LaSalle Travel Services Inc.

~Things you should know to plan a Destination Wedding~

Tip 1: Plan Early!	Unless you have an impulse and elope, you'll need to start planning your destination wedding as soon as possible. Start looking into locations. What type of environment would you prefer - tropical islands, majestic mountains, quaint country side, or urban excitement? Do you have in mind a particular type of lodging? Also, because there are limited options on destinations, you want to ensure that you get the wedding you want before another couple beats you to it.
Tip 2: Budget In total, how much do you want to spend on your destination wedding? Major components include transportation, accommodations, wedding ceremony, reception and group activities. Are you planning to cover any of your guests costs? (Not required by etiquette, although many couples choose to offset some costs for certain family and friends.) Ideally, how much would your guests like to spend (per person) in order to attend your wedding?
Tip 3: Ceremony and Honeymoon What type of ceremony do you want - lavish, laid-back, cultural, at a resort, in a house of worship, or on a cliff overlooking the ocean? What are the legal requirements of your destination possibilities, and how difficult is it to meet them? Do you want a reception after the ceremony and if so, what type - sit down meal, beach BBQ, finger food and drinks, etc? Chances are your wedding locale will also extend itself into your honeymoon destination. So think about where you would like to honeymoon along with where you wish to wed.
Tip 4: Package Deals Almost all destination weddings can be planned as a package deal. If you thought that a destination wedding would break your back, it might not be so. In fact, destination weddings can actually turn out cheaper! Also, with package deals you can get great rates for accommodations for all your guests. You can also get good discounts on travel fares. Plan your wedding during the off-seas to really do well within your budget.
Tip 5: Legal Eye	All set to say 'I do' and find out you can't? If you are planning your wedding abroad this is something you really need to pay attention to. Ensure you have all the important documents in place way before the wedding day. Call the consulate of the country you are getting married in and check with them before hand for the exact requirements. Be sure to ask about the following: residency requirements, required documentation, medical tests, processing time for paperwork, proof of divorce, witness requirements, and the rules for a religious ceremony verses a civil ceremony. Do documents have to be translated? Notarized? Who can do this legally?
Tip 6: We're going to have a party! The idea of a destination wedding is to ensure everyone has a grea time, including you. Trotting alond half way across the globe to attend your wedding is going to be an effort on everyone's part. Make it worth their while. Plan a host of fun activities. Give everyone a list of things they can do while there. Also, some of your guests may want to extend their vacation or make mini-trips on the side. Provide them with all the required information. Make it an affair to remember!

With enough forethought and planning, a destination wedding can be the perfect way to start your married life!