ADVANCED NOTICE
Give invited guests plenty of notice about your destination
wedding, so they have adequate time to save up money for flights,
accommodation and other expenses. Not everyone has surplus cash,
so the more time they have to action a savings plan, the less stressed
they’ll be. It’s not only money that could be a concern. Some guests
may have limited work leave entitlements, so the more notice they can
give their employers the better chance they have at securing time off.
Even those who are self-employed may need to shuffle jobs around to
afford themselves time off to attend your wedding, so do be consider-
ate.THEMED STATIONERY
First impressions count right? So if you want to get your guests
eager about your wedding destination, make your save the date
cards and wedding invitations quirky or fun with emotive imagery that
sets a holiday mood and entices them to want to visit your chosen des-
tination. You can choose colour schemes based on the location of your
wedding, for example green and brown for a rainforest
or hinterland sojourn, or blue and yellow for a fabulous beach bash.
For a beach wedding, you could also consider adding statement
embellishments such as shells, or go for a quirky “message in a bottle”
style invitation. Or how about an invitation that looks like a travel pass-
port or an aeroplane ticket to give your guests the travel bug.
Remember, wedding stationery also includes things like event
itineraries, seating placards, table menus, and thank you notes,
so ensure they all tie-in for a stylish look.ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
When choosing your wedding venue be sure to consider your guests’
needs. If a guest requires wheelchair access or elderly relatives are
attending your wedding, discuss their needs with your potential venue
to see what they can offer. Perhaps a ramp can be used for wheelchair
access, or you can have a ceremony and reception in one location so
that your nan doesn’t have to walk too far in the heat. Also, be mindful
that your chosen venue may be a bit extravagant for some of your
guests, so suggest some alternative accommodation options to suit
different budgets. Before suggesting anywhere, be sure to check it’s in
a suitable location so that guests won’t need to travel too far between
the wedding venue and their accommodation – because you want them to
still feel part of the entire experience.PERSONALISED WEBSITE
More and more brides-to-be are providing wedding websites for their
guests to access. We love the idea because it acts as a central hub for
communication, enabling you to share information quickly and easily.
It’s also a fantastic organisation tool that can help you keep track of
RSVPs and share photos. Include relevant information about the resort
and the destination, along with details about any hen’s or buck’s par-
ties, the wedding day (such as dress code and order of events), as well
as any proposed activities or tours for the days
leading up to and after the wedding. Your guests may find maps of the
local area and information about recommended vaccinations, climate,
currency, transport, must-see sites, and links to relevant travel websites
handy and interesting. You could segregate activities into themes – spa
and beauty for the girls; golf, zip-lining and mountain climbing for the
adventurous; highly rated restaurants for the foodies ... you get the idea.VIP TREATMENT
Try to arrange for a private driving service to transfer your guests to
and from the airport. It’s a small way to thank them for travelling
to be with you. It also gives you added peace of mind that your guests
will feel as comfortable as possible right from the start. Your wedding
coordinator or resort may have operators they can recommend, and
may help to secure a multiple booking discount.Photo courtesy of Cara Marie DesignsPhoto courtesy of Cape Nidhra HotelPhoto courtesy of DreamDay Invitations50