Love the idea of a destination wedding, but don’t know where to start?
Here is a DETAILED timeline that can help keep you organized and on schedule.
12-18 Months Before:
- Decide on the type of your destination wedding. Do you want a tropical beach setting, European city, a cruise, or something else?
- Start researching locations, resort properties, venues to get an idea of what matches your style.
- Set a budget for your wedding.
- Create a guest list to estimate the number of attendees. You need to have a rough guest for how many will be in attendance to people to pick the perfect venue. There are certain venues that can only accommodate 10-20 while others can hold 100+.
10-12 Months Before:
- Choose your wedding date.
- Reserve your desired wedding venue and secure accommodations for guests.
- Inform guests so they have time to plan and save for the trip. Send out Save the Dates.
- Create a wedding website with information on how to book for your guests.
8-10 Months Before:
- Book a preview trip to visit the location and resort.
- Book necessary vendors (photographer, caterer, florist, etc.). Heads up: some resorts charge an extra fee for bringing in your own vendors.
- Start shopping for wedding attire.
6-8 Months Before:
- Work on detailed logistics like transportation for guests and wedding day timeline.
- Start planning a honeymoon if it’s right after the wedding.
- Send the wedding invitations.
4-6 Months Before:
- Confirm all major bookings.
- Plan and book your activities and events around the wedding day.
- Decide on wedding extras like flowers, cake, etc.
2-4 Months Before:
- Ship any items that need to be at the destination for the wedding.
- Confirm travel arrangements and communicate details with guests.
1-2 Months Before:
- Confirm venue and vendor details.
- Confirm the final guest list and create a seating chart if needed.
- Purchase any last-minute items.
1-2 Weeks Before:
- Pack for the wedding and honeymoon.
- Send a final guest list to the venue, accommodation sites, and caterer.
- Make sure payments for vendors are taken care of.
On the Wedding Day:
- Get married!
- Enjoy your special day.
After the Wedding:
- Send out thank you notes to all guests.
- Go on your honeymoon.
Remember, the key to a successful destination wedding is planning ahead and paying attention to details. Stay organized and enjoy the process!
If you are overwhelmed with the idea of planning your own destination wedding and are looking to hire someone to assist with all of this, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today!
