Traveling elsewhere for weddings is quickly becoming a popular trend in the modern wedding category. Offering the opportunity for your wedding guests to have some fun in the sun while attending your special day is a great way to add a little extra to your wedding and make it an event that your family and friends are sure to remember. Going to a vacation destination is also a great way for the happy couple to enjoy their honeymoon at the same time as their wedding, without the hassle of travelling after the ceremony.
Choosing destination wedding invitations can be a little tricky. There is quite a bit of information that you need to include in your invitation, but you do not want to overwhelm your invitees either.
The first step for choosing your destination wedding invitation is to choose the design you love. Most couples usually want to incorporate the theme of the destination into the design: sandy beaches, expansive oceans, shells and palm trees are popular choices for warm destinations. However if your destination is elsewhere, choose images that speak to that particular area when designing your invitation.
Next you should make a list of the information you might need to include in your wedding invitations. Standard invitations only have sparse information: who, what, where, when, and why. A destination wedding needs to include much more information so your invited guests can make informed decisions if they plan to travel and attend your special day.
The information that you should give your invitees includes:
You should also include local maps and information about the destination. Offering some additional information about local attractions that your guests may enjoy and maps of the area can offer them the opportunity to have some vacation time of their own while attending your wedding ceremony. Perhaps you may arrange a tour or special event other than your wedding that you will offer your guests. Regardless, be sure to include some local information so your guests know what they can expect upon their arrival. You should include the local time zone, weather type (hot and sunny!) and available recreation areas and attractions.
Choosing a double sided invitation is a great way to ensure you will be able to incorporate all the information that is needed to be given. This allows you to put the basic invitation information on the front side and the more detailed information of travel arrangements on the back of the invitation card.
Many couples choose to have a local celebratory reception as well, to allow those invitees who could not attend the ceremony to still share in the festivities. This will mean an extra piece of stationery to include with your invitations. If you are having a separate, local reception, be sure to include a second invitation to that celebration as well.
It is also important to remember that when you plan a destination wedding that you leave plenty of time for your guests to decide and arrange for travel. Somewhere between three to four months should be an adequate amount of time for your guests to decide and prepare. The more time you offer your friends and family to plan and make travel preparations, the more people you are likely to have at your wedding ceremony. It is always a good idea to try and secure some kind of deal at your destination. Many resorts and tropical destinations offer wedding packages that include specials for guests as well. If you do not have this as an available option, you might want to find a hotel that will offer deals for multiple rooms. You may even be able to get your wedding suite free if you reserve enough rooms. You obviously want your wedding day to be a day you will remember for the rest of your life. Be sure to find a great destination for everyone involved.
Rachel Jackson is a freelance writer who writes about family events such as weddings, often focusing on specific aspects of a wedding such as the destination wedding invitations.
