Destination weddings add a unique element to an exciting day that starts the rest of your life together. A destination wedding can be a honeymoon + wedding two-for-one, and it is essential to start planning early. When planning a destination wedding, there are some specific items to consider. Here are some tips to help you along the way.
CHOOSE A THEME EARLY
There are many decisions to make as you plan your wedding. From the location, color palette, and bridal party to name a few, choosing your theme early will help create a reference point for future decisions.
KNOW YOUR BUDGET
Knowing the range of your budget for big-ticket items such as cake, venue, and catering is makes early planning easier. Destination weddings include travel expenses, so break your budget down according to “must haves” and “want to haves.” If you have to spend a little more on a “must have,” you can cut a little from a “want to have” item.
Shop local to save. You can help minimize some expense by using the beauty of the local scenery and using local wedding service providers. Local companies won’t have to charge for travel on top of services.
PLAN FOR GUESTS AND BRIDAL PARTY
Destination weddings tend to include a smaller, more intimate guest list. Ask intended family members and friends early as possible to allow travel arrangements to be made and reserved. It is crucial to book hotel rooms early to ensure availability. If flying, purchase tickets as soon as possible for the best price.
LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS
Once you have a general theme, budget, and guest/bridal party list complete, research your destination location. Check typical weather forecasts for your intended date. Review local activities to ensure major festivals or events are not already scheduled for the same date and location as your wedding.
FIND LOCAL SERVICES
Review and book local wedding services. Connecting with a local caterer, photographer, bakery, band or DJ service can save you some expense, but also can give you more local, destination flavor. No one knows a destination like the locals. Look for ways to incorporate touches of local food, music or fun into your plans. The sooner you connect with locals and book services the better. And you’ll have less stress in you planning process.
North Carolina Coastal Weddings
If you dream of a wedding on the beach, overlooking a lake or on a waterfront… there’s no shortage of waterside wedding venues in Eastern North Carolina. Onslow County boasts beautiful waterways and Atlantic Beach, part of the southern Outer Banks boasts 81 miles of white sandy beaches.
American Dream Cakes serves destination weddings in the Carteret County coastal area and Jacksonville and Onslow County. We serve brides and grooms by email and phone, or when you’re going to be in the area, schedule a free wedding cake consultation at our main location in Jacksonville or our wedding showroom in Cedar Point.
Call us today at 910-346-2437 to start your custom wedding cake order.
