For a destination wedding, welcome bags are a great gesture to show your appreciation for guests that are attending your wedding. Below are a few welcome bag gift ideas for a destination wedding (that your guests will love!)
Personalized bag
The first thing you will need for a welcome bag is the bag itself! I used these bags here (18 came in a pack). It held all of the presents and can be used as a beach bag during your trip.
You can personalize them by designing a graphic on Canva and printing them on iron-on paper.
Me with my own welcome bag and tumbler
Welcome letter and itinerary
Including a letter in your welcome bag is a great way to thank your guests for coming and to share any plans with them.
What to write on your welcome letter can be as simple as thanking your guests for coming, the day and location of the wedding, and any other special activities that you have planned. Adding a wedding hashtag for sharing photos can help keep photos connected.
Example welcome letter
Tumbler
At all-inclusive resorts drinks are free, and providing your guests with their own personalized tumbler is are great welcome bag gift ideas for your destination wedding.
Designs on the tumblers can be as simple as the wedding location and year, names of the bride and groom, a fun picture, or your guest’s name.
I chose tumblers that had handles for easy carrying, and had a lid that could be closed securely.
Tip: Help make it easy for your guests to identify which tumbler is theirs. All of the tumblers I gave my guests were the same, so it was easy to mix them up. Something as simple as a different colored rubber bands can help!
First Aid Kit
Including a little kit with a few essential items adds a great touch. Travel-sized helps save space too.
This is a gift from the travel agency when guests booked their tickets, so check and see what freebees your guests will get before buying anything to avoid duplicating presents. But if it’s not a gift that is provided by your travel agent, a towel is a great gift to give to your guests.
When you are at the beach, it is easy to find other wedding guests because of their towels. AND they don’t blend in with the resort towels which all look the same. It’s also something they can use over and over again after the wedding is over.
Personalized fans for the wedding
A destination wedding will most likely have beautiful sunny weather. I chose to get married in the evening so that it would be cooler (and also for the sunset pictures!). A customized fan that matches your wedding colors is a great way to keep your guests cool and a nice memento.
Give the fans to your wedding coordinator so that they can put them on the chairs on your wedding day.
Welcome Bag Gift Ideas – Important Tips
Hand deliver your welcome bags. Do not depend on the resort to distribute them to your guest’s rooms. When I had my destination wedding, I relied on the hotel to distribute the bags, and I wish I didn’t because it was confusing for the hotel staff and a few bags almost got stolen. So learn from my mistake and give your guests the bags personally! You can always get their room numbers from the front desk or message them.
Assemble your welcome bags at home. Try to assemble them as much as possible back home to save time when you arrive at the resort.
Give thank you notes after the wedding is over. After the wedding is over and you are back home, thank your guests for attending. You can personalize it as much as you want. I made little photo album/booklets with pictures from the trip, with a hand written note inside, for each guest. I made mine on Vistaprint.
If you are thinking about getting married abroad and having a destination wedding, then this post is for you! I had a destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and it was the best trip I have ever taken. My guests still talk about how much fun and special it was for them too! Below I share why you should have a destination wedding and a step by step guide for how to plan one.
1.You spend an entire week with your closest friends and family.
At-home weddings are only one night, and it can be difficult to have quality time with everyone who attends. With a destination wedding, you have a whole week to spend with your loved ones and have more time to celebrate!
2. Destination weddings are usually more intimate.
With destination weddings, it is much more common for them to be smaller since not everyone will travel for it. This results in a small and more intimate wedding.
3. There is less stress because the majority of planning is taken care of.
The bonus for destination weddings is that you have a wedding coordinator who will take care of everything for you at the resort, and a travel agent who will look after all of the logistics for you. There is no need to source flowers, food, or even a photographer since the resort provides all of that for you.
If there are any particular items or rituals you want included in your wedding, you can send pictures to your wedding coordinator and they can take care of it.
4. It is a combination of a vacation/wedding/honeymoon into one.
If you LOVE to travel, but can’t justify the cost of having an at-home wedding then a destination wedding combines the two.
