Recently there’s been this growing interest in destination weddings. My initial thought was how troublesome and expensive it can get, and also what if my beloved guests can’t afford the budget and time away from home? Those were my worries a few weeks ago. Now I think I might be totally sold…
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Myth #1: It’s too much work.
Truth: What you’re probably actually saying when you proclaim that it’s too much work, is that it is work unfamiliar to you. Marrying in your home country is more psychologically comforting because you have friends and family who have gone before you and can recommend bridal boutiques, photographers and banquet packages. You will also be able to settle things conveniently by setting up a meeting with your wedding planner or whoever. But planning for the typical wedding reception and banquet is a humongous task, if you stop to think about it. And because you tend to want to do everything yourself since you’re physically present, you might just end up one frazzled and paranoid bride when your Big Day finally rolls around. Destination weddings are a lot simpler. With the recent craze over them, resorts and cruise lines are more than happy to offer wedding planning services and honeymoon packages to attract couples to get married at their premises. Many of them have full-time wedding coordinators who are familiar with the country’s marriage license requirements, as well as things like the best places to order a wedding cake and the most beautiful areas for photography. Just pay about two trips to your venue of choice to confirm the details and set your mind at ease. The rest of the time, you can continue with your full-time job back at home and trust that much of the wedding details will be handled professionally for you. Now you don’t have to bother planning for that huge wedding banquet. And even on your wedding day the staff at your venue will be running around for you and helping to deal with administrative matters, while tempering the effects of unforseen circumstances (they’re paid to do this). Now how is that too much work for you?
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Myth #2: It’s too expensive.
Fact: I suppose the bulk of this belief comes from the notion that you will have to pay for the plane tickets and hotel/resort stay of your guests. The good news is that you can actually ask them to pay for these things themselves. (While this may sound stingy, it is actually the norm.) Of course, don’t be a scrooge either; you should go out of your way to appreciate your guests for making these financial and time sacrifices. Include a gift basket in every guest room, and write thank-you cards to show your appreciation. You might also want to be sourcing for subsidized plane ticket deals for them, and tell them not to bring any wedding gifts or red packets. Also, pay for family! After adding up all these costs, you might be pleasantly surprised to realize how they still don’t burn such a hole in your pocket as a banquet dinner does. You definitely get more bang for your buck.
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Myth #3: My beloved guests won’t turn up due to a lack of budget or time.
Fact: You can look at this from two points of view. Firstly, the ones who mean the most to you and who treasure you will surely make their best effort to show up. Unless something else equally important to them is happening during the same time period as your wedding, e.g. a long-awaited promotion is at stake, they will be willing to take some time off to celebrate with you. It also makes a refreshing short getaway for them afterall! Where money is concerned, try your best to get the cheapest deals for them in terms of transport and hotel/resort stay, insist that they come without gifts, and the total budget shouldn’t set them back too much. From the other perspective, you have to come to terms with the reality that some of your closest friends will not be able to turn up. Budget and time constraints can still be a problem especially if they’re coming with a family. At the end of the day, destination weddings are meant to be cosy and intimate affairs – so do what you can to help to ease the burden of your guest list, but with whoever eventually turns up on your Big Day, celebrate with and appreciate them.
3. Since these are seating cards, why not make them appear in the form of seats, right? These would be nice for a elegant wedding that is traditional, but infused with some modern creativity. Cream for the ladies, green for the guys.
