Image borrowed from Destination Weddings

Hello again!

Here is another guest post by Holly Carney of Holly Matrimony. Today, she discusses detestation weddings. If you’re thinking of going away to get married , then continue reading!

To read Holly’s tips on planning a wedding, click HERE
To read the FULL Bridal Guide Series, click HERE

Are you engaged? Looking to have a destination wedding?
If you are there are a lot of factors to consider before you send out your save-the-dates, something considered necessary for weddings requiring your guests to perhaps update their passport, take time off work or save up.
Getting married in a country that is not your own may call for blood work, a waiting period from the time you arrive to the time you marry, translations etc.
Why do people choose to have a destination wedding? Some find it cheaper than having it locally because they don’t have to invite everyone, or if they do they likely won’t attend. Some just love the idea of getting married somewhere they envision themselves wanting to travel or honeymoon to and it becomes a great way to combine the two.
Destination Weddings can produce amazing wedding photos and memories.

• Weather, like a local wedding, can be a huge factor in the success of the wedding day. Though you can’t predict if it will rain or be sunny with a destination wedding it is possible to do your research and be mindful of selecting a wedding date in the middle of hurricane season, or having your guests experience extreme heat.
• Vendor selection can be difficult as you likely won’t get to meet these people until you are onsite so it is important to check their references, check with the resort/hotel, and call them to chat. Get all details written down so you have something to refer to if a promise falls through the cracks.
• Hire a Wedding Coordinator. This can help you alleviate a ton of stress as your planner becomes responsible for guiding you through this process. A Certified Destination Wedding Coordinator who has had the opportunity to familiarize themselves through organized trips can be a huge asset to you when you haven’t visited the location yourself. A Wedding Coordinator can assist you in the planning process here but they can also accompany you to ensure plans are implemented properly. You would be responsible for the travel and accommodation for the Wedding Coordinator but it can be well worth it as they will be able to be a liaison between you and the venue/host country as wells as give your wedding guests someone to go to.

Though destination weddings are increasing in popularity the guest list is typically smaller than having your wedding closer to home. That being said, people tend to over invite in order to end up with a decent group but be prepared to financially support the cost of a wedding for the entire list just in case they all say yes. Some couples try and keep the costs down by choosing less expensive destinations like Cuba or the Dominican so their guests can afford to come but by doing this they might end up increasing the number of guests who RSVP ‘yes’ compared to some of the more expensive destinations like Jamaica, Hawaii or Europe. It can increase your costs a lot when you have a larger group come down and you still want to do a traditional dinner and dance and you could end up paying just as much as a local wedding after your flights/accommodations are looked after.

Dream.Plan.Enjoy.

Holly Matrimony

Holly Matrimony Weddings is a Wedding Coordination company specializing in Muskoka, Niagara and Toronto Weddings. Certified by The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (since 2005) and by the Gay Wedding Institute Holly looks to work with each couple to facilitate their wedding vision so they can enjoy their day with friends and family.
Phone: 416-508-3370
Email: info@hollymatrimony.ca
Website: www.hollymatrimony.ca