5. It is inexpensive compared to an at-home wedding.
Getting married abroad is surprisingly inexpensive compared to the costs of at-home weddings. An entire wedding package which includes dinner and basic decorations can be well under $5000! Mine was half that and included a cake, basic decorations (which were SO gorgeous), hors d’ouerves, a guitar trio that played during the reception, and so much more. I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was!
6. You get gifts and special perks as the bride and groom.
When getting married abroad, if you use a travel agency to book your wedding then you get all sorts of extra perks like upgrades on the plane and at the resort, free gifts (like a tumbler or towel) to give to your wedding guests, private transfer to the resort, and sometimes even a free plane ticket if you book enough rooms. Check in advance with your travel agent and resort to see what they offer.
7. The location is stunning.
No need to worry about where to take photos, or what your decor will look like because the destination will already be gorgeous and provide the perfect backdrop.
8. It can be a good compromise for couples that are from different areas.
If you are both from different towns (or countries), then choosing a completely different location outside of both of your hometowns can be a good compromise.
A picture of my wedding location at my destination wedding in Punta Cana
How can I start planning my destination wedding?
If these reasons have convinced you to start looking into having a destination wedding, then knowing where to start can help your planning process.
Step 1: To get started with planning a destination wedding, research different resorts. Email them to ask for their wedding package rates and what’s included.
Step 2: Choose a travel agent in your hometown. They will help you with arranging group rates for flights and accommodation at your resort of choice. The travel agent may also have suggestions for resorts.
Important Tip: The travel agent normally does not coordinate the wedding with the resort, that is done through you. You will need to email the resort what day you want to get married and the approximate amount of guests you expect to attend. The resort will require a deposit once you’re ready to secure the date.
Step 3: Once you have a date secured for the wedding, let your travel agent know. They can then book your flight and resort package. They will require a deposit to secure the flight and accommodation rate.
Step 4: When your guests are ready to book, they will need to contact the travel agent directly to provide their payment information. All of this information can be provided on your invitations or wedding website.
If you are getting married, and love to travel, then why not combine the two and get married abroad? Planning a destination wedding is a lot easier and less stressful than you might think. Oh, and did I mention that destination weddings can be SO MUCH CHEAPER than a traditional wedding!? Below are my top tips, and what I would have done differently, to help you plan a destination wedding.
Note: Most of these tips are helpful for those planning a destination wedding at an all inclusive resort.
1. Before you go, make sure the most important people to you can attend.
If you want to plan a destination wedding, check with those who are most important to you to see if they can go. If one of your parents is unable to fly, and it is extremely important they be there, then having a destination wedding may not be an option for you.
And remember, not everyone you invite will be able to go. Out of 80 invited guests, we had 24 guests attend our destination wedding. The plus side is that your wedding will be more intimate, and you will spend quality time with everyone.
The downside to this, is that there may be people who get offended about your decision to have a destination wedding. This is a tricky topic, but remember, you can’t please everyone. Try to do what’s best for you, and those who are most important to you. Most of the time, if you cater to someone else’s needs, they won’t go anyway!
2. Go through a travel agent.
If you are a Type A Traveller like me (i.e. love to plan and be in control when planning a trip), then getting a travel agent might not be on your radar. But here are reasons why getting a travel agent for a destination wedding is so helpful:
You get more perks! As the bride and groom we got upgraded (for free!) on the plane, free gifts from the travel agent to give to our guests, we had “privilege” status at the resort where we got access to exclusive beaches and restaurants, and an INCREDIBLE room next to the beach and pool.
If you meet a minimum number of bookings one person can go for free. You can use this for yourself, give it to someone else, or divide the amount between multiple guests.
The travel agent takes care of all of the logistics. This makes it really easy for you, and your guests, because all you need to do is pay the travel agent for the travel package, and she literally does everything else. When we arrived at our destination, there was a private bus that she arranged that took ONLY our guests from the airport to the resort. (They do not help plan the actual destination wedding, that is between you and the wedding coordinator at the resort).
TIP: When choosing a travel agent, ask them what benefits you get. It may vary on the agency. A lot of these perks weren’t even mentioned to me beforehand. As a type A traveller, I want to know EVERYTHING that is going on, so make sure to ask!
