Wedding planners may cost a bomb but we won’t let their high-end charges to shatter your dream of having a destination wedding. Even though we highly recommended hiring a wedding planner if you are planning to take vows in another city but if budget is a constraint, remember, it is possible to take things in your own hands & manage to pull off a destination wedding of your dreams. All you will have to do is get into the shoes of a wedding planner!

Tips to Plan a Destination Wedding

Know your budget and set priorities
This is the first and foremost step, You need to have an idea of how much can you spend and what aspects that matter to you the most. If you don’t want to compromise on photography, you might have to compromise with the extravagant decor. Also, know that the biggest chunk of your budget will go into venue booking and guests accommodation.

2. Recce is a MUST
While you will obviously visit and observe the venue before finalizing it, we would suggest you visit it once again 3 months before the wedding along with the decorator to plan the setups. Make this most of this recce-cum-meeting to visualize and plan which function will be held at which function, how will space be utilized for decorations, etc. Doing so will also keep you at bay from brainstorming about all this during the wedding.

3. Rope in local vendors
Try to book all your wedding vendors from the destination you choose to get married at. This will not only save your extra costs of their travel & accommodation but you’ll be able to better coordinate with them.

5. Stay and Book events in the same venue
Do so to avoid transporting people from one place to another. Apart from that, you are most likely to get higher discounts.

6. Invest in a wedding planning journal. Maintain it & follow it religiously
It is extremely important to write everything down when you know you are planning it all by yourself. Right from the guest list, to the status of vendor payments, contact details of payments and travel bookings. Write down EVERY DAMN THING.

7. Delegate smaller duties to friends & family
As a bride, you already have a lot going within you. So it is better to delegate smaller tasks that require detailed attention to your friends or family members. This includes distributing guests’ welcome kits and buying wedding gifts & favors. Also, delegate these duties with set deadlines so that they take it up seriously.

8. Opt for minimal decor
Opt for minimal decor or go with resourceful decor elements like fairy lights, colorful drapes, playful signage and other things that are easily doable. Choose a naturally beautiful venue with lush greenery and scenic backdrop, so that there is a lesser requirement for decor and drapes. Another trick is to host day events in the outdoors, and night events in the indoor areas.

9. Ask for bulk discounts
Make the most of your negotiating skills to get the best discounts and offers.