Destination weddings are such a new phenomenon, it’s easy for a bride to get confused, carried away, or overwhelmed by the things she feels she should or shouldn’t do. Without traditional wedding etiquette and/or planning books to fall back on, what’s a bride to do? Just as important, what are the things a bride shouldn’t do? Here are some dos and don’ts to guide you to destination wedding success!
Dos
Do send out save-the-date cards about six months before the wedding, especially if it’s planned around a holiday weekend. Give everyone time to make their travel arrangements.
Do view your week away as a vacation, but don’t overlook the fact that you’re getting married! It’s not just another getaway, after all. Take some time to connect with your fiancé and appreciate the magnitude of the event after you’ve unpacked your bags.
Do plan on spending time with all of your guests. That’s why you invited them to this weeklong wedding party, after all.Do take the time to talk with your onsite wedding coordinator and/or wedding vendors before you book them. Ask all the questions you can think of, and get (and check!) referrals.Do let your attendants know upfront what they’ll be expected to pay for. Traditional wedding etiquette holds the bride and groom responsible for attendants’ lodging expenses, but in reality, many bridesmaids and groomsmen end up paying their own way.
Don’ts
Don’t announce your wedding and/or talk excessively about it to those who aren’t invited. The one exception is if you’re having a teeny, tiny wedding with immediate family members only.
Don’t get in way over your head financially. Yes, you only get to do this once, but honestly, lots of couples plan beautiful, relatively inexpensive weddings. It just takes time and research.
Don’t plan on paying for all of your guests’ expenses unless your last name happens to be Moneybags.
Don’t drink too much the night before the wedding. Sure, all you have to do is put on your dress and walk down to the beach in the morning, but you don’t want to look green, tired, or puffy-eyed in your wedding pictures.