Sawadee Ka – Hello

Thailand is  growing popular for destination for weddings and honeymoons. It is very cost effective to arrange a wedding in Thailand, and we can arrange it all for you.

Thailand ‘the land of smiles’ is one of the most romantic places in the world to visit.  It is no surprise that Thailand is one of the world’s leading destinations to marry.

From major international resorts in Phuket or Koh Samui, to the islands which are stunning such as Phi Phi Island, with white sandy beaches and crystal blue water  there will be a resort that suits you.

If you have children in your party and need somewhere family friendly Thailand is the place for your wedding. The resorts all have good kids clubs and Nanny’s and great kid friendly facilities for them.

Flights to Thailand are daily from all major Australian capital cities.  Transfers, flights and accommodation are all included in your package.  And in Thailand most resorts include Buffet Breakfast.

Thailand has 2 seasons for accommodation.  High Season and Low Season.  Low season is between 01 April and 31 October.  Most resorts offer great accommodation deals during this time such as Stay 10 and only pay for 5 nights.

Licences are easily obtained via Bangkok and your marriage is legal and recognised worldwide.

If you would like more information on marrying in Thailand please don’t hesitate to email us.

Ko pun kap –Thank you

asia@wwweddings.com.au

Outdoor Options

Unless your wedding is taking place during the winter, an outdoor event is usually quite feasible. There are a good number of choices you could consider here. Parks can be a good choice, especially if they have fountains or other great elements that make them unique. However, you’ll need to get the proper permits from the local government before having the event in a public park.

Another idea is rent out your local botanical garden. Many cities have these great sites which are picture-perfect for weddings. Most also have facilities on-site for parties and receptions, too. A nice thing about these gardens is that you can usually find different sections which are ideal for different wedding themes. Some have Victorian-style gardens or Japanese gardens, for example.

You could also consider getting married at the zoo. Like the botanical garden, most zoos have some very picturesque locations which would make beautiful sites for tying the knot, especially if you also love animals. Make sure to talk to the zoo representatives about your options before making the decision to hold your entire wedding, including the reception, at the site.

Unique Indoor Locations

This first possibility blurs the line between an indoor and an outdoor location: a cave. While the idea of getting married in a cave may seem a bit creepy, the reality is that many of the country’s cave systems which are operated as government parks could be excellent choices. Mammoth Cave, for example, has an entire area that would be ideal for a wedding including stone benches for guests and amazing acoustics.

If you’re not too keen on the idea of exchanging vows among the stalagmites, why not considering booking space at your favorite sports stadium. When games aren’t being played in the stadium, they are usually available for rental, although the prices vary considerably. This can be a great option if your are both sports fans or if the proposal happened at that stadium.

You could also consider getting married inside special buildings. Museums are one option. Another would be landmarks. For example, the couple could ride to the top of the St. Louis Arch along with the rest of their guests in order to get married while overlooking the city.

Transportation Wedding Ideas

Generally, your wedding is going to take place while both people have their feet on the ground but it doesn’t have to be that way. Your wedding party could rent a large boat or yacht so you could get married on the open waters. A private jet can sometimes also be rented for a similar purpose then it can be used to transport the couple to their honeymoon destination. There’s also the possibility of getting married on a hot air balloon. Because of the size of the basket, it will be an intimate affair but your other guests can be waiting below.

For thrill seekers, the local fair or amusement park could have other good choices. You could get married while sitting at the top of a Ferris wheel or while waiting to plunge down the first hill of your favorite roller coaster.

That’s why it’s important to ask the right questions when you talk to your potential wedding florists.

Before you do anything else regarding your wedding flowers, you will need to schedule a consultation with the florist. Make sure to ask if there is a charge for this initial consultation. Many florists will provide this service for free because they want your business. Other florists may only charge if you choose to use a different florist for your wedding.

You should also request a price list which you can take home with you. This is important for two reasons. For one, you can add up the prices for each of your individual pieces to make sure the package price you are being offered is truly a good deal. Plus, if you’re on a budget then you may be able to pick and choose items from the price list instead of opting for the package.

Talk to the florist and, if possible, the head designer. You need to ask them what materials and information you should provide so they can give you the arrangements, colors, and styles that you want. During this time, both parties should act interested in hearing your preferences. If they say things like “Don’t worry. We have a lot of experience, and we know exactly what you need” then they are sending you a signal which says your ideas don’t matter. Go somewhere else.

