Having fun during your wedding planning process is the most important thing. You might also have to deal with additional logistics, such as language barriers and virtual meetings with vendors if you’re having a destination wedding. Having a destination wedding planner on your side can make your wedding planning experience more enjoyable and exciting. The venue may provide a wedding coordinator, but a wedding planner can provide even more customization. A wedding coordinator is not a VIP concierge planner for the couple.
Destination wedding planners can assist couples in planning the perfect destination wedding, including finding the right florist and videographer. During that time, they also serve as trusted companions, keeping you calm and stress-free even as your wedding date draws closer. Having an experienced planner on your side will make your planning process easier and give you the peace of mind that you deserve.
Here are seven tips for finding the right destination wedding planner.
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Decide what you want
Wedding planners who specialize in destination weddings usually have a wide array of options. Full-service wedding planning is offered by some companies. This option provides couples with a complete wedding planning experience from start to finish. They will start the planning process with the planner, and they will be there every step of the way. They will anticipate the couple’s needs (like what should be on the wedding website to assist guests with travel) and educate them on options (like whether certain venue upgrades are worth the extra cost).
Often, the wedding planner will be present throughout the entire wedding weekend, including the rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch, ensuring that everything goes according to plan. Some people, however, are not interested in doing so much heavy lifting. Some couples want to be more hands-on during the process of planning their wedding. If they wish to create a cohesive and wow-worthy event design or might need assistance with communication barriers in an exotic location, they may want a planner who specializes in that aspect of the event. A destination wedding planner will likely need a big chunk of the final budget, so you’ll want to establish a budget sooner rather than later.
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Do your research
You can begin researching vendors after you set a wedding date, which includes your destination wedding planner. Getting started is an essential part of the wedding planning process. Social media profiles, websites such as The Knot Marketplace, and a wedding planner’s website are examples of digital portfolios. Browse through event photos to see if the design suits your taste, and read reviews to learn more about whether the planner is timely, organized, and compassionate. You can also get recommendations from family and friends. If your coworker is planning a beach wedding in the Caribbean, you could ask whether they have a recommendation for a planner.
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Conduct an interview
Following the narrowing down of your search, interviewing potential candidates is the next step. A meeting as a couple with a destination wedding planner is a great way to ensure that you both have peace of mind with the individual you choose. A couple may benefit from asking each other questions, and it is important to determine whether both of you are comfortable with the situation.
It is recommended that you ask the following questions:
- Do you have availability on my wedding date?
- Can you tell me how many years of experience you have?
- Can you tell me how many weddings you have planned in this area?
- Could you please tell me what planning services you provide, and what your pricing is for them?
- Would you be able to show me pictures of other weddings you’ve designed?
- What is your preferred method of communication?
- Will you allocate a certain amount of time to my wedding every day, every week, or every month?
- Can you tell me what’s included in this package? What are the upgrades and add-ons included in the package?
- Can you tell me how long you will be with us on the wedding day, and what will you be doing there?
- During the wedding planning process, will you travel with me to the destination to meet with vendors? Are there any additional costs associated with this service?
- Would you be willing to help me plan and attend my rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch?
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Consider experience in a locale
Especially when you live far from the destination, you might want a wedding planner who knows the area inside and out. Therefore, if someone needs to get clear umbrellas on a last-minute basis, the wedding planner knows exactly where to point them. Having them on your team can help the day run smoothly, as they’ll understand the venue and have worked with the wedding coordinator before. The lack of experience with a particular location or wedding venue doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker if you love the planner’s style.
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Think about language barriers
The ability to communicate with your wedding vendors is an essential part of making your big day everything you envision it to be. But if you’re getting married in a foreign country, you might deal with vendors that don’t speak English fluently. It can be helpful to have a professional who speaks the language on-site to help overcome language barriers. In case a language barrier might arise, you can ask prospective planners whether they speak the local language fluently. Having this information upfront can make everything run more smoothly on the day of your wedding, and it can also make communicating with vendors more seamless.
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Find a planner you connect with emotionally
Although destination weddings are exciting and beautiful, they take you away from your familiar surroundings. It may be a long flight across the ocean for you to get there, and you won’t be sleeping in your childhood bedroom the night before. You need a wedding planner more than just someone who works with your florist or puts together the most amazing, Instagram-worthy installation. Besides acting as your mediator, your therapist, and cheerleader, they will also be manning the setup site with your team. To make planning effortless and seamless, we recommend having someone you can rely on throughout the process.
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Trust Your Wedding Planner
A wedding planner can often make the process easier, but many couples find it more stressful than they originally expected. A travel agent familiar with the destination will provide you with insights that you will not find on the internet. They know more about the venue, the weather, the vendors, and more than you do. Their expertise has been proven through countless successful weddings. If they suggest a change, they usually have a good reason for doing so. The best thing you can do for your wedding is to be open to your wedding planner’s suggestions. Wedding planners are experts after all.
Hire an expert
There are times when saying “yes” to a wedding planner can be more difficult than finding the perfect dress. When two planners meet all of your requirements, it can seem hard to decide which one to choose. If you are having trouble making a decision, we recommend trusting your instincts.
Do you need assistance planning your wedding? With our event planners in Kochi, we will take all the necessary steps to plan your wedding. Do you need anything else for your wedding?
Let us know in the comment section below.
The primary objective of our company is to ensure that the planning of your event goes as smoothly as possible. Our Inclusive Wedding Package was created in conjunction with this premise. The best event management company Kochi offers event management services to assist you in designing, creating, and personally tailoring your perfect day. We are the best destination wedding services in Kochi.
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