How Early Should You Plan A Destination Wedding?
Planning a destination wedding is the perfect way to make your big day even more memorable! Starting the adventure of marriage with the adventure of travel is something more and more couples are embracing. However, it can require careful preparation and timing to make sure it all runs smoothly. So, how early should you start if you want to plan a destination wedding?
Start Planning as Soon as You Get Engaged
For couples dreaming of a destination wedding, it’s never too early to start planning. Some wedding venues (especially very popular ones like Beach Garden at Secrets/Dreams Bahia Mita or Tierra Luna at Garza Blanca Cancun) begin booking up to two years in advance, especially for popular dates.
Waiting too long could mean missing out on your dream venue or ideal wedding date. Your best bet is to begin your planning process as soon as you get engaged.
Inside tips: Destinations like Cancun, Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Jamaica are in high demand and fill up quickly! Additionally, the peak season for destination weddings at all-inclusive resorts is January, February, May, and November. Planning early is essential if you’re looking to get married in these locations, or these months (or both)!
When to Book Your Venue and Vendors
Venues: Ideally, you’ll want to book your venue 12-18 months in advance, especially for popular locations, dates, and venues. If you’re working on a tighter timeline, consider weekday weddings (Monday is our favorite), which are often more flexible and may even offer discounts on wedding packages.
Vendors: Your first hire should be a wedding planner or a travel agent like us! Other vendors, such as wedding photographers, videographers, and hair and makeup artists, should be booked immediately after selecting your venue. Popular professionals can fill their calendars quickly.
Inside tip: For all-inclusive resorts, make sure to check their list of preferred vendors. Be aware that resorts often charge fees for outside vendors, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Some resorts waive these fees if the vendor stays as a guest, so review your contract carefully and obtain written approval before booking any external vendors.
Legal Requirements to Plan a Destination Wedding
If a legal ceremony is important to you (as opposed to simply a symbolic ceremony), research the requirements of your chosen destination early in the process.
Some countries, such as Jamaica, Belize, and St. Lucia, have relatively simple requirements for your wedding day. Others may involve more documentation or waiting periods to get your marriage license. This is especially true if one or both partners have been married before!
Inside tip: For Catholic ceremonies, start at least 12 months in advance to meet the necessary marriage requirements. This includes premarital counseling. Keep in mind that Catholic ceremonies must be held on consecrated grounds, which may limit your venue options.
Financial Benefits of Early Booking
Booking travel and accommodations early is essential during your dream destination wedding planning. Make sure to secure your wedding room block when you book your venue to guarantee availability for your wedding guests.
Room rates can rise significantly as the wedding day approaches, especially if corporate groups purchase large blocks of inventory. Many resorts allow price matching for contracted rates if rates drop after booking, so locking in a contract early is low-risk and high reward!
Tools for Staying Organized
Planning your destination wedding can be stressful, but many wedding websites, such as Zola, Minted, The Knot, and With Joy can help. They offer free planning guides, budget trackers, and other resources that make the job a little bit easier.
Additionally, your on-site wedding coordinator will typically provide a detailed planner 4-6 months before the wedding. This can help track all arrangements and costs (another reason we recommend you book your venue ASAP in the wedding planning process)!
The Value of Working with a Destination Wedding planner
Feeling overwhelmed? Let us help! Collaborating with a destination wedding planner streamlines the planning process and helps to keep you organized. Here’s how:
Expert Recommendations: Here at Luxury Travel Boutique, we can quickly identify venues and vendors that align with your vision and wedding budget.
Seamless Contracts: We guide you through the wedding and room block contracts, helping you avoid any costly surprises throughout the wedding planning process.
Custom Travel Websites: Agents often create a personalized site for your guests, complete with travel details and reservation forms (one less thing for you to do)!
Guest Management: Agents can provide up-to-date guest lists, send reminders for important deadlines, and assist with creating save-the-dates and wedding invitations.
Coordination: We will collaborate with the on-site wedding coordinator and local vendors to ensure on-time completion of any wedding planning tasks.
Let’s Plan A Destination Wedding
Planning a destination wedding is a complex process, but starting early makes it simpler. From securing your dream venue to managing contracts and vendors, the sooner you begin, the better your chances of creating the wedding of your dreams. If you want to make sure everything goes smoothly, partnering with a destination wedding planner at Luxury Travel Boutique is the way to go!
Start planning today and make your dream destination wedding a reality!
