For couples planning a destination wedding, creative ideas and a weekend-long celebration can be exciting, but also a bit overwhelming. Our team has created over 100 destination weddings throughout the Southeast and the Caribbean. So, we’re sharing a few tips and recommendations for the best destination wedding experience.
- It is proper etiquette to host an event the evening before the wedding for out of town guests. It is also a great way to kick off the weekend and allow guests to meet and mingle in a more relaxed setting. After all, there will be a lot of people that have never met, or have not seen one another in a long while. It is also a great opportunity for you and your parents to greet guests relieving the pressure to make rounds thanking those for attending.
- Make your welcome party fun and make it about the location. If your wedding is in the lowcountry, host an oyster roast, lowcountry boil or pig roast with a bluegrass band. If you are on the beach, make it tropical – fun frozen drinks with a fruity garnish, steel drums, colorful linens and floral leis. Adding interactive events always livens the party and encourages guests to mingle, whether it’s corn hole, shuffleboard or Giant Jenga.
- Don’t over schedule your guests. While the primary reason travel is your wedding, build in time for your guests to enjoy leisurely activities. Guests will appreciate the freedom and flexibility of exploring. That might include sightseeing, trying a restaurant, renting bicycles or visiting the beach for a few hours of fun in the sun.
- Add a “Things To Do” section to your wedding website so guests can plan ahead. Make a list of recommended restaurants, especially places to experience culture like a local. Other examples include sharing links to fun activities like paddle boarding excursions or your favorite hiking trails. If there are places you love to visit or things you love to do in your destination city, add and personalize them. For resorts destination weddings, share the amenities so guests can plan accordingly and in advance.
- A simple Farewell Brunch should follow the festivities. While some may need to catch a flight or want to fit in one more activity before heading home, a casual and drop-in format is best by offering a good window of time such as 9-11 am. That allows earlier risers to pop in and say hello – good-bye but also time those who sleep in.
To schedule a complimentary consultation and learn more about the destination weddings we have created throughout the Southeastern United States, call 843.749.2807 or email christina@christinabaxterweddings.com.
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