Many couples dream wedding includes a hot and sunny tropical wedding where they will be married on the beach in front of their closest friends and family. The popularity of tropical destination weddings has increased drastically over the years with the cost of some destination weddings being the same or less than if the couple stayed at home. Still, there are things that one needs to research before deciding whether or not a destination wedding is for them.
The Weather
Hurricanes and tropical storms are reality in many locations. Couples may be able to save money by taking their chances and booking within hurricane season, but if you aren’t a risk taker, do your research and stay away from the wet season the best that you can.
Pick a Place That’s Right for You
Just because one of your bridesmaids loved the Dominican Republic doesn’t mean that you will. Pick a location that means something to you and your spouse-to-be; research different locations if you aren’t sure what to pick and make sure you have a budget before you do all of that searching. You don’t want to find the perfect villa in Punta Cana only to find out that it’s a couple thousand dollars out of your budget.
Visit Your Destination before the Wedding
This may seem silly, but if you’ve never been to a certain location before, how do you know it’s the perfect spot for your destination wedding? Research can only do so much; experiencing everything first hand will give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of climate, services and more. While you’re there, make sure you ask about local wedding requirements. Sometimes resorts wedding planners will do this for you, but if you don’t have a wedding planner, make sure to ask!
Consider What to Pack
Packing for your tropical destination wedding may seem pretty straight forward; beach towels, bathing suits, and sunscreen are on the top of the list. But when you travel for a wedding, you are doing much more than just going on a trip and you need to know what to bring along and what to source out locally. For instance, you probably want to bring your wedding dress along (or have it shipped to your hotel), but you can’t bring other things like sparklers along for the trip since they aren’t allowed on airplanes. Luckily, there are plenty of shops that will ship you wedding sparklers to your destination, but for some items that just isn’t a viable option. You can also find a store that sells wedding sparklers locally in most places in the world, so an ounce of research can make your packing choices a whole lot easier. Make sure you do your homework to know what is feasible to bring along and what will need to be done when you arrive.
By planning ahead, you can ensure you have everything you need packed in your luggage, that you’re going to love the destination, and that the weather will be gorgeous during that time of year. With all the preparations in place, your tropical destination wedding is going to be one for the history books and will be a lovely experience that you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives.
