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If you’ve decided to wed outside of your own city, you might be wondering about finding destination wedding vendors and how difficult it might be. While it might seem stressful planning remotely, you can absolutely make it happen! Read on for my top tips about vendor searching.
Do Your Research
Finding vendors abroad often comes with a lot of research. I do recommend starting with a planner and/or venue to help guide you. Also, reading reviews about your potential vendors is essential to vetting them and gives insight from other brides.
The same can be said for listening to the referrals that your venue or planner gives you. Receiving referrals can cut down on the research load and provide another source into the vendor community. Most importantly, ask questions.
If you’re unable to travel to your destination beforehand, skype with every vendor. Find out exactly what is expected, their involvement, pricing, and preferred vendors. If you’re getting married at a resort, often times caterers, florists, and cake designers are included or offered in wedding packages.
Hire a Planner
The adventures and excitement that comes with planning a destination wedding can be overwhelming. The most important step is hiring a wedding planner. Having guidance from a planner, whether they are local to the area or simply experienced with destination weddings, is crucial.
You’ll have to find someone you can trust completely; someone who can also envision your dream day and who is attuned to you and your fiancé’s personalities.
Book a Photographer
Having the same photographer for the engagement session and for the wedding is imperative. Because a photographer has a close role with you and your fiancé, the trust and comfort that comes from meeting and being photographed by them is invaluable.
Photographers adapt quickly and easily to all kinds of venues and will often scout your venue the day before or the morning of your wedding to familiarize themselves with it.
Be Prepared
Every time-sensitive step in wedding planning needs to be moved ahead when arranging a destination wedding. Reserving room blocks within your resort or hotel should be made nearly ten months ahead.
Save-the-dates need to be sent no earlier than six months ahead, followed by traditional invites two to three months beforehand. Arrive at least three days before the wedding date to settle and prepare for guests arrival.
Take everything one step at a time, stay organized, and let a planner take care of the bulk of your wedding workload. You’ll thank yourself for it!
