Weddings · 17 recordsPlan a destination wedding

A destination wedding has the same parts as any other, plus two extra problems: the legal requirements of another country, and guests who need to book travel months ahead. This settles whether the ceremony is legally valid before anything else, sends save-the-dates early, and hands the on-the-ground work to a local planner or venue coordinator.

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Goal

Married abroad, with the people who matter there Month 11

Legal, booked early, and handled locally where it has to be.

Legal and location Month 2

Whether it counts, before where it happens.

  • Check the legal requirements for marrying there as a foreignerDo firstDay 7
  • Decide whether the legal ceremony happens at home or abroadDo firstWeek 2
  • Shortlist venues and book a visit or video callDo firstWeek 5
  • Book the venue and a local planner or coordinatorDo firstWeek 8

Guests and travel Month 4

Months of notice, because they are paying to come.

  • Draft the guest list with the travel cost in mindDo firstWeek 3
  • Send save-the-dates with travel informationDo firstMonth 2
  • Arrange a room block or a list of places to stayMonth 3
  • Send invitations and a travel guideMonth 4

Budget Week 6

Including what the distance quietly adds to it.

  • Set the budget, including our own travel and visitsDo firstDay 10
  • Get quotes, with currency and deposit termsWeek 6

Routines

  • Wedding admin hourweekly
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The wedding

Month 1115:00480 min
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The two extra problems

A destination wedding is an ordinary wedding plus two things: another country's legal requirements, and guests who need months to book. Settle the first before choosing anything, and give the second as much notice as possible.

A local coordinator is not a luxury. Somebody who speaks the language and knows the suppliers does the part that cannot be done by email from home.

Questions

Plan a destination wedding, answered.

Around a year, with save-the-dates going out at least eight months ahead. Guests need to book flights, accommodation and time off, and anybody who hears late is the guest who cannot come.
It depends on the country and on where you live, and the paperwork can take months. Many couples hold a short legal ceremony at home and a symbolic one abroad, which is why checking this is the first task rather than the last.
Some local help, at least. A venue coordinator or planner who speaks the language and knows the suppliers does the work you cannot do by email from another time zone, and usually costs less than the mistakes it prevents.
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