Siegel Thurston Photography

Destination weddings are some of the most amazing events known to mankind. They are an opportunity for family and friends to travel to a new place and just focus on the happy couple during their once-in-a-lifetime moment. Memories are made, new foods are eaten, photos are taken, and when all is said and done it is an event everyone is sure to remember for years to come.

Planning a destination wedding can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you are traveling out of the country. Choosing a florist, caterer, destination wedding photographer, and booking a venue can be time consuming tasks. We have put together our top 5 list of the most amazing wedding ideas you will absolutely have to consider for your destination wedding. Whether state-side or overseas, these tips are sure to help ease the stress and help make your wedding day extraordinary.

Ask for a sketch of your wedding cake

Many times, planning a destination wedding means trusting local professionals to provide your products and services. Even with the best research, you don’t want to leave anything to chance, especially your cake. Ask your baker to draw up a sketch of what your wedding cake is going to look like. This ensures you are both on the same page as far as color and design and there should be no surprises when your cake is delivered. If the sketch you receive is not exactly what you had in mind, there will still be time to make last minute changes so you and the baker will be happy.

Skip traditional flowers and opt for local foliage

One of the beautiful aspects of having a destination wedding is that you have access to exotic flowers and foliage. If your wedding is in Hawaii and you are originally from Wisconsin, this would be an amazing opportunity to make use of the beautiful flowers and foliage from the islands. Coordinate with the florist you choose and let them know that you are interested in having the most locally authentic flowers and greenery in keeping with the destination theme of your wedding.

Make the most of extraordinary views

You’ve waited your whole life for this day and planned an incredible destination wedding. Make the most of your surroundings! You don’t want to book a venue in the Bahamas with no view of the beach. Your best bet is to plan your activities and decorations around your scenery. If you love the mountains you may want to consider having an outdoor wedding with the mountains as the backdrop. If the beach is more your thing, you can look for a venue where your guests have the option of being indoors for dinner and dancing but can also have access to the beach for a romantic walk at sunset.

Book a professional destination wedding photographer

Local is not always best! You don’t want to trust your wedding photos to just anyone. Your wedding is one day in your life that you will want to relive and treasure for many years to come. One way to ensure that you have every important moment captured on film is to book an experienced, professional photographer. This is not the time to cut corners. The ideal destination wedding photographer will work with you on timing your photos when the natural light is just right for the location and time of year you have chosen. There is actually a perfect time called “the golden hour” or “the magic hour” that falls just before the sun sets. This is the ideal time to capture outdoor images.

Host a pre-wedding get-together

A great way to ensure all of your guests have a memorable time at your wedding is to hold a pre-wedding get-together. You can choose to have a cook out, luau, or more formal dinner party that will give your wedding party and VIP guests a chance to mingle and get to know one another before the big day. Not only will this help your guests feel more comfortable, it will give you an opportunity to focus on your friends and family and enjoy the moment rather than getting caught up in wedding details and feeling stressed out.