3. The wedding coordinators will help you a lot!
When planning a destination wedding, you will be in touch with the wedding coordinator at the resort. It is important to be a bit more laid back if you are planning a destination wedding. In my experience, they went above and beyond my expectations. You can send them pictures of what you like, and they will always want to help you out.
You normally won’t meet the coordinator or see the venue until a few days before your wedding. Planning a destination wedding might not be for you if you have very specific requirements.
Every wedding is different, so the budget and style can vary. We chose to have the most basic package. We brought a few things from home that we wanted incorporated into our wedding.
When you arrive at the resort, you will meet with your wedding coordinator in person to go over the details.
TIP: Typically, when you get married at a resort you have to arrive 2-3 days before your wedding date. The resort you choose will have this information.
Our sand ceremony – this was an extra addition we made to our wedding (the flowers you see on the table were included in the basic wedding package!).
4. Look into getting legally married at home before you go
This is what we did, shhhh – don’t tell! To save A LOT of money, stress, and time we opted to get legally married in our home country and do a “symbolic ceremony” at the resort.
For our legal wedding in our home country, we got married in front of our immediate family and best man/maid of honour, and had dinner together. It was simple, inexpensive, and such a wonderful experience!
If you choose to get legally married at your destination, check the requirements. Most of the time, you will need to have your documents translated which can cost a lot of money. Only certain people are allowed to marry you legally, and it is usually in another language, and their availability is limited.
For a legal wedding at your destination, the resort will usually require you to arrive 3 business days before your wedding. Some may require blood collection to ensure you do not have any any STIs.
If you choose a “symbolic ceremony”, check with your resort if you need to be legally married for a certain amount of time beforehand. We had to be legally married for a minimum of 3 months. We had to be at the resort 2 business days before the wedding to meet with the wedding coordinator too. No blood collection was necessary for this option!
5. Send “Save the date” notices far in advance
Having a destination wedding for the bride and groom is A LOT cheaper than the typical at-home wedding. For the guests? Not so much. Unless if you are super-mega-rich, your wedding guests will need to pay for their own travel package. An all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic or Cuba can range from $900 to $2000 per person.
Give your guests plenty of notice of your upcoming destination wedding so that they can start saving early. I would recommend at LEAST a year to 18 months. There are so many creative and fun “save the date” ideas too!
Don’t take it personally if someone can’t go. Everyone’s financial situations are different. Before you plan a destination wedding, ask your closest friends and family if they would be able to go before committing to having one.
6. You will get a lotof questions
What I wasn’t expecting while planning a destination wedding is that you may get A LOT of questions (depending on the number of guests invited). There is no harm in having questions about a destination wedding!
For a lot of people (the bride and groom included!) this is a new experience. Naturally guests will have questions about the wedding, the traveling, what to pack, or if they are experiencing any issues. Some guests may ask you to change the date of your wedding.
If this is too over-whelming for you, an option is to designate someone in your wedding party that guests can direct their questions to. If you have a wedding website or Facebook group, you can make a “Frequency Asked Questions” section, and the names of who they can reach out to if they have more questions.
7. Pick a resort based on your needs
There are SO many resorts to choose from, that you will soon become and expert in all of them while you plan for your destination wedding. Here are a few things to consider when picking a resort:
Size of the resort. Do you want a large resort, or a small one? I chose a small resort so I could find my guests easily, and we had a few guests with mobility issues. Another bride I know chose a large resort because she had a few family members who didn’t like each other, and needed the space for them to avoid each other! Every wedding dynamic is different.
Cost is also a factor to consider. There are resorts that could be more affordable for your guests, or resorts that are much higher in price. Try to be mindful of what your guests might be able to afford or not.
Proximity to the airport. Some resorts are only a 15 minute drive away, while others can be up to an hour!
The overall vibe of the resort. Is it a party resort with lots of activities? Or a laid-back resort that focuses on relaxation? Do the resorts allow children, or is it adults only?
Read reviews on Trip Advisor. Read what other travellers have said about any resort you are interested in. Ask your travel agent too for their opinions!
Wifi. Picking a resort with wifi throughout will help you stay connected.
