You may be wondering what else there is do to make this destination wedding a success. Apart from picking the best wedding planner, finalizing the list of guests, researching which wedding destination is the best, there are still a lot of areas to check out.
One area you must not forget is ensuring that your guest will have the least trouble when booking for air travel, looking for lodging, choosing gifts, and other extras attached to destination weddings.
Here’s a list of what you should do to keep your guests stress-free before the big event.
Send invitations months in advance
Guests look forward to destination weddings because it presents an opportunity to celebrate that big event with you and to take a break. So be considerate by sending wedding invites way in advance. It will give them enough time to file for a leave of absence or visa application. You will also help them take advantage of airfare promos and eventually save some dollars if they know ahead of time about your plans to tie the knot in a beach resort outside of the country.
There is no actual rule of thumb, but a Cabo San Lucas wedding planner suggests that an eight-month advance notice (initially) is more than enough for guests to be able to plan without getting panic attacks. As regards formal wedding invites, make sure they reach your guests at least four months before the big day.
Sending wedding invites way ahead of time shows that you value your guest and their time. It is one way of saying that you would love them to be there and so you are giving them enough elbow room to prepare and arrange for air travel and to book for accommodations.
Be open to travel-friendly wedding gifts
Who doesn’t want to receive gifts? Any couple would welcome gifts from family and friends on their wedding day. There’s always an element of surprise and excitement in unboxing gifts, especially if they are from a loved one.
But remember, yours is a destination wedding. Guests have willingly doled out some cash to cover transportation and lodging expenses so they can be with you no matter what. When you think about what they are giving up (time and money), giving up gifts is one way of reciprocating. Let’s face it. Some guests travel frequently, and airfares are just a drop in the bucket. But for others, this may not be the case.
Talk about this issue as a couple. Both of you must agree on whether or not to scrap the traditional wedding gift-giving. If you decide to forego the gifts, you may include this info on your official wedding invitation. Tell them that their presence alone is enough to make this occasion a joyous one. Make it known to them that they aren’t obligated to give gifts.
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with wanting a little token from guests. But remember to keep it simple and travel-friendly. How is this possible? Consider a registry that specifies gift cards only. By doing so, you save them the trouble of physically transporting gifts to the wedding venue.
Prioritize your guests’ safety
If you care about your guests, their safety and welfare must be on your list of top concerns. How do you ensure their safety? Always research travel alerts issued by government agencies hand inform them about it. While your wedding destination may be safe, it is a must that you keep yourself updated about important and critical events happening in the area.
At the planning stage, consider the season when booking a wedding date. Always choose the months where it is sunny, and there is almost zero chance of rain. Also, try to avoid peak seasons if you can.
Be clear about the costs
You might feel awkward about telling your guests about the flight and accommodation costs. But no worries. Guests expect to pay for their transportation and room accommodations. If you have some hesitation about initiating the conversation on the topic of costs, try to be subtle about it. Your guest will get it for sure. Start by informing guests about great deals offered by a nearby hotel.
You may also tactfully refer your guests to a hotel’s website where they can browse promos and deals that you have seen. For instance, if hotels like Waldorf Astoria Cabo and other nearby resorts have announced great packages, holiday offers, or discounts, you can send them links to such announcements so they can check it out themselves. Meantime, if there’s an airline that has just offered low-priced deals on their website, send them that link too.
So as not to appear blunt, ask your wedding invitation provider to communicate these in a way that is full of tact and grace. They have experience in subtly reminding guests about expenses that they will shoulder.
Planning a destination wedding and putting guests on your list of top priorities will add to a worry-free and pleasant experience even before your wedding date. Keeping them posted about travel warnings (if any), sending wedding invites way in advance, giving clear advice on expected costs, and maintaining gift-giving as simple as possible are practical ways to lighten their load in more ways than one.
