Ask an expert: Planning a last-minute destination wedding
Planning a destination wedding can be tricky, from choosing the perfect location and resort venue to finalizing day-of details at a distance and coordinating travel for you and your guests. Planning on a time-crunch, however, adds another layer of urgency! Whether you’re looking for a short engagement or are working with a deadline, we connected with Lizzie Adams, Sunwing Weddings Manager to share her top five tips on how to best navigate a last-minute destination wedding. Be sure to check out the promotional offers our partners in paradise have for couples who are planning their 2024 autumnal nuptials below.
Photo credit: Bella Wang Photography
Be flexible
If you’re planning a last-minute destination wedding, it’s important to stay flexible for so many reasons, plus, it goes without saying that there are many factors to consider that go into making your destination wedding a success. If you’re trying to pull together your big day in a shorter than usual time frame, it’s important to stay open minded, whether it’s regarding the wedding date and location, your flight and travel schedules, resort and vendor availability or more specifically, your ceremony locations – not to mention your bridal attire! When planning last minute, it’s important to set your expectations about all that’s involved.
Be realistic about your destination
Whether you’re planning a destination wedding a year in advance or only three months away, this is usually my number one tip for couples getting married in paradise! When choosing your destination, whether it be in the beach destinations of Mexico, the Dominican Republic or Cuba, or surrounded by lush mountainside in Central America, do your research. Become intimately familiar with travel websites, read blogs, head to social media and be sure your vision can be executed. I often have wedding couples send me inspiration boards with extravagant details and décor, meanwhile they’re planning for a destination where resources are a lot more limited.
Hire a destination wedding planner
Planning a wedding can be stressful, which has its own set of challenges and surprises – let alone planning a wedding in destination and with a quick turnaround. However, hiring a destination wedding planner who is familiar with popular tropical hot spots, resort partners and the on-site weddings teams can be extremely helpful in assisting you get your wedding planned in a timely manner, without missing any important details. The Sunwing Weddings team is well-equipped, well-connected, and well-versed in making your dream day a reality.
Decide what your non-negotiables are
When organizing a destination wedding last minute, time can impact and limit your options – from the location to your décor and beyond. Ahead of moving forward with the planning process, be sure you and your partner have discussed your must-haves for the big day, so that when choosing a destination and resort, you’ll know right off the bat whether it’s a good fit. It will also be helpful to share these with your wedding planner so they can ensure your priorities are met, on time and on budget.
Be organized
With a number of people and pieces involved in the destination wedding planning process, being organized can go a long way, especially when you’re on a time crunch! It’s also important to stay in close contact with your wedding planner to ensure no stone is left unturned with all details covered. For example, if you’re having a civil ceremony in destination, there are a handful of documents that need to be couriered to the hotel well in advance. They may also need to be translated ahead of time depending on your choice of destination. Making sure you’re on top of deadlines for legal documents and payments, not to mention being aware of any travel requirements, will allow for less stress and a smoother process.
Courtesy of Sunwing Weddings, for all last-minute destination weddings booked between April 15, 2024 to May 31, 2024 for travel planned between September 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024, prospective couples will automatically be upgraded to our Platinum wedding consulting services.
Our partners in paradise also have some amazing offers! For instance, at select resorts in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica and more, Blue Diamond Resorts is offering limited-time credits on their Refined, Exclusive and Planet Hollywood wedding packages. Select Palladium Hotel Group resorts are amping up the celebrations for your entire wedding party with a complimentary one-hour cocktail reception the day before or after your ceremony for weddings taking place between August 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024. For couples who want to lap in tropical luxury, Majestic Resorts will upgrade couples to the Presidential Suite on their wedding night for ceremonies between September 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024.
These are only a few of the incredible offers available from our trusted destination wedding partners. For more information on the promotions mentioned above, other offers available or for any assistance booking your last-minute destination wedding, the Sunwing Weddings team of expert consultants is here to help!
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