Evening-Belle

Weddings Abroad

Checklist

As with planning any wedding, it's always a good idea to follow achecklist to make sure you have everything covered. Our handy guideshould help you along the way!

As soon as possible

• Decide where your dream wedding location would be, e.g. whichcountry, on the beach, in a hot air balloon, in the rain forest etc.Then, before booking anything, contact the relevant embassies to findout the exact requirements and necessary documentation. If you have apackage holiday brochure which is advertising weddings in thatlocation, then it is a pretty safe bet that legally it is possible, andthey may even help you through all the legalities.
   
• Work out your budget including airfare, accommodation, fees for thewedding, and any other trips you will want to do during your honeymoonetc.
   
• Don’t forget to look into cancellation/insurance policies – read the small print….!
   
• If you are inviting guests, decide what you are going to pay for(and what they will need to pay for) and speak to them as soon aspossible to gauge interest. These days it is quite normal that guestswill take their holiday for the year at your destination, and thereforepay for it themselves, after-all there are few of us that can afford topay for everyone to go on holiday.
   
• Once you have a rough idea of numbers, choose your perfect weddingpackage and place your booking. Do your research on the internet andlook at brochures and talk to friends and colleagues that have marriedabroad. Find out what went well for them and what to watch out for.
   
• If you're planning your wedding well in advance, you may evendecide to visit the hotel/area/venue beforehand to make sure that it'swhat you're looking for, and to meet any managers or weddingco-ordinators. You need to get the ‘feel’ of the place – is it specialenough…
   
• Make sure your passports are up to date. Some countries requirethat you have at least six months left on your passport before itexpires.
   
• Get together any documentation and make sure that you fulfil all legal requirements on the necessary dates.
   
• When the booking is made, ask the venue who your contact will beand establish email communication with your wedding 'organiser'.
   
• Start shopping for your wedding dress and organise fittings.Remember that most wedding dresses are not designed to travel well insuitcases. They usually have many layers which can be very hot –something you need to consider as most of you will choose gorgeousdestinations in the sun. Look at our bridal section to find dressesthat can be easily packed, cool to wear and that will still lookfabulous after 12 hours in a suitcase. Remember all our evening dressesare available in ivory, and once you have accessorised them, you willhave the perfect outfit.

Six - nine months before

• Send invitations to your guests. Your guests will need this time to organise flights, accommodation and time off work.
   
• As responses start coming in from guests, make sure you help them as much as possible with accommodation etc.

Four months before

• Find out exactly what your wedding package includes and startplanning what you would like to organise yourself. For example, youmight like to take your own cake. Where possible try and getinformation about local supplies at the destination, as items can getruined during the flight. Remember that the destination will haveorganised many weddings and will have the contacts and experience toresolve most requests easily. But don’t leave things to the lastminute.
   
• Shop for all your accessories (shoes, tiara, stole, jewellery andnot forgetting the luxury lingerie etc.) and some 'special' holiday andhoneymoon clothes.

Two months before

• Make sure you have all the documentation you need and check whether you need to send any of it in advance of your wedding.
   
• Make sure you have all your travel tickets and visa’s if necessary.
   
• If you need to take any medical certificates or have any vaccinations, visit your GP.
   
• Speak to the airline and organise how everything is going to be transported.
   
• Finalise total guest numbers with your venue.
   
• If you want to have any beauty treatments at your destination,consider booking them as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

One month before

• Confirm everything in writing and make sure you have written quotesfrom all suppliers. Pack these in to a folder to take away with you.
   
• Organise holiday insurance.
   
• Start compiling a list of everything you want to take, and as you think of something then just jot it down.
   
• Have a think about how you are getting to the airport. You mightwant to consider staying overnight at a hotel nearby so you are freshfor the flight and also so that your dress can hang up in a wardrobefor the maximum amount of time.

Two weeks before

• Start shopping for sun cream and toiletries and other holiday essentials.
   
• Gradually begin the packing process, putting things to one side that need to go in the suitcase.

The week before

• Finish packing.
   
• Make sure your wedding dress is hung up until it needs to be packed or put in a dress bag.
   
• Collect your cake if you're having it made in the UK and any other items to make your day special

The day before

• Label all your luggage clearly.
   
• Confirm flight times.
   
• Have an early night… and a fantastic wedding!