A destination wedding is often defined as a ceremony that takes place away from the couple’s hometowns. But it means so much more. It’s not just about exchanging vows in a far-off location; it’s about fulfilling a dream—whether it’s getting married on a sun-kissed beach, in a historic castle, or in a place that holds special significance for the couple. For many, a destination wedding also doubles as the perfect beginning to a honeymoon or a unique holiday experience for guests.
However, with all the joy and excitement that comes with a destination wedding, there are also challenges that require careful planning and consideration. One of the most crucial aspects of ensuring a smooth and memorable celebration is selecting the right wedding planner and suppliers. This is particularly important when one or both partners have specific cultural traditions they want to incorporate, such as in Asian weddings.
A destination wedding brings a certain joy and celebration, a feeling that’s hard to replicate in a traditional setting. But of course, the couple has a lot to consider, and mistakes can be made if the right team is not there to help you.
Choosing Your Destination Wedding Planner and Suppliers
So today, I wanted to discuss choosing wedding planners and suppliers for a destination wedding where one or both of the couples have an Asian background.
You do have a choice. You can choose a wedding planner or supplier you know who can help you with their team, create, plan, work together and deliver your destination wedding.
You can also choose a wedding planner and suppliers at the destination country or venue where you wish to have your wedding.
The Differences
If you choose a wedding planner or supplier you know who is in the country you already live in, you will have more opportunities to meet and personally speak to ensure that what you want is what you will get. They will also work with you to ensure that your wedding vision is delivered.
Things to consider for this option are flights, hotels, food, drinks, taxis to and from airports, transfers from airport to hotel, hotel to venue (if different) and the return journeys. It is also important to consider any down days and whether you are taking items for the pre-wedding events, the ceremony and the reception yourself or having them provided by the destination wedding venue.
If you choose a wedding planner and suppliers that you do not know, and they live in the destination where you want your wedding or somewhere else, nearly all meetings will be on Zoom, Teams or phone calls. You will normally do a site visit to the destination venue and meet the planner and suppliers there. But you don’t really get to feel their passion and understanding up close.
Things to consider are fewer flights, fewer hotel rooms, less food, fewer drinks, fewer taxis, fewer transfers, and fewer down days.
Knowledge and Experience
The knowledge and experience of the wedding planner and suppliers are very important when you are choosing them. Just because they say that they have done many Asian weddings before does not mean that they have. Ask to see where the reviews are and where you can see photos or videos. Ask how they do bookings, contracts, and payments. It is your destination wedding, so ask as many questions as you need to.
The Ceremony
When thinking about your ceremony and the items you will use, it is important to establish whether your local-based planners or suppliers will take the items needed for the ceremony, whether you need to take them, or whether the destination planners or the venue will provide them.
If a local planner or supplier is buying and taking, you know you will get what you need because they will show you in advance so you have time to say yes or no.
If the destination planner or venue is providing the items, you need to make sure you give them a detailed list. This list should include the item, why you need it and what it will be used for. I suggest that you also ask them to take photos and share what they have so that you can share them with the planner or supplier and choose early enough if it is right or wrong.
As a Multicultural Wedding Ceremony Celebrant, have things gone wrong for me. Yes, they have, and this is why I am sharing my thoughts in this blog.
If you want to learn more about my wedding ceremony celebrant services for destination weddings, you can find out more here or sign up for my free Destination Wedding email guide.
