Why
host your wedding in a county courthouse when you could be taking those nuptials
to Hawaii or some other tropical location?
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Yes, it
is. Still, due to the costs involved, you
just may be the only two enjoying those nuptials. Fold in those traditional wedding elements that
might irritate guests already cash-strapped due to those costs...well, you
might lose relationships as well. What
to do? How to plan your destination
wedding with guests in mind? I’ve got
you covered!
Save The Date
Even
though save-the-date cards are optional, it is best to notify your guests well
ahead of the wedding date (perhaps a year).
Many, if not most, must take vacation time and this may require a year's
notice.
Please
Note
Include a travel agent or venue contact information.
All
who receive save the date cards also receive invitations.
Use
the preferred gift shipment address for your RSVP address. This will help minimize guests shipping or
carrying gifts to your destination wedding site.
Beware Resort Day-Use-Fees
One
of the biggest issues for a destination wedding is the "day-use-fee"
for guests attending the wedding but not staying at the hotel where the event
is held, especially for all-inclusive resorts.
This is essentially an entrance fee of $45-$100 per person. The polite
couple is responsible for this fee.
I’m Out 3 Grand & She Wants an Additional Gift?
Showers
are another touchy issue. Guests can get
very grumpy when their discretional cash disappears.
With
the destination wedding, it may be best to accept only gift-less showers,
as the wedding guest list is typically smaller and attending the wedding is
usually more expensive for guests. Just
consider that if all were invited to the shower, all would be giving two gifts
each. So, it isn't polite to expect them
to fork over more money for an additional gift.
Only
those invited to the wedding may be invited to a shower.
How About Attendants?
Who
pays for attendants' lodging?
Unfortunately for all involved, the bridal couple is responsible for, at
least, two nights which can be a huge expense.
It’s also expensive for the attendant who bought the dress or rented the
tux and bought a plane ticket. Plus, all
the incidental travel costs. So, couples
may want to limit the number of attendants.
Wait! There’s More
Finally,
the happy couple should provide guests with "something" to thank
their guests beside a reception. A
welcome drink and/or a nice basket filled with local goodies are welcomed. Please share your alternatives.
A
reception
hosted at home upon the couple's return is appropriate for those family members
who could not attend the wedding. Please
remember that this is not a gift-giving event.
Take
plenty of pictures and videos of your ceremony to play during the reception.
More
by The Polite One
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