Delivery is another big topic you’ll need to cover. First, you need to know if there is a separate charge for delivery. Most florists will not charge for delivery. Those that do may be willing to negotiate a deal on that fee, especially if you have gotten more reasonable quotes from other florists. Second, you want to know if the flowers will be delivered to multiple locations. Generally, you’ll have some items delivered to the bride’s home, to the ceremony location, and to the reception hall. Most florists don’t charge extra for this service either, but some do. Also, if you are planning to reuse your ceremony flowers at the reception ask how much your florist will charge to move them for you. Generally, you will have to pay extra for this because if florists make it too convenient they’ll end up losing money.

In addition to the questions listed above, you also need to know what is included in the quoted price – if possible, have a list of all the included items printed out for you to review and how the florist wants to be paid – florists usually require a deposit, then another payment before the wedding, and the balance paid either right before or during the wedding. You’ll also need to know the details about the florist’s guarantee and cancellation policies.

By asking these important questions before you choose a florist, you can save yourself from choosing a vendor who doesn’t meet your needs. You’ll also gather enough information to make comparing vendors easier.

Traditions

Traditionally, guests and members of the wedding party are expected to cover their own transportation costs to attend a destination wedding. Unfortunately, that can severely limit the number of people who can attend or who can participate in your wedding – not everyone can drop everything and spend a few thousand dollars to be in a wedding. There’s nothing wrong with helping with the costs if your budget can accommodate the extra expenses. Just make sure you let people know in advance what costs you’ll be able to cover.

Another idea is to have a very small group attend the destination wedding itself then invite everyone else to a reception back home when you return.

Rituals

Destination weddings don’t necessarily involve any special rituals. However, if you’re interested in adding in some local customs to your wedding that is definitely something you should find out about when making your wedding arrangements. Incidentally, if you’re planning a destination wedding, you should seriously consider hiring a wedding planner located in that location to make the arrangements on your behalf.

Style

Destination weddings are casual. Many of them are beach weddings with the bride and groom wearing a sun dress and khakis, respectively. If you do have a separate reception back home, try to keep it in the same theme as your destination. For example, a wedding on the beaches of Aruba should be followed by a tropical-themed reception.

Decorations

Most destination wedding ceremonies don’t need a lot of extra decorations – the destination itself serves as a perfect backdrop. However, if you’re having a beach wedding, you might want to burn candles or line the aisle (usually a red carpet rolled over the sand) with decorative shells. If you’re having a separate reception back home, you might want to bring in some potted palm trees, blown-up framed photographs of the beach at sunset, or sand centerpieces decorated with shells from the beach.

Food

At your destination wedding, you should definitely try eating whatever food is most popular at the location. Whether you’re visiting a different state or country, you’ll find some specialty dishes that would make ideal dishes for your event. In fact, you might simply want to book a restaurant for your meal after the ceremony instead of having an elaborate reception. When you return, however, make sure to bring some of those dishes back with you (or at least the recipes) so you can serve them to your guests who didn’t get to go with you.

Clothing

Because a destination wedding is casual, your attire should be casual but appropriate. For beach weddings, many brides still choose to wear white, although they might choose a white bikini or sun dress instead of a gown. Everyone can go barefoot on the sand, too. Just let your destination guide your choice of wedding clothing.

Favor Ideas

If you’re paying for part of your guests transportation to your wedding, then you don’t need to buy them any other favors, although you still can. If your guests are paying their own way, then consider finding nice keepsakes from the destination that you can give them. When you have a reception back home after the ceremony, consider bringing small keepsakes for all of those guests, too, even though they couldn’t attend the ceremony itself. Magnets, key chains, even postcards can be a nice gift.

Send Wedding Announcements

Anyone who couldn’t be on the guest list should at least receive a wedding announcement. You can purchase these with the rest of your wedding stationery. Although traditionally they should match the style of your other stationery, you could also use a photograph from your actual wedding in paradise as the background for the announcement.

You should try to mail these out as soon as you get home.

Have a Reception

Many couples who have small destination weddings come home to throw larger local receptions. The advantage of this approach is you can celebrate with more people and still enjoy some of those special wedding moments such as your first dance as a married couple. On the downside, receptions are one of the biggest parts of most wedding budgets so you’ll need to make sure you can afford to throw a big party. Of course, you can save money by keeping the event more informal.

Share the Ceremony Online

With modern technology, some of your guests could be able to watch your celebration without leaving their homes. You could upload video of the ceremony to YouTube, have guests connect to other guests via Skype or similar services, or use a service such as Livestream to produce a streaming video of your ceremony that you can share with all of your loved ones back home or even people you’ve never met. Of course, these options assume your destination has reliable Internet access, you or someone you know is a little tech savvy, and that you don’t mind if some of your guests bring their laptops to your ceremony.

