15 Things Your Destination Wedding Planner Really Wants You To Know
Who doesn’t love a Destination Wedding? Celebrating your big day not for just one day but for a full weekend, multiple events and a unique bond created traveling to a new and exciting place and make out of it a full experience. Diana Romo has been planning luxury destination weddings in Cancun, Riviera Maya, and Tulum for over 10 years now, and the industry has evolved so much throughout the years and is giving us some tips to help you if you are considering having a destination wedding either in Mexico or another great destination. Be sure to follow Diana Romo Weddings on Instagram.
ONE:
What are the main benefits of having a Destination Wedding?
Having a destination wedding can have many advantages, one of the main is to share your day with the people truly cares about you, no extended relatives, greeting everyone and just like that you’ve weeded out the extras.
TWO:
Do I want a destination wedding?
We know destination weddings in Mexico, Napa Valley, Como Lake among others are super trendy, but is it for everyone? Not necessarily, I would recommend considering one if you love traveling and your wedding party are adventurous enough to travel somewhere for the wedding. So ask yourself that question to start the planning.
THREE:
Choose your destination wisely (national, vs international)
Location, Location, Location. This is crucial, if you are into the wood’s ambiance or vineyard, versus a tropical beach, it can be any (It’s your wedding after all) but what do you think speaks more for you and your fiancé?
FOUR:
Think about the ambiance you want to reflect that day.
Who are you as a couple? What special place would define you as a couple? Why? Think also about your wedding pictures, when you see them in 10 years you want to make sure they are ageless.
FIVE:
Consider natural ambiance and resources
This is quintessential in our design. We always love to use what the natural ambiance existing in the jungle or ocean and enhance it to make it look organic but glam at the same time.
SIX:
Hire a local planner
Well, duh? On my opinion this advice is one of the most important, If you do a destination wedding, its basic to have someone in land that understands the culture, speaks the language and can give you some local points of view and local vendors recommendations.
SEVEN:
Plan it with time
Depends on the production but in order to make the planning easier and more fun I would recommend considering around 9 months to a year as a minimum.
EIGHT:
Do a site visit to the destination to check all details in person
Even when this is not mandatory, I always recommend my clients (Especially the ones that never been in the destination before) that they visit the venue at least once prior the wedding, this way they can envision the wedding easily and it’s a fun way to get to know your vendors and planner.
NINE:
Trust your vendors
As a Planner myself and a type a person sometimes is very hard to let loose control 😊 however I really believe that this is one of the best advice, make sure you hire a planner that you trust and believe in your chosen vendors, they are probably making the best to deliver an over the top service.
TEN:
Check for the best seasons (weather wise)
What about Thailand in the summer? It can sound fantastic, until you realize is monsoon season and that’s why prices were lower. When you narrow your options do some research about the best seasons to ensure a flawless experience.
ELEVEN:
Go local (it’s all about details)
This is one of my favorite advices, for example if you decide to go to Mexico, you don’t have to throw a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, however if you pick some local ingredients (such as food, drinks, crafts, entertainment) it really transport you and your guest to the present experience. You can do a Rehearsal dinner or even some wedding details that speak the location.
TWELVE:
Personalize the experience
For me this applies for every wedding, destination wedding or not, there are too many trends out there and they change rapidly, think about you as a couple, who are you? What are your favorite things, and if you apply it to your wedding your wedding will look like no other.
THRITEEN:
Be Patient
For me this applies for every wedding, destination wedding or not, there are too many trends out there and they change rapidly, think about you as a couple, who are you? What are your favorite things, and if you apply it to your wedding your wedding will look like no other.
Fourteen:
Enjoy the process
Planning your wedding can be a dream or a nightmare (The words Bridezilla wasn’t made up with no reason haha) however if you try to be as mindful as you can and enjoy the process of planning the event, I can assure you it will make things much lighter for you. Time flies and in a minute there will be time for the I do’s so enjoy the process.
FIFTEEN:
Your guests will never forget
your wedding because it's also a holiday
Your wedding will always be unforgettable to you, but your guests will only remember the truly special weddings, where they too felt like it was a special time for them and no one ever forgets a holiday. Destination weddings give your guests the opportunity to escape their own everyday lives. Whether it's a break of two days or a week, it gives them something to look forward to. Make sure you give your guests some time to relax and take in the destination. If your wedding is at a destination most of your guests have never visited, they will be even more pumped up about attending and might even stay on a few extra days to see the sights. They will surely be grateful and remember your wedding for a long time to come!