How to Protect a Destination Wedding From Disaster

The date has been set. The invitations are sealed and dropped in the mailbox. You’ve picked the perfect wedding dress and tuxedo. Now, the only thing left is boarding the plane and flying to a beautiful location where you’ll exchange vows with the person you love.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Take good care of yourself. Getting sick before your trip could cause it to be canceled or postponed. Prevent this nerve-wracking and potentially expensive incident by getting plenty of rest, avoiding stressful activities and practicing good hygiene.
2. Research the vendors that will be handling your wedding’s details. Whether you’re rushing through the airport or walking down the aisle, you’ll want to make sure that your travel agents, hotels, airlines, caterers and photographers are professional and will deliver the quality they promise.
3. Pack wedding gowns, tuxedos and other nuptial gear in sturdy suitcases that are clearly marked. The airline’s baggage handlers might not care about your thousand-dollar French-styled custom poodle embroidered wedding dress quite as much as you do. If you are investing heavily in the gear then invest heavily in protective luggage. Arriving in the Caribbean to find a shredded tuxedo or a lost gown is a horrible experience indeed.
4. Purchase insurance that covers the trip’s cost, just in case it is canceled due to a natural disaster. While many airlines and hotels are accommodating in extraneous circumstances, some are not. A fire, hurricane, earthquake or any other uninsured catastrophe could hurt your budget and jeopardize the event.
5. Surrender your pride and ask for help. Planning a wedding and making sure every detail is attended to can be a daunting task. Learning to seek help from loved ones such as close friends and intimate family members can alleviate stress and allow you to focus on what’s important: your mate. Besides this, including your guests in the process will enhance their experience while providing you with a number of great ideas.
6. Learn to laugh. Regardless of how well you prepare, something is bound to go wrong during an event as complex as a wedding. If you expect perfection, you will likely be disappointed. So, when the caterer brings weenies instead of caviar or the best man gets drunk and shows up with a tattoo on his forehead, just crack a grin and chuckle. These moments birth lasting memories and are what makes your special day truly unique.

Tips & Warnings

• While it is a good idea to bring friends and family in on the planning process, don’t allow them to monopolize the arrangement or deny your vision.
• Never conduct a bachelor or bachelorette party on the night before “the big day,” especially if you’re in a foreign country. Alcohol and port authorities don’t mix.

Who Can Help:

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