Give Video Gifts

If you have loved ones who couldn’t attend, give them a video of the ceremony as a gift. Chances are you’ll have hired a videographer to capture the day anyway so simply ask to purchase a few copies that you can share with family members and friends. You could send these along with the announcements or deliver them in person.

Have a Second Wedding

While not the most practical option, it is still a choice some couples choose, especially if their destination wedding is very small. The second wedding doesn’t have to be formal and you don’t necessarily need to purchase a different dress or anything like that, but you would want to send out informal invitations to guests. Since you are already legally married, you wouldn’t need any paperwork either or even a licensed official to preside over the ceremony. You could simply exchange your vows in front of your family and friends then have a small reception afterward.

If you’re feeling pressured to have a regular wedding instead of the destination wedding you want, this might be a good compromise to consider.

With these suggestions, you don’t have to leave anyone out of your special day. They may not be able to join you in person but they can still share the happiness of your marriage even from miles away.

4-3 Weeks Before

If possible, your wedding dress should be ready for you during this time. Because you have to pack it, you don’t want to wait until the last minute. In fact, you may want to ask the dress shop for suggestions on how to protect your dress and/or your bridal party’s dresses during the flight. The tuxedos can be picked up closer to the day of departure but, again, don’t wait until the last minute.

You should also arrange transportation to the airport for you and possibly your wedding party (if they are taking the same flight as you). Make sure your transportation is large enough to hold everyone’s luggage.

Work closely with your wedding planner to make sure all of the plans on his or her end are finalized. If possible, ask your wedding planner to meet you at the airport when you arrive at the destination or to have transportation arranged for you.

During this time, you’ll also be picking up your fitted wedding rings and buying necessities for your trip. This may seem a bit overwhelming at times because you are packing not just for a wedding but also for a vacation. Consider creating a checklist of all the items you need to pack so you don’t forget anything.

You should also contact your guests again to see who is definitely attending and to check their travel arrangements. Use this information to start putting together the wedding favors, to finalize the menus (if you are having food provided), and to ensure adequate seating will be available for your guests at the ceremony location.

1-2 Weeks Before

Confirm everything! Now is a good time to double check all of the reservations, appointments, and bookings. Otherwise, you’ll need to continue packing.

You should also have some currency converted so you’ll have cash to use while at the destination. Be sure to ask your wedding planner how you’ll need to pay the vendors for their services – not everyone may be willing to accept a credit card.

Be sure to pack all of your legal paperwork. If possible, make copies of everything and keep one set in your luggage and one set with you in a carry-on bag or your purse. This way if your luggage gets lost you can still have the ceremony performed. On the other hand, purses and carry-on bags can also be lost or stolen so the back-up copies protect you either way.

As the last week before the big day arrives you’ll want to pick up the tuxedos and any other wedding accessories needed.

Before Leaving for the Airport
Double check that you’ve packed everything, especially your documentation. Try to get some sleep the night before you leave for your destination since you’ll probably be too excited to sleep on the plane and too busy to take a nap after you arrive.

Upon Arrival at Your Destination

Hopefully, you’ll have transportation waiting for you so that won’t be a problem. Make your way to your accommodations, check in, and meet with your wedding planner face to face for the first time. Go over last minute details, meet with the vendors, visit the actual ceremony location, and make sure everything is perfect for enjoying an evening with your guests in paradise.

Then all that’s left is to enjoy your perfect destination wedding.

4-5 Months Before

During this period, you’ll be finalizing a lot of decisions and doing a lot of preparation. You may be getting your dress altered, helping the wedding party select their attire, deciding on menus (if you have a caterer for destination reception), picking flowers for the floral arrangements, deciding on decorations for the wedding location, and working with your on-site wedding planner to make sure everything is coming together as you anticipated.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, now is a good time to do so. Your hotel accommodations at your destination should also have been booked by now, too. Remember to let your guests know if they can get a discount by booking rooms in the same hotel.

You may also still be working on completing and submitting paperwork necessary for the wedding. Make sure to get all of the legal stuff finished as quickly as possible so you don’t run into any last minute problems.

You should also take some time off from all of the planning and do some wedding ring shopping. Give yourselves plenty of time to find the right rings and to have them sized properly.

