Sometimes the bride doesn’t only fall in love with the groom; locations – and the things that happen there – can be as close to our hearts as the people who take us along for the ride. Maybe your first trip as a couple carried you to the white-sand beaches of Kauai. Or perhaps you connected on a deeper level while you were snowed in among the ice-capped Aspens. Maybe you knew, with all your heart, that you loved him when he kissed you atop the oldest vineyards in France.
Wherever your most cherished memories take you, the place where you say “I do” should be filled with as much love and meaning as your next 60 years as Mr. and Mrs. So let’s plan a destination wedding!
First you’ll need to choose your date, destination, price range and guest list. Local travel agents recommend planning ahead one year or more from your wedding date.
Next you’ll need to decide on a venue. Don’t book anything – flight, hotel, etc. – until after you’ve secured a date and time for the ceremony and put down a deposit on the venue because booking travel is a gamble until the venue is confirmed.
Once you have a venue, begin planning the ceremony. Often times, destination venues offer on-site wedding planners to help with the music, cake, flowers, etc.
While you’re planning the ceremony, begin researching wedding packages that provide the most cost-effective rates for your guests. This is where we suggest a travel agent. Without one, you’ll be juggling the schedules and individual needs of all your guests while simultaneously planning the wedding of your dreams and handling the rest of daily life. Unless you’re comfortable with the Bridezilla moniker, we don’t suggest trying this without a little help.
There are a lot of logistics with a destination wedding. Each guest has a different budget, schedule and need. But have no fear, a local travel agent will work with your guest list to get the best rates possible and answer all their questions. Plus, they have access to all the best packages – no matter which destination you choose – and they coordinate your honeymoon for the most streamlined itinerary and cost-effective travel.
Lastly, cost may deter couples from considering a destination wedding, but once you actually sit down and crunch the numbers, it may save money in the long run. Aside from the bride and groom, the locale is the star of the show. So the exotic, faraway feel of a destination wedding is likely to make you happy with a simple bouquet of local flowers and a reception under the stars.
If you’ve got visions of beaches and jets dancing around your mind, you may just be married to a destination, as well.
For more information, please call Geri Jacobs at The Travel Bug at 661-255-5030 or visit 24300 Town Center Drive, #101 in Valencia.
You can also call We Gotta Travel at 661-255-1009, or email Margaret Braunling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..”>Margaret@wegottatravel.com.
