Destination: I Do!

Filipino weddings are notorious for being as big as presidential campaigns. There is the bewildered groom who asks who half the wedding party is, and the inebriated bride who always swears the next day that she didn’t remember her wedding day at all.

Savvy couples have found a loophole to make their entry into wedded bliss less painful and, more importantly, memorable. These days, destination weddings are everywhere. Many Filipinos do it to keep the wedding guest tally to a sane number and also create a more memorable experience not only for the couple but also for the wedding guests themselves. While it was once like Vesuvius rolling a rock to a mountain, destination weddings have become easier. With the many gifts brought to you by the Internet and services that focus on such occasions, it has become a simpler and more enjoyable task.

Choosing the place is entirely up to you. You can choose a place that is special to both of you or a dream location that you both have been dreaming of doing something special in. It’s important, however, to know the place well before the wedding. The Travel and Leisure website (www.travelandleisure.com) is a great way to see places all over the world while having a specific budget in mind. If you plan to do it in the Philippines, visit the site right away and see how accessible it is.

 Checklist:

Go site see-ing. The most important thing is to set up a wedding website through which you can communicate with your guests. There are several sites that host such customized wedding sites. This will be the best way to communicate with your wedding party regarding activities, lodging and travel routes.

Be shop savvy. Know the local vendors in the site you plan to marry. See what you have to bring in and what you can simply buy from there. It’s always more sensible to use what’s locally available as it enhances the vibe of your chosen location. I once heard from a friend that they had attended a cowboy-themed wedding in Bali. As unique as it sounds, it struck me as odd. Make use of your venue’s strengths and the cuisine it offers.

Provide a range. Offer different choices for every budget. This way all your friends can make it without singeing their pockets.

Presents of mind. Have a small welcome gift. This is optional and maybe works for smaller weddings, but having a beach tote with beach essentials for a beach wedding waiting for guests helps set the mood. Alternately a bulging goody bag for, say, a Tagaytay wedding can be filled with a romantic book to read, relaxing CDs, hot cocoa sachets and a warm pashmina. Sometimes a small memento can leave sweeter memories. At a recent wedding, personalized M&Ms were given at the end of the wedding — much to the delight of many guests who had one too many glasses of wine to drink. Nothing like a sweet treat to remember the night by! It’s also travel-friendly!

Take photos! If you don’t have or can’t afford a professional photographer, put disposable cameras at every seat so your guests can take photos for you and just collect the cameras at the end of the wedding. This is personal, not to mention a cheaper option.

Wear a dress ideal for the location. A beach wedding may call for a nice breezy dress, a wedding in a city you’re visiting can benefit from a more modern wedding ensemble à la Carrie Bradshaw (pre-bird wedding outfit) and a mountain wedding can perhaps accommodate a more opulent number.

Tell guests what to wear. Don’t keep them in the dark about the theme of each night of your destination wedding. My friend did an amazing job organizing each night leading up to the wedding and everyone was color-coordinated. The pictures were spectacular!

Rehearse the wedding. The odds of flubbing up a destination wedding doubles, so check everything twice, especially the food! Also have tailors, clinics and local beauty shops on speed dial. It helps to give out calling cards to guests for such emergencies.

Check the music. Unless the venue was meant for weddings, virgin locations may need extra reinforcement; no one wants a silent wedding.

It’s okay to ask for help. Destination weddings are very intimate so don’t be coy about asking for a helping hand from loved ones. Everyone is there for you, after all.