It’s becoming more and more common for couples to shun the traditional wedding and choose to have a destination beach wedding. Planning a beach wedding can be a lot less stress than organizing a formal ceremony and reception, and an exotic location makes for a unique and memorable experience.
If you’re considering a destination beach wedding, you’ll want to research various options before you commit to a venue. The most popular beach wedding destinations are Hawaii and the Caribbean for their tropical weather and gorgeous natural settings.
One benefit to planning a destination beach wedding is that the resort or hotel where you are staying will likely have a lot of experience in this area. Many resorts will plan your destination wedding from start to finish, based on your budget and personal taste. This can eliminate much of the hassle of wedding planning, especially as you won’t be familiar with local vendors and wedding services. Also, you won’t have to worry about arranging for local permits to hold the wedding celebration at the beach.
You must send out save the date cards or invitations around a year in advance of a destination beach wedding. Guests will need time to prepare for taking time off of work and family commitments. Include as much information as you can with the invitation: local accommodation information, travel resources and maps. You want to make the trip as easy as possible for your wedding guests, so do some research beforehand.
Confirm details in writing with the resort or wedding planner you are using for your destination wedding. You don’t want to be stuck worrying about a late caterer or faulty sound system the morning of your ceremony. Look into the local weather forecast for the area, and pay attention to the tide to avoid flooding. Find out about parking so you’re not trying to direct guests at the last minute, and have an emergency contact – either the wedding planner or someone from the hotel or resort – that you can get in touch with in case you need assistance during your wedding.