Beach destination weddings are the kind of weddings that many women dream about. A wedding that is fun, laid back, and surrounded by beautiful tropical ambience. However, they are not always cheap, so consider the following to help save a few bucks in your wedding budget!
A beach, perfect weather, and the ones you love– what more could a couple ask for on their beach destination wedding day? Beach destination weddings may be perfect, but perfection doesn’t come cheap. If you are planning a beach destination wedding, the best ways to save come with careful planning well in advance.
Start Early
You need to start planning for a beach destination wedding well ahead of time. Popular beach destinations get booked up months or even years in advance. You need to start making preparations early enough so that you can reserve the wedding and reception venues that you want, without having to pay premium prices.
Notify Your Guests Early
You should let your guests know about your destination wedding as early as possible, with save the date cards. You should send out your save the date cards at least several months in advance, preferably as soon as you are certain of the date and location. Remember that a beach destination wedding is very expensive for you and your guests, so give them time to make plans and book their plane tickets. This will also save you and your spouse-to-be last minute travel expenses that you may take responsibility for if some of your guests find out about the wedding last minute and need your help financially to get there.
Work With Local Vendors
It is often much cheaper to work with local services than it is to fly in a staff of photographers, videographers, florists, and more. While many destination locations offer on-site coordinators, they may be more expensive or the package they offer may not cover everything you need. Choose a wedding planner that knows the location, and who can network with local venues and wedding staff. You might have to pay more for a good wedding planner for your beach destination wedding, but they will be able to help you find a good florist, photographer, hair stylist, and more for your wedding. Without your wedding planner, you will have a hard time finding a wedding staff that will meet all of your needs.
Keep Your Wedding Simple
The more details you plan for your wedding, the more people you will have to hire. If you have a friend that is a talented photographer, have him take some wedding photos. Also consider skipping over-the-top floral arrangements and instead rely on the natural beauty around you to set the mood. Having a simple wedding and reception is the number one way to keep your beach destination wedding costs down.