4 destination wedding mistakes: Tips to avoid the avoidable

Ask any wedding planner what couples want to know first, and they’ll all tell you the number one question they hear is “how much does it cost?” Right away. And yes, budget matters, but there are other things worth considering first, because they’re the ones that keep the most common mistakes from eating that budget later.

So we’re walking you through the four that come up most, all of them avoidable from day one. From sorting out your guests’ room blocks and taking the trip before the trip, to deciding whether your vendors really need to be local.

Underestimating the lodging 

One of the biggest mistakes couples make is overlooking their guests’ accommodations, or leaving them until the very end. It doesn’t matter whether you’re getting married in a huge city or a small town. A large group of people will be traveling for you, all arriving on the same weekend, and they’ll all need somewhere to stay.

That’s why it’s a good idea to set up a wedding hotel block early. And if your main concern, like it is for most couples, is how much it’s all going to cost, the block is where that gets easier. Room Blocks by Engine is the best option for booking your guests’ rooms as a group, with hotel proposals you compare side by side and rates negotiated up to 22% below what your guests would find on their own.

Leaving out the scouting trip

You wouldn’t get married without visiting your wedding venue first, would you? That’s obvious, and most couples travel at least once to check out the venue and meet the staff. So what’s the mistake? The most common issue is that while they do consider the trip, they don’t include it in their budget. That ends up with them traveling the very same week they get married, when there’s no longer any room to make changes. 

Ideally, you should include one or two trips at least a year in advance to see the venue in person, check out the facilities, and meet with the venue staff. Ideally, you should include one or two trips at least a year in advance to see the venue in person, check out the facilities, and meet with the venue staff. We usually recommend at least two scouting visits.

Ignoring local laws and regulations

Another common mistake is assuming that the laws where you live also apply at your destination. Even if you’re staying within the same country, laws vary from state to state. You don’t want any surprises, do you?

If you’re planning a destination wedding, the first step, before choosing a venue or a dress, is to check the regulations and prepare all the necessary paperwork to ensure your wedding is legally valid. Some of the key things you need to find out are the following.

• The waiting period between filing the paperwork and the ceremony
• The license’s expiration date, so it doesn’t expire before your wedding
• Whether the preliminary paperwork requires both of you to be present or can be done online
• How many witnesses are required
• Permits for public venues
• Requirements for using fireworks, sky lanterns, or drones

Hiring local by default

Something that many online articles and videos recommend is hiring local vendors. In our experience, it’s a mistake to assume that all vendors have to be from the city where you’re getting married. Mind you, hiring local can absolutely be worth it. The mistake is treating it as a hard rule.

What matters most is how many times that vendor has done the kind of wedding you’re looking for. A photographer who has shot forty weddings like yours in other locations will handle an unfamiliar venue better than one who lives right around the corner and has only shot four. So first, check out the person’s portfolio, and then decide what fits your wedding best.

Well, getting back to the topic of money. Keep in mind that none of this is about spending less on your wedding. What we’re trying to help you avoid with this list of common mistakes is paying twice for the same thing.

So we’re back to the first question. The cost of a destination wedding isn’t something you can figure out just by asking. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from these common mistakes, it’s that time is your best ally. Planning ahead will help you get better prices and secure room reservations, and it will also help you avoid mistakes that end up costing you twice as much, like forgetting a form or discovering that the venue is much noisier than you thought because you never visited it in person. 

You’ve been warned. Now, instead of just asking for a quote, you can start asking the right questions to make sure your wedding is the one you’ve always dreamed of.

And when you’re ready to tackle guest lodging, Room Blocks by Engine can help you lock in group rates without the back and forth.