding is certainly going to be one to remember forever.
You may also enjoy reading –
Villages of the Cinque Terre: Which One to Pick?
What the Guide Books Won’t Tell You About the Cinque Terre (2024 Guide)
How to Spend One Day in the Cinque Terre
How to Spend 3 Days in Cinque Terre: The Perfect Cinque Terre Itinerary
Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by snaphappytravel