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It is a true tribute to the Australian brides and helps them for a perfect destination wedding. Destination weddings are becoming pretty standard so if you’re newly engaged you might be considering taking the aisle overseas. However, it’s not something you should take on lightly, as even a professional event stylist can attest. We spoke to Danielle Isenberg, events manager of Vogue Australia and also the brains behind her own idyllic Hawaiian destination wedding, to get her best tips on how to pull it off.
First things first, should you have a destination wedding at all?
Isenberg says it’s all about finding a place that is meaningful for you and your partner. Isenberg and her husband chose Hawaii as they had previously holidayed there and both fell in love with the picture-perfect scenery and local cuisine. "However, if you are just set on having a destination wedding, opt for somewhere that suits the style of wedding you would like. Beach wedding? Hawaii," says Isenberg.
Let’s talk numbers and guests
"Depending on how far away your location is, expect up to a 75% drop off rate," Isenberg says of the guest list. "We would have had 400 people in Sydney but only 100 people could make it over to Hawaii," she says.
Timing
"Think about the timing of a destination wedding – around the summer period, makes it easier for people to take off work. Lots of the guests use the location as a starting point for their summer holiday." But don’t forget the local weather forecasts. "Who wants rain on their wedding day? For our wedding, I had to research the whole island to find the dry side!" she says.
Budget
"Most of the wedding costs are the same," says Isenberg. "But you need to consider that you are hosting your guests in another country. There are additional costs involved in the ‘hosting’ aspect – for example detailed invites, hotel transfers, welcomes bags, a welcome dinner or post wedding brunch. Personally, we felt like everyone was travelling so far and we needed to look after them." On the flip side, it could work out cheaper if less people can travel overseas and you are paying per head. Plus don’t forget to factor in the costs associated with putting together the wedding – "Shipping costs!" points out Isenberg, who had to ship her own wedding chairs from a neighbouring island. "If you’re having a wedding in a hotel, don’t forget to ask for a discounted rate for all guests," Isenberg adds.
For more information, click on this link http://www.vogue.com.au/brides/trends/vogues+event+stylist+on+how+to+plan+a+destination+wedding,41858
