Planning a traditional wedding is already a nerve-wracking task in itself, but adding the distance factor in the equation, and that makes the experience tremendously anxiety-laden. Destination weddings, albeit harder to plan, are fast becoming a popular option for recently-engaged couples. If you're among those couples, check out the basics for planning a destination wedding.
Why a destination wedding?
The destination is special to you as a couple.
There are a variety of reasons why recently-engaged couples choose to get hitched out-of-town. For one, a certain location may have been monumental to their relationship (the place where they became a couple, had their first out-of-town trip together, or where the groom proposed). Getting married in a memorable destination will allow you to share your love story with your guests.
You want a more relaxed vibe.
Tying the knot outside the confines of your comfort zone takes away the stiff and formal vibe of most venues, the hassle of the traffic in the metro, the hustle and bustle of the city, and the noise and pollution that your guests sometimes endure during traditional weddings. Aside from the instant vacation that your out-of-town celebration provides, the exclusivity of the place and select number of guests allows everyone to sit back and enjoy.
You want to give back the love.
Having a destination wedding is one way to say thank you to the people that played a huge part in your lives. Your wedding serves as a special vacation for them, especially if you've planned activities while they're at the destination. The picturesque location, your beautiful celebration, plus the fun additional events will make the wedding memorable for all of you.
You want to do away with party crashers.
A destination wedding saves you from the unnecessary bother that comes with holding the wedding in your own locale: having uninvited guests come to your party. Holding an out-of-town wedding is the best solution to this problem, as people whom you hardly know will tend to think twice about attending since they have to put up with the "hassle" of traveling. Moreover, a destination wedding is a good excuse if you want to keep the party intimate--you can say that you can only accommodate a limited number of guests.
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How do you plan your destination wedding?
Scout for a place.
Planning always starts with research, and you can surf the Internet to check out locations. You'll find that there are a variety of wedding venues to choose from. As you search for a destination, keep the following in mind: convenience (easy and ample transportation), accommodations (venues near rented houses and hotels), travel time between rites and party venues (approximately 15 to 30 minutes away from each other, or have the ceremony and reception at the same venue if possible), road routes (easy to look for, well-paved roads), and exchange rates (if marrying outside the country). Remember, you and your guests will travel and you should consider everyone's comfort.
Do an ocular inspection.
After nailing down the place where you want to be married, schedule an ocular inspection. Pictures in the internet may vary from the actual site, and the photos were probably taken with the best light and circumstances possible. Going to the actual site will allow you to have a feel of the place--check if the ambiance matches what you have in mind. You may also do a test drive from your church to your venue (if they are in separate locations) to determine the perfect route, ceremonial rite to reception time gap, and travel time for you and your entire wedding party.
Notify guests in advance.
To ensure that your select guests can make time to witness your nuptials, inform them (via email, phone, or mail) about a year prior to your wedding date--lead time is especially important for a wedding outside the country. Remember to send a save-the-date card or video about 6 months before your wedding to remind guests of your upcoming event. Telling them in advance will give your guests ample time to free up their schedule, process requirements (like passports and visas if needed), save for and book accommodations and transportation (if you won't shoulder these), do their own research, and decline gracefully if finances are tight. Giving advance notice will also give you better control of your guest list.
Arrange for accommodations and transportation.
If you're having an out-of-town wedding, it is imperative to consider your guests' transfer and housing. Ask your destination venue if you they can give you a sizable discount if you secure a number of rooms from them. If your budget cannot provide these amenities to your guests for free, the least you can do is provide whatever means you can afford to make their stay comfortable. Research on a convenient location for vehicle transfer, scout airline seat sales for them, look for inexpensive accommodations near your venue or provide transport from the airport.
Check for additional requirements.
Research on the paperwork needed for you to get married at your chosen destination--additional requirements may be needed for a wedding overseas. In the Philippines, marrying outside your locale necessitates the usual documents, but other locations request for additional papers like a permission letter from your parochial community allowing you to get married outside your parish. The locale will ask you to attend all the prerequisites (canonical interview, pre-cana seminars) and submit all the required documents personally.
Nowadays however, some of the churches (particularly in the Tagaytay area) are starting to recognize the concept of destination weddings. They have employed a system to make things more convenient for couples who wish to get married there. While the canonical interview still requires your personal appearance at the archdiocese handling your chosen church, some parishes acknowledge pre-cana seminars done outside their locale as long as you present a certification. It is vital to ask your chosen church though, if they recognize Discovery Weekend or Catholic Engaged Encounter in exchange for the pre-cana seminar as some still insist on having an "in-house parish seminar." In addition, for your convenience, some of these churches allow an initial submission of requirements via courier (wedding banns, photocopy of official documents) prior to scheduling the canonical interview. It is understood that the official documents will be presented personally during the interview.
Decide on getting local or out-of-town suppliers.
Suppliers from Manila usually charge out-of-town (OOT) fees if you're bringing them to your chosen destination. If you'd rather do without the additional fees, you can get local suppliers from your venue. In making a decision about who to fly in and what to source locally, you and your partner must determine your priorities about the wedding budget. You should not hesitate to bring in talented and trusted suppliers for the critical aspects of your wedding such as wedding photography, hair and makeup and events styling and coordination. Perishable goods however, such as flowers, cake and desserts can be sourced locally. You may also ask your chosen suppliers if they have a local branch in your destination venue, so as to let them waive the OOT fee. Another option is to get a local-based wedding planner so s/he can shoulder the burden of researching, auditioning, and securing local vendors.
Planning a destination wedding can be extra challenging, but if you are willing to endure the rigorous preparation, you just might end up with a wedding that you and your guests will rave about for years to come.
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