4. Stalk your location
Can’t line up a venue visit? Don’t panic. Because while nothing beats the real thing, you can cover a lot online these days — from virtual venue tours to supplier catch-ups via Zoom. “Take your time, do your research, ask lots of questions,” says Claire, who organised her Koh Samui elopement from Australia. Following the socials and real weddings of your venue and suppliers will help create a realistic picture of what to expect. Use trusted sources, keep communication open, and then prepare for that final leap of faith. "Sometimes you just have to trust it's all going to work out," say Hannah and Alan, who celebrated a dream wedding in Thailand after months of well-considered online planning.
Of course, if there’s a key element you just need to see (or sample) for yourself, a visit will help. For Amber and Martin, it was ensuring their food was top-notch for guests making the destination wedding journey. “We took a three-day escape (six months before the wedding) back to Port Douglas to do some wedding food tasting,” says Amber. “Our confidence was then assured.”
3. Leave time for your guests
Holiday weddings are awesome — but spare a thought for the commitment your guests are making, especially those flying in from around the world. “We skipped ‘save the dates’ and an engagement party and gave our guests over 11 months to plan and organise their trip,” say Laura & Jeremy, who married on Fitzroy Island. “It’s not only the bride and groom making extensive plans, so this is a great tip to ensure your guests can attend!”
After the initial invites, a wedding website is also highly recommended, especially if you’re bringing a crowd. Be sure to include: detailed travel information & dates; dress code; advice on local accommodation & activities; and a password to ensure your crew are the only ones turning up for poolside cocktails.
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Photos: Rian Cope; Sarah Christensen