Destination wedding
Frequently asked questions

Q. How many days should we plan for our destination wedding trip?

A. Most destination weddings last 3 to 5 nights. The wedding ceremony and the reception usually take place on day 2 or 3 - which leaves time before and after for guest arrivals, welcome events, any planned excursions and activities, and "down time" with your friends and family. This timeframe gives everyone a chance to arrive in the destination, settle in, and enjoy the trip without feeling overwhelmed!

(But, there's also a new trend with some couples planning a "wedding week" with a slower schedule that turns the trip into a mini-vacation for everyone.)

When you set the schedule, think about your guests' vacation time, the travel distance, and their budgets. We can help you balance your celebration goals with those factors so your destination wedding feels like a vacation for everyone (not an obligation).

Q. Who actually plans the destination wedding?

A. You'll make the final decisions about your ceremony and the entire trip - but you'll have lots of help and support! You can focus on the basics - your dreams for the ceremony, the things you want your guests and you to do, the final guest list, and the budget. Meanwhile, as your romance travel specialists, we'll take care of the travel details - recommending resorts you can choose from, confirming your ceremony venue and your rooms/cabins, negotiating rates and contracts for you, and taking care of everyone's reservations. Finally, we'll enlist the on-site coordinators at the resort or on the ship to manage the ceremony details (from flowers to music, photography to the reception). You don't need to do everything yourself! My job is being your guide and your advocate - taking your wedding dreams and making them a reality in the destination you've chosen so you're never juggling things alone!

Q. How much does a typical destination wedding cost?

A. Generally, in our agency we work with couples who invest USD$10,000-$15,000 in their ceremony plans. Destination weddings can actually cost less than traditional "hometown" weddings, but the final budget depends on where you're going, the resort or ship you've selected, the final guest count, and the services you choose to add to your ceremony. Many resorts and cruise lines offer packages that include the basics: the venue, decor, officiant, seating, and music. Sometimes, in fact, you may qualify for complimentary package if you have enough guests staying a minimum number of nights! But, many couples we work with add extra services (e.g., photography, flowers) that increase their budgets. Beyond your chosen ceremony plans, your main expenses will be your travel, your lodging, and your wedding attire. We'll help you set a realistic budget from the start, compare ceremony packages and your vendor options, and understand what's included (and what's not) so there are no surprises.

Q. How many guests usually attend a destination wedding?

A. Most destination weddings we work with include 35 to 80 guests - though we've also planned destination elopements with just the couple or larger weddings with more than 150 guests that have taken over an entire boutique resort! Your attendance will depend on the distance for your guests, their travel costs, and how much notice you'll give them. In most cases, you may plan on 30 to 40 percent of your invited guests making the trip. We'll work with you to go through your guest list, make the best estimate for reserving rooms or cabins, and plan comfortably so you don't over- (or under-) commit.

Q. How far in advance should we begin planning our destination wedding?

A. Here's the ideal timeline: You should start planning 12 to 18 months before your wedding date. That will help us lock in your chosen destination, resort/ship, and wedding venue (these days, so many places book very quickly!). Also, that gives your guests plenty of time to budget for the trip, request time off, and book their flights. Starting early also helps us negotiate the best rates for you and gives you more options for ceremony details and vendors. (Plus, don't forget you need plenty of time for save-the-dates, payment deadlines, and ceremony plans so everything stays on track with minimal stress!)

Q. How can we be sure we're choosing the right destination (especially if we've never visited there)?

A. Picking your wedding destination requires a balance between your dreams for the ceremony and the trip with its accessibility for your guests (e.g., travel time, budgets, passport requirements). This can be challenging - you may prefer your once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list location that's tough for your guests to plan for, or you may focus more on places that will be easiest for your guests to travel to. My job as your romance travel specialist will be listening to your ideas and your guest plans first, then researching the best options and presenting my top recommendations to you based on my years of experience with lots of couples (so you can choose confidently without doing endless research online).

Q. How can we plan the actual wedding if we can't visit the destination in advance?

A. In most cases, you and I will arrange things virtually with the on-site coordinators at the resort or on the ship. I'll help you communicate your vision to that team, ask the right questions, and make sure your expectations align with what's realistically available in the destination. In the end, you will make the final decisions on wedding packages, decor, and timing. You'll be surprised how seamlessly we can set everything up working in advance this way! (And, if you have the time and budget, we can even set up a "preview trip" to the resort/ship so you can check out your plans before the big day takes place.)

Q. What legal requirements do we need to know about?

A. We offer our couples this best advice on the legal part of destination weddings: It's so much easier if you can handle the paperwork at home with a civil ceremony before the trip - so you can focus entirely on making the most of the destination wedding with a symbolic ceremony! Modern etiquette is clear - you may adopt the date of your symbolic ceremony on the trip as your "official" wedding date. Doing so avoids the considerable hassles of satisfying the sometimes complex rules of getting legally married abroad (e.g., Mexico requires an actual blood test before the ceremony, and Jamaica requires official copies of the couple's birth certificates showing their fathers' names among other paperwork). But, if you truly desire a lawfully binding destination wedding ceremony, no worries - we know those rules and we can help you collect the forms and make the proper arrangements so everything will be in place for your legal "I do"s!

Q. How can we help our guests manage their travel arrangements with minimal stress?

A. We'll take primary responsibility for making and confirming their reservations (so you won't deal with lots of calls and messages while you're trying to plan your ceremony!). We'll set up a custom booking process for them (using the best group rates we've negotiated for you) and serve as the main contact for guests' questions.

Q. What if our guests have different travel budgets or weird requests?

A. We've learned over the years that not all wedding guests travel the same way! We'll discuss your guest list with you so we understand which room/cabin categories will work best for them (so they'll have choices that will fit their different budgets and needs). We can also offer flexible payment plans, we can recommend travel insurance to protect them, and we can handle their concerns and special needs so you'll know they're being taken care of.

Q. What events should we plan for the trip besides the ceremony itself?

A. Many couples we've worked with plan a welcome cocktail on the first night when guests arrive. Then, they'll follow the ceremony with a reception - and, possibly, a farewell brunch the next morning. Depending on your final itinerary and guest budgets, we can also set up other activities such as excursions, spa visits, golf rounds, etc. We'll help you decide which moments matter most on the trip and how to set the pace so everything feels celebratory, not exhausting, for everyone!

Q. What happens if something goes wrong (like a hurricane or flight delays)?

A. Sure, unexpected things can happen - but, with our help, you'll never be alone dealing with these surprises! We'll be your professional problem solvers, using our travel industry and destination connections to find alternatives and solutions if, say, your parents' flight gets canceled the day before the ceremony or if bad weather requires a last-minute venue change. This way, you can stay focused on your guests and your celebration (while we're working in the background fixing things!).