2-3 Months Before

At this stage, you’ll be making the final arrangements, such as making an appointment at a salon at your destination (ask your wedding planner for recommendations), finalizing music choices for musicians who will be performing at the ceremony and/or reception, and going for your final dress fittings.

Now is a good time to start thinking about wedding favors for your guests. Since your guest list will be smaller, you can create more elaborate favors, such as gift baskets or specialty items from your wedding location.

Also, be sure to mail the actual wedding invitations to your guests no later than eight weeks before the event. You should have sent them save the date cards a couple of months ago. Hopefully, some or all of them have responded to let you know if they can attend the event or not.

If you are purchasing gifts for the wedding party or your parents, now is a good time to start shopping for those. However, you can forgo gifts if you are paying for all or part of the travel expenses of your wedding party.

Another consideration at this point for some couples is their pets. Be sure to make arrangements for boarding or a pet sitter around this time, too. Remember most of your friends and family members will be with you so you’ll probably need outside help to care for them while you’re getting married.

1 Month Before

As you get closer to the big day you’ll probably start to feel nervous and stressed so consider doing some yoga or finding other ways to relax. You could also use this time to start writing your vows if you want to go that route. You may also want to talk to the person conducting the ceremony either in person (if they are flying to the destination with you) or by phone with the help of your wedding planner. This conversation can ensure all three of you know what to expect on the big day.

You’ll also be going to dress and tuxedo fittings, picking up accessories for the wedding attire, checking in with guests to make sure all of their arrangements have been made, and finalizing the guest count for your wedding planner.

When you have spare time, you should also start packing.

Next time, we’ll look at all of the final, last minute details you’ll want to take care in the last couple of weeks before you say “I do.”

11-12 Months Before

At this point, you need to have decided on the destination, have a good idea of your budget, and started to look for a wedding planner/consultant at your desired location. The sooner you can bring a planner on board the better. They can be indispensable when making some of the important planning decisions ahead.

You also need to decide on a specific wedding location as soon as possible for several reasons: you need to book early (especially for popular destination wedding sites), you need to know the location for some of your planning decisions (such as the guest list), and you will want to pass on this location information to your invited guests.

Also, you want to decide on and talk to your wedding party members so they have plenty of time to prepare, too.

10 Months Before

Start looking for wedding attire. Once you know specifically where you are getting married you can make sure the wedding dress and other clothing is appropriate. For example, a long flowing train and a sandy beach may not be a great combination. Likewise, white flip-flops and a bikini won’t match the tone of a more formal indoor wedding even in a tropical paradise.

You want to start shopping early because it may take you awhile to find exactly what you want. Plus, your clothes may need alterations. Keep in mind that your dress will be traveling with you (as will the attire you choose for the rest of the wedding party) so keep things simple.

Additionally, you should have put together a guest list at this point. Remember the point of a destination wedding is to keep the event informal and intimate so don’t feel the need to invite everyone your families know. You can always have a large reception for everyone else when you return if you feel bad about leaving anyone out.

6 – 9 Months Before

Here’s where the planning kicks into high gear. During this critical three month stage, you need to be working closely with your wedding planner to make important choices for your special day, including:

• Choosing a florist and deciding on floral arrangements
• Hiring musicians for the ceremony and/or reception
• Hiring someone licensed to perform the ceremony
• Picking a caterer and/or a menu (if you will be serving food afterward)
• Selecting a wedding cake
• Hiring a photographer and/or videographer (you could also hire these professionals locally and pay for their travel costs if you prefer that to trusting your wedding planner to find someone qualified)

In addition, you need to choose and purchase your wedding stationery as early as you can during this period, particularly the save the date cards. Those need to be mailed to potential guests 6 to 8 months before the wedding.

Also, this is a good time to finalize all of the paperwork and documents you need, including securing your passport and marriage license from the location. You may also want to check with your local government to see if you need to do anything special to have the foreign wedding recognized by your home country.

These steps are all very important to complete early, at least before you get into the last few months before the wedding which will be the focus of Part 2.

1)      Weather Issues

Any couple planning a wedding anywhere considers the weather but that consideration is easier if you’re getting married close to home and are familiar with the weather patterns of your area. When you’re having a destination wedding, you need to do some research. Nothing could be more disappointing than planning a beach wedding only to have a hurricane cause the entire area to be evacuated.

With the Internet, you can find weather details for any place in the world so do your homework. If you want to take a risk and get married during the rainy season at your chosen location, consider purchasing wedding and/or travel insurance to protect your investment.

