Destination Wedding Checklist

For hints and tips on choosing the perfect wedding abroad destination click here.

Contact the Foreign Embassy or Consulate to confirm the legal and residential requirements to get married in the country of your choice.
Understand the time frame and the steps that must be completed to ensure your marriage can take place.

Think about who you would like to spend your wedding day with and compile a guest list.
Speak to guests as early as possible in order to estimate the numbers that may attend. This will help when speaking to Wedding Planners, Tour Operators, Suppliers and choosing your wedding venues.
For hints & tips on inviting guests to a wedding abroad click here.

Determine how much you would like to spend on your wedding.
Prioritize the different components of your wedding. For example is it more important to have a great photographer than a Mariachi band?

Determine the style of wedding you would like to have and how much involvement you would like to have in its planning.
Decide which Travel Agent you would like to use.

When getting married abroad most couples hold extra activities and celebrations. For further information click here.
Decide if you will have a rehearsal or pre-wedding day dinner.
Decide if you will have a post wedding day breakfast or lunch.
If you are holding extra celebrations investigate and book appropriate venues.
Decide if you will organize group sightseeing activities. Investigate possible activities.
Decide if you will have a reception upon your return home. If yes, add this to your budget, compile a guest list and investigate and book venue.

Following is a list of the typical suppliers you may need to book or use for your wedding day.

Determine what type of ceremony you would like to have. Civil, Religious or Symbolic. Determine if it is possible to have this type of ceremony at your chosen wedding destination.
Determine where you would like to hold your ceremony and if this is possible. E.g. beach, reception venue, garden.
Determine what customs and traditions you would like to incorporate into your wedding ceremony.
Choose the music for your ceremony.
Choose readings for your ceremony.
Choose or write your vows.
Choose and ask guest(s) to do reading(s).
For hints & tips choosing your ceremony vg

Determine what type of your reception you would like to have. Formal, casual, outdoor etc.
Think what the type of reception venue that would best compliment the style of wedding you have chosen.
Decide what time of day you would like to have your reception. Daytime or evening?
Decide if you would like to have music at your reception. Determine what type of music you would like and when this should be played.
Decide what type of wedding meal you would like. Formal sit down, buffet or cocktail reception.
Determine if you would like to have hors d'oeuvres before the main meal.
Determine how many courses would you like to have. Note: this may vary according to the cultural traditions of the country you are getting married in.
Will you have speeches? Who will give the speeches? When will they take place?

Investigate and select a range of suitable accommodation for your guests. Ensure you find accommodation that caters for all budgets.
Confirm what date your guests must book by to secure accommodation.
Determine if a deposit must be paid. Will this deposit be refundable if a guest does not use the accommodation?
Determine if a hotel will be willing to put information in your guests' rooms e.g. welcome letters & gifts.
Decide if you will book accommodation on your guests' behalf or ask your guests to book their own accommodation.
If your guests are going to book their own accommodation, compile a list of recommended hotels to go in their information pack. Be sure to mention any special rates and booking reference codes.
Ask the hotel if they provide airport transfers. Provide your guests with this information in their information pack.
Determine where you guests are staying & when they arrive and depart.

Compile information pack or set up a wedding website. This information should be given to guests with their invitations.
Write a wedding welcome letter to put in your guests' hotel rooms. This is a nice surprise for your guests and a good way of re-iterating the itinerary for your celebrations.
Create seating plan
Write guest place names for your wedding reception.

Plan the order of your wedding day.
It is really important that you have a timetable for your wedding day. You and your guests will need to know what should happen when. If you are not using a Wedding Planner or Tour Operator it is an idea to hand over the responsibility to a guest - this way they can ensure everything happens when and how it should as you don't want to be worrying about this on your wedding day.