"Must Know" for Destination Weddings

In my last blog, I wrote generally about my experience with destination weddings- and have a few more tips to share.

The biggest thing people planning the wedding need to realize is that if your wedding is outside of the United States- the customs and culture in the country you are visiting are also different. Specifically, how people respond to "scheduled" events and timelines. People in Mexico have a very different interpretation of time than we do in the United States. Their culture is a lot more laid back and not as concerned with the minutes hand on the clock.

If you are the type of person that needs everything to be "on-time" - a destination wedding may not be for you. In my experience, there is always something that is "running late" hours before the wedding starts...flowers, chairs, officiant, etc...

Most of the resorts do have "wedding coordinators"- but often times this person is juggling multiple weddings or working on other projects at the resort.

My biggest pieces of advice for people...hire a travel agent to help you work with the resort and go into the wedding realizing that all of your plans may be subject to change. If it is outdoors- there is always a chance that it could rain- or something may not show up on time.

Find a travel agent you can trust and has experience working with destination wedding resorts. Their services are less money than you think and will make your wedding planning experience a lot more pleasant and less stressful.

We have a number of great travel agents in the Central Minnesota Wedding Association- be sure to check them out during your search!

Destination Weddings

Despite a difficult economy, many couples are looking into planning a destination wedding. Many guests are able to use the wedding as a vacation from work, if planned in advance.

In February, I traveled to Isla Mujeres for a wedding for a couple of my friends. It was absolutely beautiful. It was so nice to have an excuse to get the heck out of Minnesota for almost a week and "celebrate" with many friends.

One advantage of a destination wedding that never occured to me was the amount of time that you are able to spend with your friends and family. I remember my wedding, which was just a 18 months ago, and one of my least favorite parts looking back at it was the lack of time that I was able to spend with my close friends and family. I realize that spending a week or weekend with some of your family members could be enough to put you over the edge- but there is usually enough going on that they can't get on your nerves too much!

Destination weddings that are within the state or region are also gaining popularity for this reason. People can kick back and relax and not have to worry about driving home after the reception starts getting a little more fun...while spending more than a few hours on a day that all of your closest friends and family are all together at one place.

Tomorrow I will write about a couple of things to watch out for...and a "must have" if you are planning a destination wedding.