Destination Wedding Timeline

Weddings that take place away from where a bride and groom live are referred to as destination weddings. These types of weddings always take more time to plan than traditional weddings.

The following is a basic destination wedding timeline, which can be modified to suit each couples needs:

Around 12 months, the wedding binder should be created to keep correspondence, business cards, ideas, swatches, photographs, brochures, and other miscellaneous items neatly organized. The wedding binder should be kept in a place that is easily accessible. This is also a time for couples to plan a wedding budget, create a guest list, purchase wedding insurance, and hire a wedding coordinator, (especially if traveling outside the country).

During the eleventh month, couples should decide on a wedding destination, settle on a wedding date, research hotels, weather conditions, distance from an airport, travel and accommodations options for guests, verify marriage laws and residency requirements, and send ‘save the date cards' to guests. Some couples choose to visit their chosen destination for their wedding to make sure it is the right place for them.

On the tenth month, couples should meet with any wedding professional who is traveling to the wedding destination. If the couple has not visited their wedding location prior, this is the time to visit their chosen wedding location.

As the ninth month prior to the wedding date approaches, couples need to gather any legal documents needed to marry at the chosen wedding destination, travel arrangements should be made, reservations scheduled for wedding attendants, couples make their own travel arrangements, and itineraries completed for tours and extra curricular activities for guests.

Month eight is when a bride begins to choose colors, a wedding theme, and style, (formal or casual), for her wedding, register for gifts, and review options for invitations and stationery.

During the seventh month , a bride chooses her wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses are chosen and ordered, groom and groomsmen attire is selected and ordered, and shopping for wedding rings begins.

Six months prior to the wedding date is when couples make final decisions on a florist, wedding cake baker, décor, transportation, menu, and wedding cake order. Wedding ceremony details are reviewed and any necessary items purchased.

Gifts for wedding attendants, parents, and fiancé are purchased during the fifth month . Wedding favors should also be ordered.

At the beginning of the fourth month , the wedding invitations are addressed and mailed out.

During the third month , couples should review and update their wedding budget, review contracts, and familiarize themselves with arrival times and itineraries.

As the second month prior to the wedding quickly roles around, seating charts are created and guests who have not responded, called.

One month before the wedding , all hotel and travel arrangements are confirmed, wedding day itineraries are finalized, and unnecessary rooms are released.

At the beginning of the third week , contracted wedding providers are contacted and details finalized.

Three days prior to the wedding , the couple should arrive at their wedding destination, meet with the banquet manager and details are reviewed. This is also the time when the bride receives any beauty treatments, such as a manicure and pedicure.

The wedding day is the time when couples should take a deep breath, relax, exchange vows, and begin the celebration of their new life together as a married couple.