Wedding Checklist – Destination Wedding Survival 8 – 10 Months Out October 20, 2015 – Posted in: Uncategorized

Chelsea Bond Jewelry custom bracelet for Katya Nova.

Katya Nova of Katya Nova Photography wears a custom commissioned Chelsea Bond Jewelry “Bond Girl Fantasy” bracelet for her destination wedding in Punta Cana.

Wedding Checklist – Destination Wedding Survival 8 – 10 Months Out

 

Finalize your guest list

After you and your partner have officially exhausted the task of putting together a guest list (either after successfully compromising or perhaps after just agreeing to disagree on a few), it’s the official unofficial deadline of confirming your guest list. This leaves enough time for your guests to plan their time off from work, childcare and/or extension of their trip to enjoy some 1 on 1 time after your wedding. It’s a pretty blissful experience once you’ve been able to confirm and carry out the next step…

Send save the dates

Ah, the Save the Dates, or in destination wedding acronyms that are in any other situation regarded as really, really awkward…the STD’s. Now is the time to send them out to your finalized guest list. Think about getting creative here. Our save the dates were fake boarding passes which our guests ripped off the perforated portion (just like a real boarding pass) with their response. I’d love to hear what yours are going to be!

look for bridesmaids dresses

Let the games begin! Now is the time to start organizing your colors, themes and styles that you feel will suit your bridesmaids best. Gone are the days of putting bridesmaids in cupcake dresses that made them feel like idiots. Hello to the new, sleek styles of bridesmaids dresses that…dare I say it…could even be worn for other occasions! Whether it’s Pinterest or Polyvore, check out our style boards for some inspiration for your wedding in paradise.

attire options for groom and groomsmen

This is a destination wedding, so tuxedos are beyond unnecessary. Whether it’s pinstripe pants and calla lily boutonnières or stark white shirts and khakis, make sure your men can breathe. Choose fabrics wisely as the humidity can be a beast. Our groomsmen ended up shirtless with ties around their necks by the end (and no one minded)!

music samples from bands and ceremony music

Is your style DJ or live band? Are you planning on using the entertainment that your hotel provides? Does your hotel provide a band? Do you have the ability to give your DJ a playlist that they’ll stick to all night? Ask the questions upfront and make sure you select your songs for walking up the aisle, walking down the aisle as a couple, any happy hour music, your bridal party entrance, your first entrance as husband and wife to your reception and the all night party that so often follows a destination wedding.

Does your hotel have specific times that outside music needs to end? Don’t fear…the nightclubs at the resorts are fabulous places to continue the party into the wee hours!

Honeymoon destinations

Three options are at your fingertips. Whether you choose to stay at the hotel where you had your wedding, choose a hotel or private villa nearby or jump on a plane to island hop, honeymoon destination possibilities are seemingly endless. I suggest weighing in travel time as a major factor (how many flights does it take to actually get there plus any ground transportation).

We planned a honeymoon in St. Lucia after getting married in the Riviera Maya (Mexico) and didn’t anticipate exactly how long of a trek it would actually be, beyond looking at the itinerary. Our flight from Cancun to Dallas was followed by a flight to Miami since Dallas didn’t fly directly to St. Lucia, nor did Cancun. From there, we took a taxi to our hotel but by then it was very late at night (count that one full day as travel).

St. Lucia is absolutely gorgeous but if you’re not in the mood to spend your first or second day as Mr. and Mrs. on planes, make sure you know what you’re getting into for your honeymoon travel. Most of all, take the time to relax and revel in what a fantastic destination wedding you just had!

choose an officiant if he/she is not from the hotel

This is pretty self explanatory. If you’re looking to hire an officiant who is independent from the hotel, you can request information simply by conducting a few internet searches (and talking to past brides). Looking back, I may have explored this a bit. Our officiant was slightly incomprehensible. Luckily, we had personalities to laugh about it but if you’re not in a laughing mood during your ceremony…it may be good to explore.

engagement photos

Engagement photos are becoming more and more popular. I would highly recommend them, especially if you’re going to be doing site inspections. It’s another reason to have unique photos in offbeat settings. It also captures a glow that exists during your engagement that is only topped by post-destination wedding trip and (from what I hear), motherhood.

 

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 6-8 MONTH OUT PLANNING LIST.

 

Wedding planning checklist for destination wedding.

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