Checklist - Count Down to your Destination Wedding.

Wedding Planning

22 Apr

12 MONTHS WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST FOR YOUR WEDDING ABROAD

When you think about the task of planning the whole wedding in another country you could easily freak out 😊. But I am here to tell you that if you break it down into timely sections, and talk to the right people with experience or relevant recommendations, it will be an enjoyable journey. And we can certainly guide you through it!

Just Engaged:

It is time to celebrate! Take a moment and enjoy this time before you announce the news to the world!
Once you announce your news family and friends will start asking about your plans 😊
You are now allowed to pick up a wedding magazine and read it in full view of the public, read up on some inspiration, and start a Pinterest board.
It is time to start think of the size of the wedding you like, the budget you are willing to allocate, and the style of the wedding you will both love!
Download or create your wedding planning checklist.
Considered eloping? If so, you can skip reading the rest of the list!

12 + Months before your wedding:

Some venues and destinations like Cyprus and Greece might be fully booked within the following 12 months so you might want to start looking at venues up to 2 years ahead.
You can start an Excel sheet, and a planning notebook, and consider booking a wedding planner who will do all the work on your behalf.
Create the first guest list draft, remember the big upside of having a destination wedding is that they are smaller in size as not everyone will want to fly abroad
Work on your wedding budget – this will determine the destination and size of the wedding too.
Consider the country, location, and vision you are after – it is helpful to be flexible as you might find exactly what you are looking for in a country you haven’t thought of.
It is always advisable to hire a wedding planner for a wedding abroad – they might be available within the wedding venue package, they might be local with vast experience, or they might fly with you from the UK or another country you are based in
Consider legal vs symbolic ceremony abroad as some destinations have quite complex rules about legal marriages, in some countries residency rule is over 6 months which makes it impossible.
Buy wedding insurance.

12 Months before your wedding:

If possible, visit your venue and meet with as many suppliers as possible.

Have a look at the available dates. Try to stay open-minded – mid-week and off-season wedding dates might just be perfect and fit better with flight times.
Find out how many working days you need to be in the country to be able to legally marry
If you are opting for a symbolic ceremony – who will be officiating it?
Then look at flight times and holidays that match the legal requirement, your budget, and your families’ budgets.
Only then consider booking your wedding venue, transferring the deposit, and signing the contract.
Book your travel as soon as possible as the prices will only go up (flights are usually available to book 11 months before the desired flight time)
Avoid checking the flights and your holidays repeatedly as usually the online system thinks there is demand and this will push prices up!
It is always a saver to book your holidays as a package with ABTA and ATOL-protected travel agent – anything should go wrong they will sort it out for you!
Get travel insurance.
Start outlining the stay timeline, what would you like to do every day, and on the wedding day (note that ceremonies in hot countries are usually in the early evening due to high temperatures)

11 - 10 Months before your wedding:

Please know that destination weddings are lot more relaxed, and your planning will start usually only 6 months before the wedding date. Don’t panic if you don’t hear back too often from your planner or suppliers before then.

Start looking for wedding photographers or review their work if included in your package.
Start shopping for wedding dress and suits in your country and think about how you going to transport them – remember the weather in your destination
You can start looking at the menus, if your catering is not included then book it at the same time as the venue.
Start finding out the dietary requirements of your guests.
Send out invitations with full itineraries, ideal flights, and hotels you will be staying in – it is time to book holidays – for you and your guests!

Wedding photographer for a destination wedding

9-6 Months before your wedding:

Suppliers’ details time

Talk to your florist, hair, and makeup artist, décor company, DJ, videographer, or coach.
Add any activities to your wedding – boat trip, open top bus trip, local dancers etc.
Think about your honeymoon – is it a separate trip after you come back? Or will you upgrade your room at the hotel you are staying in

6 Months before your wedding:

It is time to finalise your guest list

Finalise the menus and provide all dietary requirements.
Time to start working on your seating plan – this will take time and might change over time still
You should have paid all the deposits by now, is it time for second payments to all the suppliers?
Have you bought your wedding rings? This is a great day out, you can also opt to make them with an experienced jeweller supervising you (remember 9ct gold is a soft metal and the jewellery will need polishing and cleaning quite often)
Time to shop for your wedding shoes, handbag, lingerie 😊
Time to think about those all-important fine touches (photos to take to the venue, hair accessories, lipstick, perfume for the day, nail polish colour, emergency bag with pins, paracetamol, mints etc…)

Bride in the window in backless wedding dress

Black and white wedding stationery for a wedding abroad

5-4 Months before your wedding:

Order remaining wedding stationery, menus, place cards, welcome sign, order of the day

Finalise the daytime line with your planner or coordinator
Make sure your passport is up to date so you can jet off
Party time – hen and stag dos!

3 Months before your wedding:

Start working on your wedding vows – it is always nice to write your own – if you feel uncomfortable doing this you can write your fiancée a letter they can read in their own time – or, on your first anniversary?

Will you be giving each other presents on the wedding day? Will you be giving presents to the parents during the speeches?
Final dress fitting time!
Schedule Hair and makeup trial if possible
Make sure your bridal and groomsmen party has all correct attire (shoes, socks, correct ties, accessories)

Bridal makeup for a sunny destination wedding

2 Months before your wedding:

Check if all your guests have indeed booked their holidays and will be at the venue at least the night before the wedding day.

Book and confirm pre-wedding drinks and dinner
Finalise your wedding ceremony script, poems, vows, and music (walk down the aisle, sign, walking out of the ceremony)
Finalise music for your wedding breakfast, pre-party drinks, and morning when getting ready 😊
Finalise your wedding ceremony and reception décor
Start wearing your wedding shoes – both Bride and Groom!
Finalise the list of photography list so you don’t miss out on any pictures

6-4 weeks before your wedding:

Make sure you delegate small jobs to the bridal and groomsmen party – they are here for you and here to help!

Decide if you would like an MC – master of ceremonies who makes announcements during the day (usually a groomsman job – the loud one!)
Final payments to all suppliers and the venue
Practice first dance
Time to pick up the wedding dress!
Finalise the seating plan
Finalise your ceremony music and daytime playlist, finalise the playlist for the DJ
Print any information you would like in your guest’s bedrooms – like times and places they need to be for drinks and dinners 😊

Bride and Groom First dance in the evening

2 weeks before your wedding:

Time to start packing 😊

Start preparing your skin for a nice tan – consider swimwear that won’t leave tan lines
Time to have your haircut, colour, and nails done while back at home

1 week before your wedding:

You are most likely already abroad – enjoy yourselves!

Time for a final meeting with your planner
Finalise your ‘Oh Shit’ kit (sewing kit, white chalk, pins, mints, snacks, paracetamol, water, etc.)
Print out or write your vows down
Make sure your phone has the correct extension to work with the venue’s sound system if your music is on Spotify on your phone.
Send the music to your planner/coordinator
Test the ceremony music, download it, don’t rely on the local Wi-Fi