Are You Planning a Destination Wedding? Don’t Fall Into These Common Mistakes

The idea of getting married overseas is such a dream for many couples. Just imagine jetting off to Thailand, finding the best wedding venue in Bangkok and putting together an amazing wedding that you and your loved ones can enjoy.

But behind that dream is actually the reality that planning a destination wedding can be quite exhausting and stressful. For one, you’re not in the location to scout possible venues, meet with suppliers and handle the little details. In fact, you would only be in the city a few days before the actual wedding, so that gives you little time to make adjustments if you don’t like how things are going.

So if you’re planning to get married overseas, here are some common mistakes that you should avoid to make sure that you will have a fun and memorable wedding for everyone to enjoy and cherish:

Forgetting to Consider Local Culture and Legal Regulations

A lot of couples get swallowed by the excitement of getting married in a different city that they forget to consider the legal requirements for their marriage to be valid both in that destination and back home. If you’re getting married in Thailand, for instance, you have to know the eligibility requirements for foreigners, the documents that you need to provide and the ceremony that you need to do to be considered legally married in the country.

Make sure that you take care of these requirements before you plan the rest of your wedding. It’s also very important to take the time to understand the local customs for marriages in the country, so you can honor them or at least include part of them in your own wedding.

Trying Your Luck with the Weather

Here’s the thing: you can imagine the most perfect wedding and prepare for it. But if the rain decides to pour on a garden wedding, you can’t do anything about it. So before those gloomy clouds cause you anxiety on the day of your wedding, try to check if you’re actually getting married during monsoon season. For instance, Thailand experiences the monsoon season between July and October. So if you don’t want to gamble on a lot of rain on your wedding day, try to avoid getting married during these months.

Getting Trapped in Hidden Wedding Costs

The truth is, getting married in a different country is expensive. But you’d be surprised at how much money you’re spending on things that are not directly related to your wedding. Yes, you need to pay for the wedding venue, the food and drinks, the dresses and the party. But what you could be forgetting is that you also need to pay for flights, accommodations, meals and transportation.

On top of that, you’ll also be paying for the extra events during that wedding weekend like the rehearsal dinner, welcome party for guests and even flying in some of your vendors. These expenses could easily add up, and you might find yourself going way over your budget because you didn’t even think about these things when you were setting it.

If you really want a beautiful destination wedding, you have to start with setting a realistic budget that covers all these extra expenses on top of the wedding itself. This way, you won’t get into debt and start your marriage broke.

Failing to Communicate with Your Guests

You could plan the most beautiful wedding overseas, but it wouldn’t be as memorable if you don’t have guests. Since you’re getting married in a different location, you need to communicate clearly with your guests on the details of your wedding. Let them know as soon as you decide on the date and location of your wedding, so guests will have enough time to free up their schedules, save up for the trip and just prepare for the wedding.

One of the best ways to provide these details is by creating a digital invite or a website. This will let you keep all important information in one place, so they can simply refer to the website and not bombard you with questions.

You can send out “save the date” cards at least 6 months before the wedding and follow up on that with a formal invite a few months before the celebration. This is also a good time to be clear about “plus one” rules. If you have a limited budget and can only accommodate a small number of guests, make it clear to your guests beforehand so they won’t have to fly with an extra guest who would end up not being invited to the wedding.

Creating a Packed Schedule

Sure, you’d want to make the most of your wedding weekend, especially if your guests are travelling from overseas. But remember that this wedding is all about enjoying the big day and not getting stressed about a packed schedule. Avoid creating a full itinerary so your guests will have free time to enjoy the place at their own pace.

Checking in Your Wedding Dress

For sure, you’ve heard a lot of stories about lost luggages from travellers. So you can just imagine checking in your wedding dress and finding out that it has been offloaded. If you want to avoid the stress of being in that situation, it’s best to carry your dress and suit in a garment bag. Airlines usually allow this as long as your dress is packed properly and for a minimal fee in some cases. But paying more is nothing compared to the peace of mind that you get to enjoy knowing that your dress is arriving at your destination with you.

Choosing the Wrong Outfits

Are you getting married in a hot city like Bangkok? Go for a dress that fits that climate. Wearing a thick dress in a tropical country will not only make you uncomfortable during the wedding, but it could also cause a heatstroke. It’s also very important to set a dress code for your guests, so they’ll know exactly what to wear based on the location of your wedding.

Of course, getting married overseas means working with a professional who knows the local wedding landscape in that area. While you decide on the details of your wedding, a wedding planner will execute all of those ideas on your behalf. Finding the right planner will not only make your wedding drama-free, but it will also let you focus on what really matters for your wedding instead of worrying about the little details.

Getting Married With Ease

A destination wedding is one of the most beautiful experiences that you can have in your life, that is, if it’s done right. So make sure that you keep these common mistakes in mind when planning the wedding of your dreams. And if you’re planning to tie the knot in Bangkok, we can offer you one of the best venues in the city. In fact, we can help you plan your entire wedding with our packages that cover everything from the venue to the food. We guarantee that you will enjoy a beautiful wedding in our hotel. Get in touch with our team today to discuss your dream wedding and let us help you make that come true.