So, you’re planning a destination wedding in Oahu. (Yay!) Really, is there anything more fun? However, if you’re very far into the planning process at all, you’ve probably already learned that there are few things more stressful than planning a destination wedding as well. And a big part of that stress stems from the question of whether this is a destination event for others or for you. Because if you and your fiancée already live on the island— that’s awesome! Whether you’ve lived here for years or you’ve just moved in preparation for starting a new island life together, your Oahu wedding is off to a magical start. (Especially since your venue is now local for you).
But chances are, you’ll be inviting friends and family from other places too, and that’s where it starts to get tricky. So, take a look at a few of our top tips on what to do if your destination wedding is a vacation for everyone on your guest list.
Invite Etiquette 101
One pro of a destination wedding is that you get to share one of the most special moments in your life with everyone you love in a new and magical place. Plus, everyone gets a vacation! But that’s kind of where the pros end and the cons begin, because attending a destination wedding can be really tough—or even impossible—for your guests’ budgets. So, in order to do the best thing for everyone, you might want to narrow down your guest list to only the most important people. (Ouch!) While that may sound harsh, it’s important to think practically.
Does your third cousin twice removed really need to go to the trouble of booking an expensive plane ticket and hotel? And if your venue only allows 30 guests max– as a lot of beach venues do— whose presence would you miss more, your third cousin’s or your best friend’s? Keeping considerations like that in mind is a great way to do the best for your guests. (And, let’s be honest, it takes so much stress off you as well!)
Create a Wedding Website
That might sound like a wacky idea, but hear me out! Your guests have questions; you have a life. And especially when it comes to a destination wedding, those questions can get so out of control that you don’t have time for your real life (or, you know, the thousands of other wedding planning tasks you have to do!) So, in an effort to consolidate and make things easier for you and your guests, there’s something to be said for creating a one-stop wedding website with links that answer everyone’s questions.
Questions about your venue? Link. Where are you registered? Oh, look, a handy link! The exact date, address, and time, because everybody keeps forgetting? …No worries, it’s all on this link. So, if you want to start creating a wedding website right now, here are a few extra handy tips for what needs to go on it:
- Any details about hotels, room blocks, or local guest house info associated with your wedding
- If your accommodation option has a discount code for your guests, list that too!
- A specific list of every event you have planned so your guests know how long to plan for
- Any weather or location-specific information your guests might need to know
While it may not be the solution for everyone, a wedding website can definitely be a quick and user-friendly way of simplifying your life and wedding planning process. (Plus, if you’re super tech savvy, you can even add a feature for tracking your RSVPs!)
Sending Out Your Save-the-Dates
In addition to neatly consolidating all things wedding-related on a website, sending your save-the-dates early enough in advance is one of the kindest things you can do for your guests. Keep in mind that everyone will need time to book flights, take off work, and maybe even renew their passports, and send out your save-the-dates six months in advance. Giving them these details far enough in advance will ensure that everyone’s prepared by the time you send out your invitations at T-minus twelve weeks. (Trust me, your guests will thank you!)
Traveling with Your Wedding Dress
This part was never going to be easy, but there’s no getting around it. This part is probably a no-brainer, but if you want to avoid wrinkling, don’t pack it in your suitcase. Instead, carry it on the plane with you in a garment bag and ask if your plane has a closet where it can hang for the duration of the trip. If not, you can try laying it on top of the carry-ons in the overhead compartments.
Planning a destination wedding can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. And at Bridal Boutique Honolulu, our goal is to make your planning process as stress-free as possible so you can be your happiest on your special day. If you have destination wedding questions that aren’t answered in this blog, please feel free to drop us a line and ask!
