While group travel may frighten some, others love the chance to bring their favorites together on an adventure in a fun destination (like San Diego!)! The idea of planning a wedding with no local family or friends may excite some and scare off others. We’re here to let you know this can be a reality. Using the local wedding community and technology resources can help you plan this big event from afar!
Get Referrals from Local Vendors
While preparing to reserve your wedding vendors, gather as much advice as you can from them. Pick their brains on any questions about the area you may have. Get local vendors’ suggestions on other wedding vendors they’ve worked well with that offer services you haven’t booked yet. These venue managers, photographers, caterers, decorators, and DJs most likely work multiple events in the area every month. They can help give you tips or a perspective you might not find from searching online.
Send Save The Dates Earlier
Typically save the dates are sent around 5-8 months before the wedding. (Regular wedding invites sent 6-8 weeks before.) With a wedding with no local family or friends in town, it’s better to send save the dates around 8 months before. We suggest sending them 8 or even 9 months ahead of time if the weekend is a holiday weekend, or will simply be a busy time to travel to that popular location.
Keep Venues & Accommodations in One Area
Having a hotel block or two close to the venue will be essential for out-of-town weddings! But you’ll also save you and guests some hassle if you can book your rehearsal dinner location, wedding venue, and hotel block all within walking distance or ideally the same area of town. If your hotel has a shuttle to the airport, even better! This will cut down on taxi, Uber, or Lyft costs for everyone involved!
Offer Transportation
Keeping your wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception close in proximity to each other might be easier said than done. If your out-of-town guests are having to travel across town for your wedding events, it might be a great perk to offer them transportation.
While booking transportation can be an extra cost you may not have planned to cover for everyone, you can save costs by using the same bus or shuttle for multiple trips, especially if your ceremony and reception are in the same location (or at least walking distance). The transportation can take guests to the ceremony (perhaps in multiple waves) and, afterward, take you and your wedding party to a special location to take wedding photos during a cocktail hour. Then, finally, it can take everyone back to the hotel at the end of the event.
Multiple Services to Make it Easy
Does fewer calls and contacts (plus more savings and services) sound splendid? Complete Weddings + Events offers multiple services to make it easy when wedding planning from near or far! View our locations at completewedo.com/locations and contact complete for information on our event services for your special day!