How to plan destination wedding: the stress-free guide full of tips

Dreaming away at sunset on a deserted beach, saying “yes” with the Norwegian Fjords in the background, or dancing until sunrise in a riad in Marrakech…. doesn’t that sound like the perfect start to your honeymoon? Getting married abroad is a unique experience that you will never forget. And for adventurous couples with style, it’s the perfect way to combine their passion for travel and the unknown with love for each other.

In this guide, we will lead you step by step to your dream wedding abroad, with an eye for detail, exclusivity and unforgettable experiences.

1. The dream location of your destination wedding

Go ‘off the beaten track’ and look for a unique location that suits your personality and adventurous spirit. Think a pristine mountain peak in Iceland, a vineyard in the Tuscan hills, or a secluded beach in the Canary Islands (yes they exist!). Get inspired by travel stories, photos and blogs of other adventurous couples. Or maybe you have a special connection to a particular region and want to share the love for it with your inner circle? I know one thing for sure: there are so many beautiful places in Europe and far beyond that are perfect for a wedding celebration.

Less wedding-stereotypical regions in Europe that are worthwhile (both in terms of scenery and budget): Cantabria, Asturia, the Canary Islands, the Greek Islands, Sicily, Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Slovenia, the Dolomites, …

destination wedding in the Canary Islands

Married couple at Château de Mairy in France

2. The practical side of getting married abroad

Wedding formalities, visas, vaccinations (if you’re going really far away)…. there is a lot involved in getting married abroad. Make a list of all required documents and arrange everything in a timely manner. The website of the Federal office Foreign Affairs and the embassy of the country where you want to get married are useful sources of information . Engage a wedding planner who has experience with weddings abroad and let them take the worry off your hands.

3. The budget

A destination wedding can be more expensive than in Belgium, but there are certainly options to fit any budget. Decide how much you want to spend and make a realistic schedule. Set priorities and find creative ways to save without compromising the unique experience you envision. Experience tells me that weddings in Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Morocco and Eastern Europe can come out cheaper than getting married in Belgium. Locations such as Italy and southern France will then be as expensive or even more expensive compared to Belgium.

The number of guests will of course also determine your budget, and while it is quite normal for weddings in Belgium to have more than 150 guests, a more intimate party is often chosen for a wedding abroad. So a smaller number of invitees. No obligatory invites, you consciously choose to invite only the people who are close to you.

Tip: get your guests excited about the idea of your destination wedding well in advance, so everyone knows you’re going on the move.

4. Planning:

Proper planning is crucial for a destination wedding, especially if you want to get married during peak season or travel to a remote location. Start preparations on time and book the venue, master of ceremonies, photographer (ahem!), and other vendors well in advance. Make a schedule with all deadlines and tasks so you don’t forget anything.

Definitely keep in mind that “in the South” everything is a bit slower. This may sound very stereotypical, but it is effectively so. A wedding planner is really not a luxury in this regard, someone who will assist you and help you follow up on the planning. Also take into account any language barrier.

Will you make it a very wedding weekend? You obviously won’t let your guests travel down to southern Italy for 1 day, so often extra activities are organized to make your guests as comfortable as possible and fill any “waiting time. A chill welcome barbecue on the day everyone arrives, a hangover brunch the day after the wedding, but also: a nature hike, a kayaking trip, a yoga session, a ping pong tournament…, some of the activities I already experienced at weddings abroad. It doesn’t always have to be the fanciest activities to be high fun!

5. The ceremony:

Do you want a traditional ceremony or something unique and personal? The possibilities are endless! Choose a ceremony that suits your style and makes your wedding day extra special. Consider a ceremony on a mountaintop, in a ruin or on a deserted beach. The possibilities are endless, and when you work with the right professionals, you can really work toward creating a special experience for yourself and your guests. While in Belgium the options are often limited, the sky is the limit abroad. Do you really want to put down something creative? Make sure you include someone on your team who knows the area inside out and discuss all your wishes with your wedding planner and stylist, The sillier, the more excited they get about it!

6. The party:

Time to celebrate! Think about the music, catering, decorations and activities you want to offer. Provide an unforgettable atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy. Hire a DJ to play your favorite music, or organize a live band. Serve exotic dishes and cocktails that match the venue and atmosphere of your wedding. If you’re in Morocco, make sure you have typical mint tea with dessert, for example. Are you partying in Italy? Welcome everyone with a shot of limoncello.

7. Book your destination wedding vendors

Who are you capturing at your wedding venue and who will you possibly bring from Belgium? That’s a question I often get as a destination wedding photographer. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors:

Do you have connections in the area where you are getting married?
Do you speak the language?

To get in touch with local vendors, Google and Instagram search helps anyway, but if finding the right vendors in Belgium is already difficult, it certainly is abroad. You probably do not know anyone who has already worked with those vendors abroad, so finding solid references is difficult. My tip is this: bring some vendors from your home country, and work with some local vendors.

Bring from Belgium:

Wedding planner: if he/she has experience at your location, knows the region more or less and possibly speaks the language. A wedding planner usually has a very large network, including abroad. Getting things done is why hiring a wedding planner is so incredibly helpful.
Ceremony speaker: if you want a ceremony or a special place and you do not necessarily want to get married in front of the Church it is best to bring someone from your home country.
Wedding photographer: I cannot stress it enough: your wedding photographer must understand you, literally then. A photographer must speak your language because what is said is crucial to taking the right pictures. Are you curious about my work, both at home and abroad? Find it here.

Arrange locally:

Florist: I’ve already known of a florist being flown in from Belgium, which is certainly possible if you’re looking for a specific style, but if you look carefully you’re probably going to find someone abroad whose vision is very similar to yours as well. It also speaks to having your flowers sourced locally.
DJ
Catering.
Technology: sound and light
Rental of styling materials: furniture, linens, tableware and other deco

8. The last tips for a destination wedding:

Hire a wedding planner: This can save a lot of stress and help you plan and organize your dream wedding. Choose a wedding planner who specializes in weddings abroad. My list of favorite wedding planners: Wonder Weddings, Tabloo Margot, Table Stories, Les fêtes de Coco, Meet Marcel, Eline Ros, Simon Verhoeven, The Beloved Nomad
Learn a few basic words in the local language.
Consider the culture and traditions of the country where you are getting married.
Enjoy the process! Getting married abroad is an adventurous journey that you will experience together.