8. Make welcome bags for your guests (and don’t rely on the resort to distribute them!)
As a thank you to your guests, giving everyone a welcome bag when they arrive can be a pleasant surprise!
What I wish I had done differently for the welcome bags was to not depend on the resort to hand them out.
My original vision was for my guests to have the bags waiting for them in their room. But this did not go as plan! I gave them to the front desk to distribute. They gave the bags to the guests while they were checking in, but I had forgotten to put their welcome letters in the bags. Some of the resort staff tried to steal them. Luckily one of my guests told me she never got hers. I had to get the wedding coordinator to track them down.
If I had to do it differently, I would personally give my guests the welcome bags. I would have done this by asking the front desk for their room numbers (or contacting my guests over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to find them), and dropping off the bags to their rooms.
Tip: Include a welcome letter and “itinerary” in your welcome bag. The itinerary doesn’t have to be jam-packed with activities, it could simply say when the wedding is.
Me with a welcome bag and tumbler we gave to guests, and wearing my sun protection!
9. It is hard to spend time with everyone
What you don’t hear about while planning a destination wedding is that it is hard to distribute yourself among your guests! You want to spend time with everyone, but you usually need to divide your time. Also, since you are all spread out over the resort it can be hard to find everyone!
This can be solved in a number of ways:
Pick a resort that has wifi throughout, so that you can communicate over Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp if you need to coordinate a group activity or find someone.
Pick the same areas to hang out in. It was easy to find our friend group because they normally hung out at the beach, and our families normally hung out at the pool. If the resort is small, it will be easy to run into guests while getting breakfast, or at the beach. And then we would make plans for where to eat for dinner and when to meet.
Another bride I know, just camped out in the same spot everyday and let her guests find her. We did the opposite and seeked our guests out.
Remember, you have a whole WEEK to spend time with everyone! Compared to a normal wedding where you typically only have the one evening!
If you want privacy, it is easier to find due to your upgraded “privilege” status. Or choose a larger resort. Another option is to consider extending your vacation as a “honeymoon.”
10. Plan a group activityat your destination wedding
Planning a fun group activity together is another great way to spend time with all of your guests. There are so many options for what to do: a welcome party on the beach, a group excursion (we did a catamaran boat ride, snorkelling and swimming trip!), or just arranging a time for everyone to meet at one of the buffet restaurants.
The group excursions can be booked in advance or at the resort. Any specific “parties” (like a welcome party) will need to be arranged through your wedding coordinator first.
Group Catamaran excursion
11. Avoid getting sunburnt and wear strapless bathing suits.
There are LOTS of opportunities to accidentally get a sunburn! Especially if you have fair-skin and burn easily. And no one wants to look a lobster in their wedding photos, or have weird tan-lines.
Wear a bathing suit that compliments the straps of your dress. If your dress is strapless, try to wear strapless bathing suits.
Load up on the sunscreen. Carry it with you at all times and reapply often!
Bring a sun hat and a coverup. I sometimes even went swimming in my coverup and sunhat!
12. Get married in the eveningto avoid crowds and onlookers
While planning you destination wedding, get married later in the evening closer to sunset. Not only will the pictures be gorgeous, but it won’t be as hot. Also, there won’t be as many people on the beach since they will at dinner.
To help keep your guests cool, bring fans and ask your wedding coordinator to put them on each wedding chair.
To avoid onlookers, check with your resort to see what locations are available to you. For example, the resort where we got married had a private beach reserved for wedding ceremonies.
13. Send thank you notes
A special way to thank your guests for coming, is to send them thank you cards after you return home. There are so many ideas for thank you cards. We made a little booklet filled with photos of the trip, and wrote our thank you message inside each booklet.
14. Remember to relax and enjoy the experience
There will always be stressful moments while you plan a destination wedding. But compared to an at-home wedding, a destination wedding can definitely help ease the stress because there is a travel agent and wedding coordinator to help.
Spending time with your closest friends and family for a week in a gorgeous destination can make for some of the best memories in your life. Enjoy the experience!
Have you had a destination wedding? What would your top tips be for planning one?
Let me know if you have any questions for how to plan your destination wedding in the comments below!
