A destination wedding is a dream come true, but it also requires a little extra planning. Your friends and family will be juggling work, holidays, childcare, other planned trips, and more—and they’ll need plenty of time to make it to your big day. Fortunately, with the help of KIS (Cubed) Event, a leading destination wedding planner, you will be able to streamline the process.  

How to Plan a Destination Wedding

Follow these ten key steps to plan a destination wedding, and you’ll be on your way to a beautiful wedding in your favorite destination in no time!

1. Hire a Planner 

If you’re looking for a Destination Wedding Planner to take the stress out of planning your dream wedding, look for one specializing in destination weddings. They’ll be able to handle all of the logistics, taking the guesswork out of the process for you and your guests. A good place to start your search is with a Google search for wedding planners in your desired location or reach out to KIS (Cubed) events; we are the leading event and wedding planners with years of experience in managing and organizing corporate events, and destination weddings of all sizes.

2. Choose Your Destination

Pick a destination where service is impeccable and logistic, and transportation is convenient for you and your guests. Destination weddings can be an unforgettable experience. But it’s important to choose the right destination for you and your partner. The location you choose will impact several elements, from the food and flowers to the decor and music. Therefore, finalizing your destination should be an essential part of your destination management process.  

3. Set Your Budget

Whether you’re hosting a wedding in your hometown or somewhere else, setting your budget is important. This can be daunting, but it’s essential to avoid overspending and to start your marriage in debt. Your wedding budget should be finalized at the beginning of the timeline for destination wedding to help you decide further for the wedding expenses. Establish a budget based on your desired vision. Then, allocate a percentage of your budget to each expense. This will help you to see how much you’ll need to spend on each element of your dream wedding.  

4. Destination Wedding Month & Time

Planning a destination wedding is an incredible way to make your big day even more special. But it takes a lot of advanced planning. Visit the location to get a feel for it and enquire about the right month and time for your wedding. Pick the right month for your wedding when you know when the hurricane season is, when the costs are elevated, and when they are reasonable. This is important for your pocket as well as for others too. So, decide wisely. You must consider the weather conditions, local government holidays, and availability of accommodations before planning a marriage. It’s always advisable to be sure where you will spend the most beautiful and life-of your life. 

5. Communicate with Your Vendors

One of the most important aspects of planning a destination wedding is effectively communicating with your vendors. They are the ones who will be executing your big day, so it’s crucial to trust them and communicate with them in a way that ensures your vision is represented. Vendors have other clients and work schedules, so it’s important to know when they prefer to be contacted (email, phone, text) and what their response times are usually. It’s also a good idea to meet with your top picks face-to-face before booking them.  

6. Wedding Insurance

If you are about to plan a destination wedding, it’s highly important to get the best wedding insurance, as your wedding is an investment. Securing your wedding expenses with good insurance and ensuring it doesn’t go to waste is a smart move. Wedding insurance is a type of insurance policy that helps protect you financially in case something goes wrong with your wedding plans. Depending on the plan you choose, it may cover a range of situations, such as cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, loss or damage to wedding attire, or liability for accidents or injuries that occur during the wedding. 

7. Create a Guest List

Creating a guest list can be overwhelming and time-consuming, but it is essential to planning a destination wedding. With a little organization, it can be easy! Group your friends and invite your immediate family members and closest friends first. Then, you can start to make a list of people who are more distant but would still like to attend. If you are unsure about deciding on your guest list, connect with our wedding experts at KIS (Cubed) Events, and they will help you finalize and categorize your final guest list for the wedding.  

8. Book Your Flights

When planning a destination wedding, you have to consider a whole new set of travel and accommodation concerns. And you’ll need to book flights and accommodations well in advance of your big day. It’s always advisable to book your flights no later than one month before the wedding date. This will help you plan other bookings in advance and save you from last-minute booking costs. Flights and transportation make up a big portion of your overall wedding budget, so it’s better to manage your flight bookings in time.  

9. Book Your Accommodations

Booking the accommodations is one of the key things in your destination wedding planning checklist that you need to get done as early as possible. If you’re planning a destination wedding, your guests may require accommodation. You should not take this on yourself, but you can do things to help your friends and family find a place to stay and save money. Booking flights and hotels well in advance is essential for a destination wedding. Start looking at prices and reserving rooms 10-12 months in advance. Reach out to us to know more about how to finalize wedding accommodations.  

10. Send Your Invitations

When planning a destination wedding, sending your guests a save-the-date card is important. This will give them plenty of time to prepare for your big day and make travel arrangements. Typically, invitations are sent out no later than four to six months before the event. But this isn’t set in stone and can vary depending on the length of your guest list. You can finish the timeline for destination wedding by sending invitations to your guests. Having KIS (Cubed) Events by your side, you can just relax and prepare for the wedding while we ensure all your valuable guests receive their invitations in time. 

11. Enjoy the Ride  

As you’re preparing for your destination wedding, take the time to enjoy the ride. Book a few trips, try the local foods and drinks, and soak up the culture and atmosphere. This will help you and your team to make everything in your destination wedding planning checklist and plan a magical celebration full of unforgettable memories. Plus, it will allow you to spend less on things like travel and decor! 

Key Takeaways  

A destination wedding is a great way to plan a truly unique wedding. However, planning a destination wedding can be daunting. You’ll need help navigating the country, coordinating your vendors, and ensuring everything are legal. A professional destination wedding planner is essential to managing this for you, so look for a planner who specializes in weddings overseas. Reach out to KIS (Cubed) Events now and learn more about how we help our clients plan and experience some of the most extravagant destination weddings on the planet!