How To Plan A Wedding Abroad

Planning a wedding alone has its own sets of difficulties and planning for a wedding outside this country will be another challenge. An average wedding takes months, even years to plan. But having a wedding abroad is not impossible. It has to be planned meticulously in order for it to be a success. Many couples prefer weddings abroad because they want a small intimate event where only a few family and very close friends will be there to witness their union.

Having a wedding outside of the U.S. can be a unique experience and we can help you achieve it with these planning tips:

Budget

The cost of an average American wedding in 2016 is $26,400.00. This cost does not include the honeymoon budget. This includes the dress, tux, venue, catering, make-up and floral arrangements, the very basic needs of a wedding. In a wedding abroad, you have to take into account the cost of air fare for you and your guests and your accommodations. So that’s about $26,400.00 ++. Make sure that you have more than enough in your bank account for the costs abroad. The plus side to this though is that it’s a wedding and a honeymoon at the same time.

Theme

You and your soon-to-be should pick a theme for your wedding. Will it be a winter wonderland or a luau? Setting a theme helps you pick a location for your wedding. This can already help you choose clothes, food, etc. for your venue.

Wedding Planner

Hire a wedding planner. Not unless you have the time and money to go back and forth from the U.S. to your destination. Having a well-established wedding planner will save you the stress and heartaches of planning the wedding yourself. You have to keep in mind that you are looking at a foreign place where you have no idea where the grocery store is or where the gas station is. Spending on a wedding planner may be a big addition to your budget but it’s worth it, especially because an established wedding planner already have connections from their years in the business. This means that every other supplier will be legit and the wedding preparations will be smooth.

Passports

You should make sure that you have a passport and everybody else in your guest list has a passport. You should contact every person in your list and have them ready their passport. If you do not have a passport yet, you can apply online. Some countries require not only a passport but a Visa as well so research if you will need a Visa to where you want to go. Another tip: NEVER EVER lose your passport in a foreign country. Many other countries use the passport as reference to your identity.

Arrival

In planning a destination wedding, you and your soon-to-be should book a flight at least 3-5 days earlier than your wedding. Why, because you want to be able to check last minute details for your special day. Check if your cake is good enough, is the design good for your theme? Won’t it melt in this humidity? Is the food enough? Arriving ahead can give you ample time to check out the local places that you can visit after the wedding. Do not attempt to come a day before your wedding. Just imagine traveling so many hours and not being able to have enough rest before your wedding day.

Packing

Pack only what is necessary. If you are going to have a Caribbean wedding, that’s warm sand and cool seas. You don’t have to pack a jacket or sweat pants. Make sure your dress or tux will be appropriate. Choose comfort over fashion. Remember, this will be a day that you will recall all your life and you don’t want to remember how that petticoat itched all night.

If you think that you are ready for that wedding abroad then what are you waiting for? Grab that phone and start browsing for the perfect wedding destination!