The Complete Companion to Hiring a Destination Wedding Planner

It may come as no surprise that destination weddings bear further collaboration than original marriages. Paying close attention to detail is critical because not only are you planning an event from hence, you're also likely to be hosting multiple events over the course of the marriage weekend, not just the form and event. The good news is, destination wedding planner can help you with just that.



"I'm obsessed with details — logistical details, baptizing details, the lowest details down to the placement of a chopstick, "says premier destination marriage diary Kimiko Hosaki." Timelines and seating plans are strategic mystifications to me that I love obsessing over for hours until they are just perfect, icing the most pleasurable experience for everyone."

Hiring a professional planner will help support you and make executing your vision far less stressful. Read on for everything you need to know about hiring a planner for your destination wedding.

Reasons to Hire a Destination Wedding Planner

In addition to the comfort of knowing your wedding is in capable hands, destination wedding planners provide the following:

Peace of mind.

Destination wedding planners ease the stress by being able to answer your questions, lay out the facts, and offer an unbiased, professional opinion. They are an invaluable asset if you have to make hard decisions like rain contingency plans, postponing your wedding date, or how to handle unforeseen road bumps.

Hands-on experience.

A top destination wedding planner has years of experience, connections, and relationships that they've built over time. They can handle any problem that arises with grace.

Local connections.

By selecting a planner who is familiar with your location or has excellent resources there, they’ll have the insight that is not available to you by simply searching online. In addition to knowing the best vendors to work with and suggesting the months for optimal weather, they can recommend the "off-the-beaten-path" places to visit and eat.

Cost of a Destination Wedding Planner

The cost will vary based on the planning services provided, the wedding location, and the number of guests. A premium wedding planner who provides event design as part of their services charges a minimum of 20% of your wedding budget. Often, it does not include the amount of additional labor or travel expenses that may be required to execute the wedding day or your other pre-wedding activities. There are four ways that planners price themselves:

·         Flat fee: common for day-of planners and packages.

·         Billable hours: the amount of time they'll be working.

·         Percentage of vendor and venue invoices: dependent upon other wedding costs.

·         Blended approach: design, planning retainer, and production fees at a flat fee, with vendor management and coordination at a percentage of 15-20% of those costs.

What Does a Destination Wedding Planner Do?

In addition to traditional wedding planning duties, here is a list of common tasks they are responsible for:

·         Provide guidance based on their knowledge and local research on laws, permits needed, marriage license requirements, etc.

·         Offer you select vendors and a venue best suited to your guest count, budget, and vision.

·         Help you produce a realistic budget based on your needs and desires. They can offer suggestions on where you could cut back and what's worth the splurge.

·         Offer travel guidance and advice to help you and your guests plan the trip with confidence.

·         Create contingency plans for rain and other unforeseen road bumps.

·         Coordinate with vendors and the venue, timeline management, and family management.

·         Manages RSVPs and guest lists.

·         Make recommendations for a florist, audio and lighting equipment rentals, and hair and makeup.

Catering negotiation, communication, and management.

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