Finding Out the Etiquette for Cruise Destination Wedding

Destination weddings on the average cost about half as much as a traditional wedding. According to The Wedding Report Inc., a wedding industry research company, the average traditional American wedding in the second quarter of 2009 cost $16,546. As a result, couples today are more likely to combine their wedding with the honeymoon trip. Destination wedding are a very cost effective way to have a memorable wedding. However, when planning such a wedding, couples must keep in mind that some of the etiquette rules involved are different.

Wedding Planning

When planning a destination wedding it is very important to have all the details of the wedding planned. Etiquette demands that guests coming to the wedding to pay for their own expenses, but the Bride and Groom are responsible for the costs involved in any mandatory events, such as transportation to the wedding, planned excursions and group meals.

Many tour companies put together packages that offer deep discounts for groups. Often couples organizing destination weddings get to the tour for free or at a greatly reduced discount when everyone travels as a group. By planning a group tour package to coincide with the wedding, couples can offer a more convenient and cost effective way for guest to attend their wedding.

When organizing a destination wedding, it is important to have a central representative to coordinate with guests. Etiquette requires that the couple marrying make traveling for attending guest as simple as possible.

Organizing the Trip

For the engagement party, invite only those people who will be invited to the wedding. Traditionally guests invited to the engagement party expect to be invited to the wedding. As a result, when planning a destination wedding, couples must consider that those they invite to the engagement party will also expect to get an invitation to the wedding. This can pose a problem if the couple is planning a destination wedding, since some guests may feel pressured to attend the actual nuptials if the subject travel arrangements are discussed during the engagement party.

Etiquette demands that travel arrangements to a destination wedding are made as convenient as possible for attending guests. Invitations to the wedding must be sent out far in advance in order to give guests the ability to take time off from work and to plan their trips. Couples also need to create a Wedding website. The website is essential in organizing a destination wedding. Most wedding planners, who specialize in destination weddings, include these wedding websites as part of their service.

Wedding websites are updated regularly; couples provide wedding details and information for guests concerning trip, visas, vaccinations, and about the destination. Couples who are planning their weddings themselves can create a wedding Web site using a variety of premade templates online.

The Guests

A vital part of destination wedding etiquette is that as guests arrive from various destinations is that someone meets them at the airport. If the Bride and Groom are too busy then it is the responsibility of the Best Man and Maid of Honor. It is important to provide arriving guests with an information package containing maps and an itinerary of events. The itinerary should include the mobile phone numbers of the Bride, Groom, Best Man and Maid of Honor. Also, include activities and free time for guest to explore on their own.

A good way of thanking guest for coming to the wedding is by holding a welcome reception dinner prior to the wedding. Some couples do this in place of a rehearsal dinner. A special gift as memento of the trip is a good way of letting guests know that their efforts to attend the wedding are appreciated.

Once everyone has returned home from the wedding, is it appropriate for the newly married couple to host a dinner party. Often times these parties are themed based upon the destination of the wedding. The couple invites those who attended the actual wedding and those who did not but sent a gift. At the party, the couple can show guests wedding pictures or video of the event.

References:

Book: Destination Weddings for Dummies; Susan Breslow Sardone; 2007, pages 258-263

Book: Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between; Elise Mac Adam; 2008; pages 70-79