Having a destination wedding shower
Like traditional weddings, many couples celebrate their wedding with a bridal or wedding shower before they leave for their trip. Particularly when couples choose a destination wedding, showers become a great way to celebrate with close family and friends who may not be able to attend the actual ceremony. As a rule of thumb, though, it’s not considered polite to extend an invitation to any guests that are not invited to the actual wedding, as gifts are involved. If you’d like to get together with friends not invited to the wedding, consider a separate pre-wedding party and include a note about well-wishes only. Or, consider a post-wedding reception when you return home from your destination wedding.
Having a bachelor and/or bachelorette party
There are no strict rules for destination wedding couples when it comes to planning a bachelor or bachelorette party. Some couples prefer to have their party at home so friends that are unable to attend the wedding can celebrate. Still, others tack on the party just prior to the destination wedding so that they can make full use of their gorgeous vacation spot. Another option is to have the stag shindig serve as a pre-site visit to your wedding resort (if you can’t wait another minute to get there!) And still, some skip the festivities altogether. If you do have a bachelor/bachelorette party for your destination wedding, it’s always nice to keep in mind the added costs when asking close friends and family to plan a party on your behalf.
Hosting a rehearsal and/or welcome dinner
When guests make a commitment to attend your destination wedding, it is courteous to include them in any pre-wedding festivities, especially rehearsal dinners. Even if they are not immediate family, the time and expense of attending a wedding away means they should expect to be included in group activities. Rehearsal and welcome dinners at a destination wedding can be as informal or creative as you like. Many of our couples choose to have beachside bonfires, wine and meal pairings or themed dinners (e.g. taco and tequila tasting in Mexico) to help everyone bond and get excited for the weekend ahead.