11 Destination Wedding Tips Every Bride Needs to Know
A wedding in any location can be a crazy affair to organize: flowers, photographers, food, drinks, favors… the list goes on and on. Throw a destination wedding into the mix, and now there’s the added pressure of making sure your guests have everything they need to feel at home. While there are many perks to a destination wedding (an exotic location, a more intimate ceremony, a chance for everyone to travel), planning it requires some extra research. These 11 tried-and-true tips for a destination wedding are guaranteed to give your guests the experience of a lifetime.
1. Travel-Themed Invites: Kick things off with passport and boarding-pass themed invites or save-the-dates featuring the location of your wedding. (via Two if by Sea Studios/Oh so Beautiful Paper)
2. Luggage Tags ($8): Send your guests a pre-wedding treat either as save-the-dates or as a gift that will get them ready (and excited) about their trip. These tags can even be re-used after the wedding by simply replacing the insert.
3. Wedding Itinerary ($20): When your guests arrive, make sure they have a clear itinerary of all the wedding events, plus any other parties you have planned. This can be customized to span anywhere from just the wedding day to a whole weekend of celebrations.
4. Welcome Guide: In addition to an itinerary, print out cards that feature handy tips for the specific destination, as well as recommendations for sightseeing, local restaurants and shopping. Don’t forget to include important phone numbers they may need if they have any questions. (via Paco and Betty Photography)
5. Welcome Boxes: The welcome bag is your chance to give your guests a taste of the local flavor. Include items that your destination is famous for, like tea, coffee, soaps or snacks that your guests can use during their trip and also take home as souvenirs. (via Jodi Miller Photography)
6. Glitter Champagne Bottles: Get the party started early with mini champagne bottles that your guests can sip on while getting ready in their rooms. Make them extra special by jazzing them up with glitter. (via Clary Pfeiffer/Wedding Chicks)
7. Hangover Kit ($2): Trust us when we tell you that your guests will seriously appreciate a survival or hangover kit to get them through all the festivities. Add essentials like Advil and Alka Seltzer, along with mints, bottled water or juices, power bars and eye drops.
8. Personalized Mini Rolling Suitcases ($15+): Cheesy? Maybe just a bit, but they’re also adorable. Keep with the travel theme by gifting mints or candies in these little luggage boxes.
9. Do Not Disturb Signs: Let your guests get their beauty rest after the festivities with these personalized signs. They’re much more festive than the standard hotel version. (via Something Turquoise)
10. Wedding Sunglasses: Hosting a beach or outdoor wedding in the sunshine? Look out for your guests and gift them these sunglasses in cute colors to match your wedding scheme. (via Aster + Olive)
11. Map Gift Boxes ($15): Leave a lasting impression on your guests with gift boxes or bags covered in maps of your wedding destination.
Would you rather have a local wedding or a destination wedding? Do you have any tips for destination weddings? Let us know in the comments below.