Trip Ideas tree grass outdoor wedding ceremony flower aisle Nature wedding reception white flower arranging meal floristry centrepiece Party backyard floral design
Trip Ideas

Expert Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding

We talk to celebrity wedding designer David Beahm about all things destination weddings—the hotels, the locations, and why you should never attempt to do it all yourself.

See recent posts by Siobhan Reid

Whether it’s barefoot beach wedding in Hawaii, an island fête in Bali, or a ceremony among vineyards in Tuscany, many brides-to-be dream of having a destination wedding. And who can blame ‘em? There’s just something about tying the knot in a far-flung locale that spells fairytale romance. But turning that dream into reality can be a long and daunting — not to mention, expensive— process. For tips on throwing a next-level destination wedding, and the underrated locations every bride should have on her radar, we caught up with celebrity wedding designer David Beahm, who has designed hundreds of luxury weddings all over the world. Watch our conversation with him here, or read on for his top five destination wedding tips.

You don’t need to travel internationally to find over-the-top luxury

“Every bride wants luxury, but an international travel might not be the answer for every wedding party—especially if not all guests have valid passports. Instead, I like to suggest domestic locations with plenty of beauty and charm. Places like Newport Rhode Island, where you can rent mansions on the ocean, or Charleston, South Carolina, which has gorgeous old antebellum architecture. For something more formal, I’d recommend The Plaza Hotel in New York City, The Breakers in Palm Beach or Meadowood in Napa Valley.”

Exterior Forest Grounds Hotels Outdoors Trip Ideas Waterfront tree grass plant outdoor habitat green vegetation natural environment woodland ecosystem grove botany old growth forest branch woody plant park land plant trunk leaf deciduous plantation rainforest plant stem sunlight flower Jungle willow area lush wooded
Elegant Fireplace Hotels Inn Lobby Lounge Trip Ideas indoor Living wall floor fire room living room hearth home hardwood furniture interior design lighting wood ceiling dining room Design wood flooring estate decorated
Hotels Road Trips Trip Ideas Weekend Getaways Winter road outdoor tree sky street Town landmark City neighbourhood human settlement residential area Downtown Church cityscape place of worship way plaza town square
Trip Ideas building carriage outdoor horse road drawn pulling tree street driving cart pulled transport vehicle house horse-drawn vehicle home horse and buggy tourist attraction attached

Don’t overlook more rustic-chic settings

“Many Americans dismiss ranches as potential wedding venues, but you can take your guests quite comfortably and elegantly to amazing properties like Brush Creek Ranch and The Ranch at Rock Creek. These are beautiful and yet, relaxed spots that offer a whole range of activities from fishing to horseback riding and skeet shooting."

RELATED: The Dreamiest Honeymoon Destinations

calm campfire camping Dining Firepit Forest isolation Luxury Nature outdoor dining Outdoors remote serene tables trees Trip Ideas woods tree outdoor vehicle meal restaurant area wooded
Glamping Luxury Travel Trip Ideas indoor floor room bed property Bedroom wooden cottage estate living room hardwood home Suite interior design four poster furniture wood log cabin farmhouse real estate
Trip Ideas grass mountain outdoor sky pasture horse grassland trail riding natural environment field herd plain grazing steppe prairie meadow landscape rural area Nature horse like mammal animal sports equestrianism Ranch highland bovine hillside
artistic artsy calm Hip isolation Nature Outdoors remote serene teepee trendy Trip Ideas tepee building grass outdoor sky windmill tree field rural area mill wind tower grassy

Italy and France are perennially hot

“Italy is practically built for weddings. You can buy out whole villas and villages, which sounds lavish but can also be surprisingly affordable depending on your size. Sicily is a treasure trove of wonderfulness, Puglia is always beautiful, and Venice, because of its rising water levels, is a beauty that might not be around forever. Some of my favorite hotels in the area include Monteverdi Tuscany, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat on the Cote d’Azur — all timeless and totally stunning spots."

RELATED: Your Dream Italian Wedding

Boutique Classic Country Elegant Grounds Historic Honeymoon Romance Romantic Trip Ideas Vineyard Winery tree grass sky outdoor backyard gazebo log cabin cottage Garden home outdoor structure yard lawn estate woodland house decorated
Boutique Classic Country Elegant Historic Honeymoon Hotels Romance Romantic Trip Ideas Vineyard Wine-Tasting Winery grass outdoor sky field habitat Nature tree pasture green natural environment hill plant meadow rural area agriculture landscape flower lawn mountain grassy Farm lush day
Hotels Trip Ideas outdoor tree sky property swimming pool estate building backyard Courtyard home Villa real estate yard Garden mansion Resort condominium outdoor structure stone
Hotels Trip Ideas tree sky outdoor grass green ecosystem hill field plant agriculture flower rural area Garden landscape meadow château lawn Farm shrub lush traveling hillside

You’ll need an expert to get it right

“For a smaller wedding, you can work with a local property to make it happen. But for larger weddings in more popular locations, there are logistical challenges that are best seen by professionals. Many brides don’t realize that every country has different rules. For instance, in the UK, you can’t get married outside—by law, you have to get married under a structure. These are the kinds of things that you learn after years and years of doing this job."

Trip Ideas grass tree outdoor chair backyard flower estate Garden lawn wedding yard ceremony aisle plant area
Trip Ideas outdoor tree Town night evening tourism flower cityscape
Trip Ideas outdoor grass sky mountain field wilderness natural environment steppe dry Wildlife wadi badlands Desert landscape savanna plateau aeolian landform valley Safari Adventure geology
Trip Ideas table window room restaurant meal home estate interior design furniture
Trip Ideas wall indoor window sports physical fitness human positions performance art yoga Fireplace
Trip Ideas sky outdoor mountain landform valley Nature Lake wadi landscape badlands reflection canyon terrain reservoir cliff

It’s your guests’ vacation, too

“Give your guests time to breathe. One mistake that brides tend to make is overfilling the schedule with activities. You want your guests to feel like it’s a vacation in addition to being a special occasion. This means giving them the time to do and see the things they want to."

Want more?

Comments

comments

All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If you buy something through our links, Jetsetter may earn an affiliate commission.