Some couples go into a wedding planner's office and in the span of an afternoon, decide on a menu, a color scheme, and a venue.
But what if you've spent months (or years) dreaming of something a little more...out of the box? From finding the perfect location to tips on how to personalize your big day, here's everything you need to know about planning an unforgettable, exotic wedding that will leave your guests talking long after the last piece of cake has been eaten.
Is an Exotic Wedding Right For You?
If basic is just never your style and you and your partner are always extra, it makes sense to go for an exotic event that’s full of adventure and wonder. However, it’s easier to be free-spirited when your plans don’t involve 200 other people. When it comes to weddings, you’ll have to take more things into consideration. Here are some of the most important ones you should process carefully before making a decision:
Your guests
Are your guests the type of people who would be excited about and able to attend a destination wedding? If not, it might be better to nix the idea and have a more local affair if you would want to have more people making it to your wedding.
Logistics
When you're planning an international event, there are a lot of moving parts—literally. You'll need to coordinate travel plans for yourself and all of your guests, which can be stressful. Feel free to take charge if you're a high-flying logistics superstar, but for most, it might be better to delegate that particular task.
Your comfort level
This applies to some of the logistics above, but also to how you feel about being in a completely unfamiliar place on one of the most important days of your life. If you're not the type who's comfortable flying by the seat of their pants, an exotic wedding might not be for you.
You'll be dealing with a lot of unknowns, which can be both exciting and anxiety-inducing. If you're not up for that type of adventure, it might be better to stay closer to home.
Searching for the Perfect Exotic Location
When it comes to finding the perfect exotic location for your wedding, the sky's the limit. How do you even choose between all the gorgeous places in the world?
Consider these factors when you're narrowing down your search:
What type of climate do you want on your big day?
Knowing whether you want a sunny, sandy beach or a cold, snowy mountain will help you eliminate locations that don't fit the bill.
For instance, the Caribbean is a slam dunk if you're looking for warm weather, but if you want a more temperate climate, Sardinia, Italy, boasts year-round mild weather.
What's the size of your wedding party?
You need to consider how many people you're inviting to your wedding when you're narrowing down locations. For a small, intimate affair, a place like St. Lucia with its lush rainforests and gorgeous beaches might just be perfect. Now if you're planning on staging the shindig of the century, then we recommend Barbados where going big is the name of the game.
What speaks to you?
Couples who are wine lovers might want to get married in Tuscany, Italy. If you and your partner are avid skiers, then a mountain chalet in the French Alps might just be the place for you. Whatever resonates with you as a couple will help guide your decision.
Making the Exotic Your Own
You want to make your wedding to be as original as possible, as well you should! But to keep stress at bay and make sure the planning and execution go as smoothly as possible, make sure to plan smart.
Here are helpful tips to make that out-of-the-box wedding of your dreams a reality:
Plan as early as you can - Don't make the mistake of thinking you can wing it when it comes to an exotic location wedding. The sooner you start booking your vendors and making travel arrangements, the better off you'll be.
Find the right travel company - This is who makes sure you're getting where you need to be on time, with all the right documents. Do your research and choose a reputable travel company that specializes in destination weddings.
Hire a local planner - Even if you're a DIY bride, you'll benefit from having a local planner on your side. They know all the best places to get married in their country and can help with any last-minute hiccups that come up along the way, allowing you to bask in that pre-wedding glow instead of stressing about the small stuff.
Click here to get the "ultimate wedding checklist."
If stressing the small stuff is not your idea of a fun wedding, why not avoid all the stress?
Our travel specialists can take as much weight off your shoulders as you want. Want us to take care of the big stuff, so you can focus on the fun? We can do that. Don't want to lift a finger? Then sit back, relax, and let us take care of all the planning from start to finish.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about our destination wedding packages. We can't wait to help you plan the most unforgettable day of your life!