How to Plan a Caribbean Beach Wedding
Destination weddings have grown in popularity in the past few years, and one of the most popular places to have a destination wedding is in the Caribbean. Most people who plan on having their wedding in the Caribbean opt to have their wedding at an all-inclusive resort because to makes things easier for both the couple and the guests. Regardless of where the wedding is however, there are certain steps that need to be taken in order to plan a successful wedding. Here are the steps to planning a Caribbean beach wedding.
Budget
Deciding on a budget is the first thing that any couple should do prior to making any wedding plans because they need to be sure that everything that they are trying to do for their wedding fits within the confines of the funds that they have available. The budget should include transportation and accommodations costs, ceremony and reception costs, as well as other pertinent expenses such as attire, rings, etc.
Choose the Destination
There are hundreds of islands in the Caribbean, so to say “I’m getting married in the Caribbean” really doesn’t narrow things down at all. Jamaica has a lot of budget accommodations, while Aruba tends to be more expensive, and Saba does not have a beach at all. So, when choosing an island, be sure that it fits within the vision and the budget of the wedding.
Research Marriage Requirements
Some Caribbean islands require blood tests that need to be taken well in advance, while others just require a identification and the couple to spend “x” amount of days on the island before they get married. It is important to research what the requirements are for the particular island where the wedding is taking place before booking to make sure that the requirements are even feasible.
Coordinate the Details
If the wedding takes place at an all-inclusive resort, most resorts will provide a wedding coordinator to help assist with the planning of all the details like flowers, decorations, cake, photography, etc. If in fact the resort does not have e a wedding coordinator available, a local wedding coordinator can be hired, or, for couples who want to do things themselves they can visit websites likeThe Knot, orBest Destination Weddingfor suggestions from real brides and grooms for booking the details.
Send Save The Dates and Invitations
Save The Dates typically are not sent for traditional weddings, but, can be very important for destination weddings. They are usually sent out six months or more in advance to let wedding guests know that a destination wedding is coming so that they can start saving their money, make arrangements at work, etc. The Save the Date does not have to be fancy; it can be as simple as a postcard or a magnet with basic details of the wedding on it.
Six to Eight weeks before the ceremony, the invitation should be sent out just as it would with a traditional wedding. This time, more specific details will be included. For a unique invitation idea, couples can send a “message in a bottle” or passport invitation to compliment their Caribbean beach wedding theme.
Enjoy the Wedding
Lastly, after all the planning is done, it is time to travel to the Caribbean and enjoy the wedding.
