The Dos and Don’ts of Planning a Caribbean Destination Wedding

Are you interested in a destination Caribbean wedding? If so, there are some things that you should do and some things that you shouldn’t do during the planning stages. What are these dos and don’ts and how can they ensure that you have a Caribbean wedding that dreams are made from?

DO decide to combine your honeymoon and Caribbean wedding. There are many benefits to combing your honeymoon and wedding into one big trip. The greatest benefit of all is the money that you save. Most times, you can have your wedding ceremony and wedding reception, if you choose to have one, right on the grounds of your Caribbean hotel or resort. Moreover, you want a destination wedding, but you also want to have a honeymoon. If you do the two separately, you would need to pay for airfare twice. Save your money. The Caribbean is so beautiful and filled with many great activities that you won’t suffer from a moment of boredom, even if you stay a week or longer.

DON’T opt for the cheapest wedding package, but rather the Caribbean wedding package that gives you the best value for your money. This is your wedding, so splurge a little. Remember, if you combine your wedding and honeymoon, you will save money anyways, so you have a little bit extra. It is okay to examine all of your staying options, which include Caribbean hotels, but…

DO book a stay at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. As previously stated, most resorts enable you to have your wedding reception and wedding ceremony right onsite. All-inclusive resorts give you this option. Not only that, but they are the perfect way to spend your honeymoon too; they are ideal for extended trips. All-inclusive resorts are known for being jam-packed full of services, facilities, and other amenities for guests. A stay at an all-inclusive resort gets you more than just a room or a suite; it also includes some forms of onsite entertainment, qualifying airport transfers, food, drinks, snacks, and tips.

DON’T forget to ask about free standard wedding ceremonies. Yes really, free wedding ceremonies. This is another one of the many benefits to opting for an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. Many resorts give guests the option to have a free wedding ceremony with a minimum nights stay, which is usually 3-nights or 5-nights. If you stay even longer, like 7-nights or 9-nights, the resort may take care of the fees that are required to legalize a marriage in a foreign country.

DO make your Caribbean wedding and travel plans in advance. Caribbean weddings are increasing in popularity. Although all-inclusive resorts are equipped to handle multiple wedding ceremonies at once, the first one to make their reservations usually gets the first and best choices. For example, if you wait to book your Caribbean wedding, the resort garden, in which you wanted to have your wedding ceremony, may already be booked for another special event. It is best to aim for four, five, or even six months ahead of your anticipated wedding date. Giving yourself time isn’t only important to having the wedding of your dreams, but it also allows you to acquire all necessary documents, like your passport.

DON’T make the mistake of only inviting a few guests. Planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean is hard. You might assume that most of your friends and family wouldn’t attend because it can be expensive traveling to the Caribbean. You know that one of your aunts is on a budget, so you decide not to send her an invite, but you invite other relatives. This is not recommended because it may cause family problems, which can put a damper on your wedding. It is best to go ahead and invite those that you want in attendance at your wedding. If they cannot afford to come; they cannot afford to come.

DO purchase destination themed wedding invitations. Of course, you can buy any type of wedding invitation you want, but creating a theme and sticking with it is beautiful. Many retail stores, as well as custom invitation companies, have Caribbean themed wedding invitations that you can purchase for an affordable price.