Calendar Countdown to Your Destination Wedding Day

Editor’s Note: I found this good summary of a time line and  “to-do” list for planning your destination wedding  posted by Beach Bride Blogger, April, 2010. Thanks Beach Bride Blogger for sharing your tips!


Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life. This creates a lot of anxiety in many of our Brides. But how can you think clearly when you’re stressed? This post includes a `to do’ list and time line for planning the Big Day.


There are many fine details to attend to when planning a wedding. To help you marrying the following is a comprehensive list of things you need to do and when you need to do them from now until then:

Photo courtesy of Beachside Brides Blog

6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR

1.    Decide on the budget.
2.    Choose your wedding style:

•     Small, boutique style resort
•     Large, mega- resort
•     Group or just the 2 of you
•     With/ without children

3.    Research destinations and hotels.
    Tip: Narrow your choices to 2 or 3 in case your first selection in not available

Photo Courtesy MSC Cruises

4.    Request information on the wedding packages at your selected hotels.
5.    Contact the consulates of your chosen countries to obtain the marriage legal requirements and start collecting the documentation.
6.    Select a wedding week.
    Tip: If you have 10 or more guests travelling you will get a group rate.
7.    Finalize the destination and resort.
8.    Contact your destination wedding coordinator or the resort’s wedding planner directly to ensure your wedding date is available.
9.    Confirm your destination and hotel of choice with your travel professional.

Photo Courtesy: Muriel MacRae

10.    Send out invitations to your wedding guests that includes:

•     Destination and resort information
•     Documentation requirements
•     Restaurant dress code
•     Ceremony dress code
•     Price with deposit amounts and date of final payment
•     How to book
•     BETTER YET – Make a wedding website with all of the info on it! See our webpage for free website. 

Photo Courtesy: Invitations by Dawn

 11.    Confirm photographer, you can bring them along or use the one provided by the hotel.
12.    Select bridal attire:

•     Traditional, casual, or custom made
•     Island specific

13.    Confirm hair and make-up stylists are available at the resort.

4 TO 6 MONTHS

1.    Talk with the hotel wedding planner about legal requirements and submitting.
2.    Decide on a la carte options from the wedding packages at your resort and confirm with your wedding planner.
3.    Follow up with the invited guests who have not yet booked.
4.    Select attire for bridesmaids.
5.    Purchase wedding bands.

2- 4 MONTHS

1.    Finalize the wedding attire for the groom and groomsman.
2.    Purchase bridal accessories.
3.    Choose wedding favours for your guests.
    Tip: Look for favours that will not add a lot of excess weight to your luggage such as charitable donations, canvas tote bags, personal luggage tags, or better yet – buy local gifts.

Photo Courtesy: The Aspen Shops

4.    Look into event/tours for your wedding group while in the destination with the assistance of your travel professional at the hotel. For example, a catamaran tour or a special thank you dinner.
    Tip: Ask your travel professional for special group rates on local excursions.

1- 2 MONTHS

1.    Final fitting for bridal attire.
2.    Shop for holiday wear:

•     Swim suits
•     ‘Just Married’ flip flops, beach hats or t-shirts

3.    Pre-book seats on the airplane so all your wedding guests can sit together.
4.    Arrange for transportation to and from the airport.

2 WEEKS

1.    Confirm all details with you destination wedding planner or the hotel wedding planner directly.
2.    Pick-up all wedding attire.
3.    Assemble wedding favours and pack then.

UPON ARRIVAL

1.    Meet with your Wedding coordinator to go over the marriage license and documentation.
2.    Make final cake, floral arrangements, music and location.
3.    Give the photographer an itinerary of your wedding day detailing where the ceremony, photographs and dinner will be held.
4.    Make salon appointments.

WEDDING DAY

1.    Relax, focus on each other and most importantly have fun!
    Tip: Make sure to eat breakfast, with all the excitement it could be awhile before your next meal.

These are the most important wedding planning tasks you’ll need to complete in order to make your destination wedding dreams a reality.

Are there any tasks we missed that may be specific to your wedding wishes? Please share them in the comments below for the benefit of other brides!

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 Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643.