Decided to go for a Destination Wedding? A big day in the sun? Congrats! You won't regret it, but there is plenty of planning needed, and now is the time to start! 

Planning a destination wedding means your ceremony will be much more intimate. But before you jet off to a foreign land, there are a few important details you need to consider.

Our destination wedding experts Fred Olsen Travel have helped to plan hundreds of weddings abroad and honeymoons, and they wanted to share their biggest tips with you. Whether you’re going glamorous in the Maldives or opting for a romantic getaway in Italy, they've got all of your bases covered. From choosing the venue to knowing what style of wedding dress to pick, here are their top tips on how to plan a destination wedding – wherever you decide to tie the knot! 

Select a location that is special to you, but is also practical! 

It can be a struggle to balance practicality with the excitement of selecting a place that holds special memories for you. Maybe it was your first holiday destination together, or where you first met? Either way, if the location only has one hotel on the island… it’s not much use! So make sure you both love the place, and it has the resources to cater for your celebration. 

Give your guests plenty of warning

As you can imagine, inviting guests to a wedding abroad is a lot trickier than bringing them along to your local church. So give your nearest and dearest plenty of time to decide if they can afford to join you, get the time off work, get child-care or if they can actually make the date/s! 

Save money where you can

Your biggest cost will most likely be travelling to and from your destination wedding location and staying there. But try to save money by using the local services as much as possible. Choose a florist nearby, get catering from a nearby establishment, and choose a local celebrant. Use the community as much as possible, and it will surely improve the whole experience and make it even more special!

Keep your guests together

A wedding abroad always runs a lot more smoothly when the guests are kept together – just think of it like an adult school trip! Keep all the kids, (sorry guests!) in one reasonably priced hotel and not only will they have more fun as one big party, but you'll also be able to keep track of them! Just don't set a wedding date without checking room availability!

See the venue before you get married

Remember when the cast of Friends came to London? And the church was being torn down the day before the wedding! This is a little extreme, but it’s best to see your destination wedding venue before you book, a few months before the big day. If the holiday (research trip…) 3 months before the wedding is not possible, then try to arrive 5 days before the ceremony. Doing this will help you plan and organise the local catering etc too. If you don’t have a destination wedding planner.  

 Meet your suppliers in person

In-person meeting’s may not be always possible, but try. Having a face-to-face meeting with a supplier will give you a much better gauge of them as a person, and you may also be able to see where they work etc.

You may also be able to visit the wedding venue with the supplier, which will help map out your day. During your visit you could also get some local recommendations from the suppliers you’ve already hired. 

Make some room in your budget

Decided you want to bring suppliers from the UK? Ok, no problem, but they will need somewhere to stay. Agree on this upfront, and then everyone will be on the same page. Discuss their travel costs too. 

Stuff your suitcase!

Sending items abroad can be expensive and risky, especially within Europe post-Brexit. Picking things up in person can also be tricky, so try to bring as much with you as possible. It will save you time and money, plus you have the delight of finding confetti in your shoes for the next few months! 

Think of your destination when you pick your wedding dress

A lightweight, floaty dress is perfect for a beach wedding, and a lightweight lace is ideal for a hot city celebration. Breathable fabric is something to aim for and if you're packing your wedding dress, then choose something that won't crease too much. But don't pack your gown in your suitcase, take it separately. Even if you have to fold it, you will be much better off giving the gown its own case. Also make sure there are facilities to steam and press your wedding dress either at your hotel, or venue. 

Make sure you have all the bases covered by getting in touch with travel experts like Fred Olsen! They are also the perfect choice for planning your dream honeymoon in the sun!