How to Plan a Destination Wedding or Elopement

The Destination Wedding and Elopement Guide

A destination wedding is one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences you could ever have. My husband and I did a destination wedding. I told him I wanted to get married in the trees (Los Angeles doesn’t really have those, they are like big bushes) so we chose a place in the Redwood forests near San Francisco.

And there are so many ways to do a destination wedding! From full on adventure and blood pumping action, to exploring new cities and cultures. You can elope with just the two of you, or bring out a close group of family and friends. Either way, it’s bound to be an experience you’ll never forget.

But I know it can be overwhelming to plan such a big trip. From packing lists, to activity planning, to transportation logistics. Planning a wedding abroad can become stressful if you aren’t careful.

I’m here to help! Hopefully this guide will help you make some concrete decisions, organize effectively, and consider all the possibilities for your special day.

The 7 Step Guide to Planning Your Destination Wedding

Step 1: Begin envisioning the perfect day & Pick a Location

Start by sitting down with your significant other and brainstorming a list of places you’ve always wanted to go. It’s a bucket list of all the trips you’ve ever wanted to take. Sometimes it helps to do some visualization or keep a large dry erase board full of ideas. I know some people who start this process and then keep the board up in their house as a reminder of all their future dreams!

This is your special day, don’t hold back on any weird ideas.

Once you’ve made a list, it is all about narrowing that down. Think about the surroundings. Are you looking for desert sand dunes? Waterfalls? Cobblestone city streets? Cafes? Mountain peaks?

Keep your fitness level and personalities in mind when beginning the narrowing down process. Would you be able to hike the basecamp of Mount Everest if you don’t hike much at home yet? Or maybe you sweat like a pig too much in the heat and tropical or desert locations don’t make sense anymore.

Here’s a guide on choosing the right location to help you make the right decision.

Once you’ve gotten your list down to 3-5 locations, get together with me an we can really start ticking down the decision until we have that perfect location squared away.

Step 2: Begin Researching Your Activities

This can look different depending on location and your personal wedding plan. Are you having a more traditional ceremony with friends and family? Or are you having an adventure elopement?

A traditional ceremony might require a venue. Adventurous activities could include snorkeling, hiking, or ATV rides.

This is when your creative juices begin flowing into the vision of your perfect wedding day.

Search the area you chose in step one for those activities and make sure you begin compiling a timeline of how your day looks.

Don’t forget to also look into the restrictions, legalities and permits require to get married in the country, state or park you are traveling to. National parks in the U.S.A. require permits. Foreign countries have other requirements. Do not forget this step as you might come home to realize you aren’t married.

Step 3: Hire the Vendors/Accommodations/Transportation

Once you’ve compiled the dream vision for your day, it’s time to start thinking about the things and people needed to execute it.

A villa to stay in or a small AirBNB? Rental cars or hired transport? Local hiking guides (for the larger treks) or local food/culture tour guides? Helicopter or ATV rental? Rental equipment such as snorkel gear or extra backpacking equipment?

Sometimes it is super helpful, especially if you are having a more traditional wedding format with guests, to hire a destination wedding planner or a planner local to the area. Even a day-of coordinator would be helpful to handle all the details.

Do you need an officiant? (Good news, if you don’t have or want one, I’m ordained to do it for you! Ask me how!) Maybe you’d still like flowers and need a good floral shop in the area. Either way, compile up a list of vendors you will need, research the area for the perfect people, create a contact page for all of them, and you’re off to the races!

Step 4: Begin gathering the details

Start by making sure all guests that you might bring know exactly where, when, and how everything will take place. Help make it easy for them with hotel recommendations and transportation ideas. My family all stayed in three varying hotels based on recommendations we provided in our invitations.

Think about the items you need to bring and begin a packing list. 1. Dress, 2. Suit or Tux, 3. Jewelry, 4. Sleeping bags or adventure gear, and so on. Packing checklists sometimes seem superfluous but I have never regretted having one.

So how do we pack all of these things for travel? I’m glad you asked.

How to Pack a Wedding Dress and Suit

A garment bag is the ideal packing solution for a bridal gown and tuxedo. You can ask a flight attendant to hang it up during the flight. It also might help to call the airline in advance to let them know you’ll be carrying a very important dress with you. Sometimes this can be extremely successful, even for Bridesmaids dresses.

You could also try folding it carefully in a vacuum sealed bag to place into your carry on luggage. I don’t typically recommend checking in the important items like the dress or suit.

How to Pack the Rings

Make sure your rings are insured. When my husband did this, at first I thought it was a waste of money. But if it had gotten lost or stolen, as so many do, we would be covered. And I’m very grateful he did it.

I’ve known couples to lose their rings in the ocean, drop them in high grasslands, or just get lost in baggage claim. Just make sure you have it covered.

Use a protective box to keep them in inside your luggage.

How to Pack for Adventure Elopements

The gear you need for some adventuring can become quite cumbersome. I recommend looking into renting gear or learning how to pack light. Be sure to check the airline for any restrictions on what can be brought.

Remember, if you check in a backpack, the straps need to be covered so either getting a pack that zips up the straps or placing it all in a duffle bag is super important.

Step 5: Begin the Journey

Get those bags together and let’s hit the road! Check in to your flight, get situated at the hotel or AirBNB, and go out to eat! I mean, food is my answer to all things but seriously, getting that exciting first meal in a new place is always the best.

It’s also helpful to plan to arrive and leave a few days before and after your big day to deal with things like jet lag or delayed flights.

Step 6: Have the Perfect Wedding Day

Now it’s time to focus on what brought you there! Let’s go on an adventure or cuddle up together. Either way, this is your day and you deserve the absolute best and most amazing experience ever.

Step 7: Remember and Relive the Best Day Through Photos Forever

When you get your photos, don’t forget to print them out. Think about a space in your home that you’d like to have them on the wall and we can design a gallery for you! If you’d like an album we can get that going as well. Just be sure to have something in print to physically remind you of the best day of you lives together!

I hope that helped give you some tips and pointers for planning a destination wedding or elopement. Do not hesitate to reach out to me for any questions. This is what I love to do!