A destination wedding can be the most romantic and memorable kind of wedding for both you and your guests. It can also be slightly stressful if you’re not prepared for the extra work of hosting a wedding some distance away from your home. To help you overcome any worries, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you plan the destination wedding of your dreams.
Your Perfect Location
Choose your perfect location not only by the feeling and atmosphere (rustic, sophisticated, beach), but also based on the travel, time and budget required to make it happen. You want your family and guests to leave your wedding weekend saying, “That fit them perfectly!” The elements of your wedding — not just location, but also activities and overall feeling — should say something about your personal style and your passions.
The Right Time of Year
Usually when the weather is at its best in certain areas, it is also tourist season. That translates into more crowds, fewer venue and hotel availabilities and higher rates all around. So, if you choose to marry during high season, you should decide early, reserve room blocks and venues immediately and send out save-the-dates 10 to 12 months in advance.
Remember: Rumbling Bald has over 200 available rental properties which can sleep groups from two to twelve. Our groups coordinator can easily help you book resort homes, condos or villas for your family, bridal party and guests in advance.
Visit Your Destination
We really encourage you to take at least one planning trip and if you can two would be ideal. This will give you a better chance to evaluate the feeling and atmosphere of the space more than photos can illustrate. On the first trip, scout and obtain your key venues — ceremony and reception spaces, hotels for guests, a rehearsal dinner venue — and local vendors such as caterers, florists and photographers. Next (or during a second trip), schedule “tastings” with your caterer, see sample bouquets from the florist, plan a hair and makeup session with a local salon and organize activities (golf, tennis, walking tours, museums) for your guests.
Your dedicated wedding planner can arrange accommodations for your bridal party, family and guests, assist with rehearsal dinner and reception arrangements and menus and schedule salon sessions at our onsite spa for bridal party hair and makeup.
Evaluate Vendors Carefully
Hopefully, you will have a dedicated wedding expert (or planner) available to you at your destination who can assist by providing a list of trusted local vendors. While you can view vendors’ portfolios and references online, you’ll be leaving a lot in their hands, so it’s important that you trust your vendors to provide the level of product and service you expect. That’s why we strongly suggest that you make at least one planning trip to meet with potential vendors. If that is impossible and you must hire vendors unseen, schedule a video chat so you can get a sense for a their personality and professionalism before you sign a contract.
Are you considering Rumbling Bald Resort as your wedding venue? We’ve already done the hard work for you and compiled a list of recommended vendors from bakeries to florists.
https://rumblingbald.com/weddings/vendors/
Make Your Guests Comfortable
In addition to arranging group rates for flights and accommodations, provide driving directions to your wedding location and include to and from the nearest airport. Make everyone welcome at the rehearsal or welcome dinner and a next-day brunch. Another thoughtful touch is to deliver welcome bags to their rooms, full of essentials for the trip, like suntan lotion, bug spray, etc.
At Rumbling Bald, we can easily coordinate reservations for leisure activities and complimentary transportation service across the Resort.
Get Ready, Set, Go!
We know your wedding is more than just a ceremony and Rumbling Bald Resort is the perfect place to create the magical wedding of your dreams. In a magnificent mountain setting, your friends and family can share and celebrate this very special occasion. No matter the season, Rumbling Bald can create the unforgettable moments a destination wedding can provide for you and your guests.
For more tips on planning a destination wedding, download our ebook!
