Everything you need to know when planning a destination wedding

If holding a wedding here in Latvia does not appeal at all, there are many other places where you can spend the most beautiful day of your life. A tropical island, historic European cities or a desert oasis - they can all be great destinations for your dreams for a wedding. It's important to remember that planning a destination wedding will definitely be different from a wedding you'd have here, so here's the thing the decision should be carefully considered. LĪGAVĀM summarized the essential details you need to know when planning a destination wedding.

The real season

Many couples choose a wedding date or at least a month and then look at their wedding destination, but sometimes you may have to vice versa. If the chosen destination is on the other side of the equator, it means that the seasons will also be opposite, in June - winter, in December - summer, while choosing other climate zones, one should not forget about the rainy and dry season. Carefully research what kind of weather you can expect in that location in the month of your choice and change the month or even destination if the season is not suitable.

galamērķa kāzas — Photo: ILZE OSE / Wedding service providers

Ready-made wedding offers

In many countries wedding agencies offer to buy various wedding offer packages, where, depending on the price, a wide variety of wedding services are included. this one will be good option for those who want to know the total wedding costs at the beginning of planning. However, it should be taken into account that the included services are rarely customizable so can feel impersonal. Most often it will not be possible to choose a photographer, not caterers, because the agency has its own cooperation partners included in the specific offer. If you are having a wedding two, such a ready-made wedding proposal will certainly save you a lot of trouble, but it will not be the best choice for larger weddings. In that case, it is better not to choose ready-made offers, but to work with an agency that will design an individual wedding the plan.

Symbolic or legal ceremony

When organizing a destination wedding, you must familiarize yourself with the laws of the chosen country and everything related to marriage legalization. This often means that various additional documents will be required, which usually also need to be translated and must be notarized, incurring additional costs. You also have to pay state fees and other contributions, which will always be there more expensive than the citizens of the country itself. If you want to shorten and make this process easier, you can always choose to host symbolic ceremony, which will not have legal force, while officially to conclude a marriage in Latvia . Also, ready-made wedding offers most often include only symbolic ones the cost of the ceremony, so read the conditions carefully before making a choice.

Think about the guests

A destination wedding means that just like the couple, the guests will also have to find their way to the specific location. It is worth thinking how much both the youngest and the oldest wedding guests will have easy access. A five-hour flight or a flight with transfer may not be a good idea. The possibilities of the invited guests to arrive should also be evaluated. If the couple covers the cost of travel expenses and accommodation , then there is no reason to worry, but otherwise there will be guests who will not come to the wedding. Also, gifts are generally not expected when choosing a destination wedding, due to the increased costs.

Take into account that weddings abroad must be announced to guests, so invitations must be sent, no less than 8 to 12 months before of the big event. So planning should also start very early.

Use professional help

When planning a destination wedding, it will be hard to do without a professional wedding agency or wedding planner help. Their location, language skills and local service providers familiarity will be of immense help. Even if the wedding is planned for two, plan it yourself without getting stuck, not being there will be difficult. The more remote and exotic the destination, the more useful the help of professionals will be.

Schedule time

Depending on the size of the wedding, it is recommended to arrive at the wedding destination a few days or even weeks before the special event. That will give you the opportunity to look at everything in life and, if necessary, to make small changes. Very important about all the details make sure already during the planning process, because big things, such as the place of the ceremony, can no longer be changed at the last minute will not be possible. Remember that everything looks different in the pictures, so please send the ceremonies already in the planning process place video or invite it to be shown during a live conversation. Thus the possibility of unpleasant surprises will be much less.

Adjusts outfit and budget

When planning a wedding abroad, you should remember the same things as if the wedding were to take place in Latvia. Think about how the chosen one wedding dress and groom's suit will fit into the chosen environment. Or local food will both you and your guests like, and whether it will be possible to find suitable professionals.

Very often it is more profitable to invite professionals, for example make-up artist and photographer from Latvia, thus hitting the target not only with savings in the budget, but also getting a great opportunity to work with a photographer who has experience working at a destination wedding and will also be able to share with you valuable nuances of hosting a destination wedding.