Are you thinking of organizing your wedding in a location far from home?
You probably have many questions about it.
Here are my wedding planner tips to ensure your dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare.
What is a destination wedding?
Let’s start by defining what we mean by a “destination wedding.”
It’s about planning your wedding in a region or country where you don’t reside. There are plenty of possibilities, such as:
- You’re an expat and want to get married in your home region in France. For example, you live in the United States but want to get married in Auvergne because that’s where you were born. I’ve written a blog post on this topic: [here].
- You live in USA but love vacationing in France (for example). You’d like to symbolically tie the knot in that country.
- You live in a big city and want to get married in nature: the mountains, a lake, a forest… maybe even in a ski resort during the winter.
In these cases, you’re far—sometimes very far (with a time difference)—from the location where you plan to get married. This means it’s not easy to be available to meet vendors, visit venues, or taste catering options.
Note: The civil wedding (at the town hall) must take place in your city of residence. It’s typically scheduled before your big day, especially if you’re planning a Catholic religious wedding where it’s mandatory to have the civil ceremony before the church ceremony.
Does this sound familiar? If so, keep reading—this article is for you!
Does distance complicate wedding planning?
Let’s now discuss what organizing a wedding from afar entails and try to answer the question: “Does distance make wedding planning harder?”
Choosing to have your wedding in a symbolic location far from home is a beautiful challenge. Organizing such an event requires both method and emotional management. You’ll go through various emotional phases because this is a very special event. It’s essential not to underestimate this aspect and to be prepared for some emotional ups and downs.
Like any project, unexpected hurdles may arise.
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of tasks you’ll need to tackle for your wedding:
- Find the venue: visit several venues until you find “the one.”
- Research vendors: caterer, photographer, hair and makeup artist, decorator, florist, DJ, ceremony officiant, etc.
- Meet with vendors.
- Taste catering options.
- Prepare the ceremony (several meetings with the officiant).
- Do hair and makeup trials.
- Plan a pre-wedding photoshoot (engagement session).
- Conduct a technical visit to the venue to check logistics, electricity, backup plans, lighting, the day’s timeline, etc.
This means back-and-forth trips to meet, verify, and plan.
While phones and video calls can handle many of these meetings, minimizing travel involves organizing “marathon trips” that require meticulous planning. It’s like organizing within the organization!
Now, imagine adding a language barrier and/or time difference. You see where I’m going: planning a wedding from afar is indeed more complicated.
However, it’s also an excellent opportunity to bring loved ones together for a special weekend.
My tips for managing a destination wedding
As a professional wedding planner, managing distance is part of my everyday work. It’s easier for me because it’s my job, and I have the time to organize everything.
Here are my wedding planner tips for managing distance effectively:
- PLAN AHEAD: Start planning your wedding well in advance. This gives you enough time to get everything done without imposing an unsustainable pace that could take a toll on you physically and emotionally. Avoid putting your relationship under strain before the big day!
- CREATE A SCHEDULE: Stick to a timeline. Prepare your visits and ensure everything is well-organized before traveling.
- DELEGATE: Have someone on-site to help you manage things—whether it’s family, a witness, or, even better, a wedding planner. This person can handle tasks on your behalf, be your local point of contact, and respond quickly if something needs attention.
- GIVE NOTICE: Send out a “Save the Date” to your guests as soon as the date and location are confirmed. This will help them plan ahead, too.
- USE TECHNOLOGY: Make full use of video calls. While it doesn’t replace face-to-face meetings, it allows you to get a good first impression and make initial selections.
BONUS: Choose a venue with accommodations. A destination wedding is a unique opportunity to gather your loved ones in a meaningful location. Providing accommodations on-site reduces questions about where guests can stay.
Planning a destination wedding is less straightforward than organizing one near your home. It requires more effort, organization, and willingness to delegate and accept help.
As a wedding planner, I can assist you with this process. You can choose from my different packages based on your needs and availability:
- Full Planning Experience: Ideal if you want to delegate the entire planning process and avoid stress.
- Day-of Coordination: Perfect if you want to organize everything yourself but relax and enjoy the big day.
- Wedding Coaching: Great if you’d like to manage everything on your own but still want professional guidance.