Destination weddings are personal, intimate, and exciting experiences for both you and your guests. But they also come with their own list of demands – travel costs, transportation arrangements, not to mention possible language barriers!  But don’t worry, with a little extra research and some solid communication, you can keep your guest list – and yourselves – happy. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind while planning your destination wedding.

Advance Notice

Save the Dates for traditional weddings can usually go out 3-4 months in advance of the big day. But you want to give your guests as much time to plan their trip to your destination wedding as possible. Many will need extra time to save money, request time off work, and make travel arrangements. Up to 12 months advance notice is ideal.

Obligation

It’s important to let your guests know that they are not obligated to attend. After all, you’re not just asking them to drive to the chapel and dance the night away. Many won’t be comfortable placing the extra financial pressure on their families – and it’s your job to let them know that that’s OK.

Information

Once your guests book their trips, you should do what you can to provide them with everything they need to enjoy their time at your wedding. The most important thing? Information. It’s a great idea to put together an information booklet or website for your guests that lists all of the crucial info they’ll need – weather reports, transportation, passport info, lodging options, and a little cultural information about the location.

Finances

This is a biggie. Most people know what they’re getting when they attend a traditional wedding – a seat, a meal, dancing, dessert, etc. But a destination wedding opens up all kinds of new expenses – lodging, transportation, meals, entertainment; the list goes on. It’s important to be as clear as possible about who will be paying for what. Are you able to secure a discount for your guests at the resort? Will you be providing airport transportation? Make sure your guests know exactly what kind of financial commitment they’re making before they book their trip.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you and your guests will be able to enjoy the beautiful, exotic destination wedding of your dreams.