First and foremost is your ceremony site. If you haven’t already read my post on the top things to keep in mind when hosting a destination wedding, check back to the Tuesday, May 3, 2011 blog post! You’d be a fool (well, not a fool, but a silly person) to not take advantage of the gorgeous scenery you’ve immersed your guests in by having your ceremony outside. Most resorts have beautiful outdoor locations (not always in the sand) for wedding parties overlooking the ocean. Keep it simple – the destination ambiance will be all the décor you need on the day of your wedding. Don’t overdo it with flowers and mumbo jumbo.
See a theme in these past few inspiration boards? Flowers in the hair: the most popular hair accessory of the year. But if you’re having a destination wedding, I absolutely encourage you to go for a real flower, rather than a fake pin-in. Choose one in your wedding theme color or something that pops against your hair color. It’s all about the drama – and you can really play it up at your destination wedding. One thing to keep in mind is to have one or two extra flowers refrigerated and waiting as replacements. Especially in the warm air, flowers can wilt after a few hours, so keep some on hand to change out every 2-3 hours.
Brides spend thousands of dollars on the perfect photographer to catch their magical day – what better location to play around in than the Caribbean? Every island has its own culture and feel, and you’ll always find little nooks and crannies, rocks, patios, sunsets, and landscapes to take your wedding day pictures in. This was a fun photograph I found of a couple jumping in the air on the dock – though it looks like they’re jumping into the water, they’re not! Here’s a tip for adventurous brides: take your wedding photos the day after your wedding so you and your husband will be more at ease and without a time constraint. Then after you’re done with all your formal photos, TRASH YOUR DRESS! This is a huge phenomenon for brides – they take their dress and do something to destroy it. Get some photos of you jumping in the water and splashing around! Anyways, when are you ever going to wear this again? Have fun with it!
Adorable cake toppers like the one shown on the inspiration board is just one of the fun ways to tie in your destination wedding theme into your décor and the details of the wedding. You can find cake toppers like this on etsy.com.
A lot of couples choose to have their reception dinner indoors to keep their guests on the cooler side, especially if the ceremony was already outdoors. Either way, they’ll be happy to be where they are for your wedding. If you do choose to have an indoor reception, make sure to have some seating and lighting outdoors, as well! The cool Caribbean night air is like no other, and believe me, in the still of the night, the music inside will make its way out.
I loved this favor the minute I saw it and had to include it on the inspiration board. Miniature sand buckets filled with little trinkets like umbrellas and shovels are an amazing way to keep your guests wanting more. Simply use a black sharpie to neatly write everyone’s names and table numbers on each bucket and you’ve got an easy DIY project that will make your family and friends smile.
The next photo is of an invitation sent out – the bride designed it herself using textured paper that she found at her local arts and crafts store, along with dried starfishes (fake, of course). The invitation was so easy to make! She used her two wedding colors – pale blue and purple – as the larger and medium square, then the textured paper as the backdrop to the actual invitation. She then re-used the pale blue paper as the paper that would have the announcement on it. Tie the whole thing together with a strip of the same type of papers glued together, slap your starfish on top and VOILA! Everyone’s going to want to be at your wedding this year.
Fans are a great way to keep your guests cool in the warm sun, while doubling as the program for your reception. Fans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors – I’ve seen everything from paper fans, to these wooden ones, to plastic fans in a rainbow of colors. Your guests will surely appreciate this gesture.
Keep your dress simple – you’re out at your destination wedding, you don’t want to be hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable in your dress! Materials like chiffon, organza, and Charmeuse are ideal for destination weddings because they’re movable, allows you to breathe easily in it, and they’re light. If you want to go a little fancier for your indoor reception, change dresses!
Having a small welcome bag for each of your guests in their room is a wonderful way to great them to a week (or weekend) full of fun. Add a welcome note, some flip flops, water, and information about the area you’re in to get them in the mood to explore.
Parasols are also a nice gesture for your guests, along with the fan program. Pick up some colorful straw and paper ones in Chinatown or even your closest Dollar Store! Rather than just throw them into a basket for people to take, personalize them a bit by wrapping a strip of paper with your monogram around it. Small details like this are a nice way to personalize each aspect of your wedding day.
Last but not least is their favor. I always suggest giving away something that is reminiscent of the island they’re visiting – whether it is a spice, trinket, or bottle of a locally brewed beer. This couple chose to give each guest a small vial of sand from the beaches in the country. They tied a monogram ribbon around each bottle and the bride glued sea shells they found to each. It’s a nice, easy, and inexpensive way to say “Thank you” to your guests.
In all things bridal,
V
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