Thinking of Having a Destination Wedding?

13 Apr Thinking of Having a Destination Wedding?

Posted at 15:17h in Advice by ccweddings 0 Comments

I love writing a good old guest blog post and when Rachel Vine at Veiled Productions asked me to write about having a Destination Wedding, I jumped at the chance as since I married in Italy myself, this is a subject close to my heart. My wonderful blog post has since featured on the Veiled Productions blog (she’s had some AMAZING guest blogs on there so you need to take a look!) and got some lovely reach but I felt it useful to add the piece to my own blog page too, in case anyone missed it! So grab a cup of tea and read on to see my Q&A with Rachel about Destination Weddings.

For couples considering a destination wedding, what are the benefits of having a wedding away from home?

Whether you choose to have a destination wedding including just the two of you, a selection of close family or friends or a full wedding party, there are many reasons to choose a destination location for your wedding.

The majority of destination weddings are more stress-free than having a traditional wedding in the UK. Many resort locations have a wedding planner on site and even offer an all-inclusive package covering florals, cake, decorations and catering of your wedding meaning with less suppliers to contact, your wedding planning will always be simpler. If choosing a location without a dedicated planner and package option, with fewer suppliers covering the key items you need to book, research and options will always be less time consuming allowing you to enjoy the wedding planning.
A lot of couples feel they need to bear their family and parents’ wishes in mind when planning a wedding especially if they’re fronting some of the bill. Having a destination wedding allows you to have the wedding you’ve always wanted without juggling two sets of parents to keep happy.
Of course, it depends on the location you choose but most destination weddings offer more value for money than a wedding in the UK.
They’re a great option for those with family and friends dotted around the globe allowing you to make your wedding into a holiday to spend time with your loved ones while celebrating your big day.
Your wedding doesn’t need to be just one day. You can extend the experience with many now opting for a weekend of celebrations including arrival pool parties and post wedding brunches, the opportunities are endless!
A destination wedding allows you to ‘break the rules’ and have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, the way you want.

What are the challenges couples need to consider when planning a destination wedding?

Depending on the location you select, you may never see your chosen venue in person which can of course be un-settling for couples. If seeing your venue is a must I would always suggest a European location as opposed to a far-away destination.

Brining items from home to ‘personalise’ your wedding is always tough with a destination wedding and unless you’re willing to ship a trunk of items, I always explain to my couples that if a DIY wedding is what you’ve always dreamed of, a destination wedding may not be best suited to you.

The biggest challenge many face is with the delays of communication. We’re so used to pinging emails back and forth within minutes however, many destination locations don’t prioritise emails the way we do which can be stressful for many clients. Having a wedding planner hugely helps here as we can answer many of the questions you’d likely be asking the venue with regards to logistics and by acting as your liaison with the suppliers and venue we can ensure you relax and enjoy the process rather than refreshing your email every few hours for a response.

Is the wedding is abroad is the marriage still legal in the UK?

Your marriage or civil partnership should be recognised in the UK if you follow the correct process according to the laws in your chosen destination. I find many of my couples prefer to have a secret UK wedding and a blessing or humanist wedding abroad to curb this common worry.

Blue Skies, Palm Trees and Sunshine… Certainly a few of the perks of a Destination Wedding Ceremony. Photo by Jez Dickson.

Many couples would love to marry abroad but are concerned about budget and guests not being able to travel, what advice do you have for them?

As long as you give your guests the relevant notice and various options for their budget, if they can find a way to make it work, they’ll be with you. Sadly a lot of people have their own home life and family commitments and may not be able to attend your wedding even if they wanted to. You need to just remember not to dwell on those that can’t make it and instead put your efforts and appreciation to those who have. And also, a good videographer will allow those unable to come relive the wonderful memories at a dinner party with you once you return- double celebrations!

As a planner in the UK can you coordinate weddings abroad or is it better to find a planner in the host country?

This really does depend on your chosen location as some venues only work with certain local planners. Having a planner in the country you reside in though allows you to stay in touch more regularly either my messages, calls, emails or face to face meetings which makes the overall process less stressful for you knowing there is someone close-by on hand for a wedding pep talk when needed.

What’s been your favourite wedding you’ve planned?

This one is easy- my own wedding. I actually had a destination wedding myself in Italy and I truly enjoyed the whole process of planning our big day. Being a planner, I am often told I’m highly organised and many expected I wouldn’t be able to relax on my day however I was the complete opposite. The sounds of the birds tweeting, the sun shining and having a week with my favourite people in the world meant every moment of the experience was treasured and enjoyed (and the Italian wine certainly helped with me relaxing!).

Couple wedding portrait shots at sunset in Italy.

The constant sunshine can mean some amazing sunset shots! Photo by Jez Dickson.

What’s the best way for couples to contact you about planning their wedding?

I’d love to hear from you to discuss planning your wedding either in the UK or abroad!

Please drop me an email to info@claireclarkeweddings.co.uk or visit my website for more information about my services and about Castello Monaci; a destination wedding location in Italy that I proudly represent!