Wedding Checklist – Wedding In Paradise Survival Planning – One Year Away October 1, 2015 – Posted in: Uncategorized
Wedding planning can undoubtedly be overwhelming.
Couple the usual wedding plans with thousands of miles and these factors:
-
Trying to find a location that suits yourself as a couple as well as your guests
-
Determining at what temperature your wedding makeup goes from glamazon to carnival employee
-
Not having everyone in your parent’s lives invited as your wedding guest [even though the woman who works at the bank is reallllly great]
-
Explaining without offending friends and family that you may prefer children to not attend your wedding
-
Language barriers
-
Figuring out how you’re going to get loved ones from across the country to your wedding in paradise
While I can’t tell you that everything is going to go as planned, I can tell you that as a destination wedding bride myself, it’s more than likely things will fall into place with the right planning. Below you’ll find a checklist that begins one year out from your beach wedding in paradise. In a world of endless checklists and inspiration, hopefully this will help you focus more on being the sun-drenched glowing bride that you are and prevent you from turning into everyone’s travel agent/destination expert/therapist and sounding board!
CBJ Travel Gem: When in doubt, hire it out.
This goes from the flowers on your tables to the flowers in your hair, the makeup on your bridesmaids to the jewels at your feet. This experience is about you and your fiance, it’s not about exhausting yourself to the point of not being able to enjoy. Having input with a vendor’s designs or creations is still adding the element of YOU in every corner. You deserve to be served as a bride, not employed for your own wedding.
One Year Out
CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING LOCATION
[Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, www.chelseabondjewelry.com and local wedding planning sites specific to locations] Wedding Planners and destination wedding travel agents are great places to start if you’re not comfortable researching directly with a hotel or resort. If you’re trying to narrow down a hotel or resort for your beach wedding, check out previous bride’s photos from photographer’s websites and hotel groups on Facebook. Previous weddings outside of a hotel’s marketing materials are wonderful sources to see if the location truly feels like it’s right for you and your guests.
COMPLETE YOUR GUEST LIST
[To keep a virtual list, create a Google Doc that you can share with your partner or Evernote.com to keep as an app on your phone] Just add wine.
GATHER INSPIRATION ON PINTEREST
[*Warning*] Limit your time on this activity so you don’t get so overwhelmed, you’re worried that every single thing doesn’t look like a Pinterest board. Enjoy the process, don’t allow the technological component overwhelm you. Remember that just because you’re having a wedding on the beach doesn’t mean it can’t have elements of French macaroons, Italian espresso and Greek evil eyes. This is YOUR adventure.
GATHER INSPIRATION PHOTOS OF WEDDING DRESSES/STYLES THAT YOU LOVE
Ballgown on the beach or sleek, Israeli bridal gown…this is an epic and exciting time. Just be ready to potentially pick out something you never dreamed that you would wear. I thought I was going to end up with a fitted mermaid gown and fell in love with a red-carpet Grecian goddess-style dress. You never know.
PLAN A SITE TO VISIT YOUR WEDDING LOCATION SO YOU CAN SEE THE DETAILS IN PERSON AND ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY VENDORS
[Call it market research or call it a vacation…either way it serves a purpose] If you’re stuck between multiple resorts, go ahead and visit a few. Block off a few days of your trip to see these places in person. They are after all where you and your guests will be spending the most time and you’ll want to make sure it’s just as beautiful if not more than the hotel’s marketing materials.
Click here for your own printable WEDDING IN PARADISE checklist with an area to take notes!
CBJ Travel Gem:
Start a binder where you keep these worksheets so you can reference them throughout your wedding planning.
I’m a big believer in too much information can be daunting and overwhelming, so give yourself until next week to act on the above plans. Stay tuned for next week’s 10-12 Month Out planning list. Oh, and as a special BONUS, check out this FUN SHEET!