2)      Outdoors/Indoors

Many engaged couples long to be married outside, on the beach, with the sound of the waves crashing against the sand. That’s a beautiful setting but it may not be right for everyone. All of that sand can be challenging if you want to wear more formal wedding attire and some guests may find it difficult just to reach their seats. You’re also more vulnerable to the whims of the weather with an outdoor wedding during any season.

For some couples, these potential hazards are no match for the picturesque outdoor wedding scene. Others may want to choose an indoor setting. Most destination wedding locales include hotels, resorts, and other buildings that offer beautiful indoor areas where you could tie the knot. Plus, these indoor settings can be decorated to fit your preferences.

You could also find a compromise. For example, you could rent a boat and get married on deck while you’re surrounded by water.

3)      Affordability

Price is, of course, going to be factor when planning your destination wedding. Don’t commit to the first location you like; shop around. Even better, ask your wedding planner to shop around for quotes on several possible locations. The planner may be able to get better prices for you, plus he or she will already know some good spots.

Outdoor weddings may seem like the cheaper way to go, but they aren’t always. In some cases, you will have to pay fees, especially to use private beaches or areas owned by hotels/resorts.

4)      Appearance

Probably the most prime consideration for couples is the appearance of the location. You want to choose a beautiful place because it will be the background for your spectacular wedding photos. If you have your heart set on a beach wedding at sunset though, make sure you choose a beach that faces the sunset direction. Basically, make sure the location you choose has the look you want for your wedding. If you can visit in person before making the arrangements, that’s great. If you can’t, ask for emails of lots of digital photos.

Using these tips can help you find the perfect backdrop for a beautiful destination wedding.

Reason 7: Good Excuse for Short Guest List

The size of the guest list for traditional weddings is one of the biggest debates couples and their families get into during wedding planning. Big guest lists equal more expensive weddings while smaller guest lists can cause hurt feelings among the loved ones. With a destination wedding, no one is going to expect you to invite 300 people to share your special moment. In fact, it’s the best way to make sure you have an intimate ceremony with just the people who mean the most in your lives.

Reason 6: More Planning Freedom

Many couples complain that getting the wedding they want is impossible once parents, friends, and well-meaning wedding planners get involved. Those problems are less likely when you are planning a destination wedding. While you may get to work with an onsite wedding planner at your chosen destination, you have the freedom to create a wedding that really is YOUR dream and not someone else’s.

Reason 5: More Location Options

Why would you want to limit yourself to only the potential wedding locations in your small chunk of the world? If you consider a destination wedding, you open to the door to lots of additional possibilities. You could get married on the beach, in a tropical garden, in a luxury resort, on a boat in the middle of the ocean, even under the water! These aren’t choices available to most couples who choose a local location for their special day.

Reason 4: More Opportunities to be with Your Loved Ones

Couples always say they want to share their wedding day with the people they care about but with a traditional wedding that isn’t really possible. Between the last minute planning before the ceremony and the excitement of the reception afterward, most couples barely say two words the whole day to their closest family and friends. With a destination wedding, however, you are more relaxed. With fewer guests, you have more quality time available. Plus, you don’t have to worry about boring rehearsal dinners, you can relax with your loved ones on the beach, explore your tropical location together, and take in some night time entertainment.

Reason 3: Lower Costs

While it may seem hard to believe, destination weddings are often more affordable than traditional weddings. On average, a traditional wedding with 100 people on the guest list would cost you about $25,000. For the average destination wedding with the same number of guests, you would spend about $8,000 less. Now consider that most destination weddings don’t have guest lists that size and you can see your wedding costs shrinking. Plus, you can even cut your costs more by combining the wedding and the honeymoon destination.

Reason 2: Fewer Gifts

While some people might think fewer wedding gifts is a negative towards destination weddings, those gifts are typically more of a hassle than they’re worth. First, you have to set up several registries which is time-consuming then you have to let guests know where you are registered without just telling them because that is in bad taste. Then many guests won’t even purchase anything you registered for so you might end up with multiple toasters or awful artwork that needs to be returned. Plus, it can take weeks to write out all of those thank you cards! Instead, take the money you saved by having a destination wedding, buy all of the stuff you would have registered for, and skip the hassles.

Reason 1: More Memorable

Sure you’re always going to remember the day you got married but many brides – and even grooms – say the day feels like a blur. If it wasn’t for the wedding photos, they wouldn’t remember any of the special moments. By choosing a destination wedding, you’re combining this special event with the relaxation and beauty of a tropical vacation. Plus, a destination wedding gives you a great excuse to come to your island paradise to celebrate a destination anniversary.