While group travel may frighten some, others love the chance to bring their favorites together on an adventure in a fun destination! The idea of planning a wedding with no local family or friends may excite some and scare off others, but 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!
Planning Your Out-of-Town Wedding
Start here for tips on planning a wedding with no local family, friends, or inside help!
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.) For a wedding with no local family or friends in town, it’s better to send your save the dates on the earlier end of the suggestion. If you are planning your wedding on a holiday weekend, we suggest sending them 8 or even 9 months ahead of time.
Consider a Coordinator
When planning a wedding with no local family or friends in the area, a wedding coordinator will soon feel like family! A local wedding coordinator is going to help you (and save you time) in ways you may never realize. And it’s worth it! The coordinator will tour the venue and organize all your vendors (plus give you stellar referrals they’ve vetted) while you can trust them with your must-have list. If you’re unable to make a trip to your location before the wedding, a coordinator can also be the perfect solution to have some boots on the ground fighting for your wedding day vision!
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, afterwards, 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!
Complete Weddings + Events St. Louis
Complete in St. Louis is the leading provider of DJ, photography, videography, photo booth, and coordination! We would love to be a part of your big day and are happy to put a wedding package together for you in order to make your dream wedding a reality. Reach out to us today by clicking here to learn more about our services!