Two brides reveal the biggest lessons they learnt while planning their destination weddings

Beautiful weather, Instagrammable settings and memories of a lifetime for you (and your guests) tied in with your ‘I dos’... the idea of getting married far away from your own home town is much coveted by brides-to-be everywhere. But planning a destination wedding that’s potentially thousands of kilometres away from home requires a lot more than just buying travel tickets and booking a hotel. We asked two celebrity brides, Antara Motiwala Marwah and Diipa Büller-Khosla, to draw from their personal experiences and share their top tips on everything—from timelines to insider tips—to help you plan yours. Cross these items off your checklist one at a time, and you’ll be that much closer to being ready for your faraway big day.

Consider your timelines

Antara Motiwala Marwah organised a lavish, multi-day affair in Ras Al Khaimah, which saw a host of Bollywood celebrities in attendance, including the Kapoor family. “Couples need from three to six months to smoothly organise a destination wedding. Despite popular opinion, I believe that the more time you take, the more confused you may get. We pulled off our wedding in less than three months. So, anyone who says it's impossible, I say that sometimes, the lesser time you have, the quicker the decision-making and finalising process can be,” she shares.

The biggest challenge is choosing the venue

“There are so many barometers for choosing the right venue. It has to tick all the boxes for the bride, the groom and even their respective families and wedding party. This means picking a place that works for everyone in terms of convenience, distance, maximum flight operations, budget and size. Honestly, the ambience or vibe becomes an after-thought. We got really lucky with the property, Waldorf Astoria, for two reasons. Firstly, it’s super luxurious with picturesque views, and secondly, they had done a few Indian weddings in the past, so that really helped. A small drawback though was that they don’t have a banquet, so we built a marquee on the beach,” Motiwala Marwah reveals.

Block your specialists in advance

“I think it’s most important for brides to book a hair and makeup artist much ahead of the festivities. Be wise about your selection, since you have to spend two to three days with them, and they cannot add to the stress you’re already dealing with. I suggest finding someone whose work and aura you most resonate with,” she adds.

Don’t ignore the hidden details

In addition to figuring out the major elements of your big day, you need to factor in small yet non-negotiable things like unknown local laws and customs. “Regulations may vary from state to state and country to country, so check the requirements of the destination as far in advance as possible. In fact, there might be other hidden costs too, like playing music after a certain hour of the evening or bursting fireworks,” warns Diipa Büller-Khosla, who hosted an Indian-European wedding in Rajasthan for 100 of the couple’s closest friends and family members.

Choose local wedding experts

“I suggest eschewing wedding specialists from your own country or city, and hiring local wedding planners and other wedding-related experts,” says Büller-Khosla. Local professionals are likely to be much more well-connected than those from your hometown, and may boast a wider network of access. “You can also seek the assistance of your hotel staff for recommendations for florists, photographers, mehandi artists, etc,” she adds

Expect your nearest and dearest in attendance

“One upside about destination weddings is that not everyone will make it, only the ones who truly want to be there will go that extra mile. And that already helps a lot with [planning your] guest list too. For the others, you could probably throw a big reception when you are back,” says Büller-Khosla.

Pay attention to the details

You may have locked in your bridal makeup artist and hairstylist, but when planning the celebrations, it’s imperative you take your guests’ requirements into account too. For instance, don’t rely on the on-site salon, instead tie up with local ones for your wedding party, so they can get ready in peace too. This thought process should be translated for laundry and other miscellaneous services too. Also, make sure to have a local medic or doctor on call, in case of any emergency.

Refrain from micro-managing once you reach the venue

“With destination weddings, you can anticipate many unforeseen problems. But once you arrive at the destination, make a conscious step to sign out from your ‘duties’ of a bride and groom. Sit back, and let your planners and family take control. You focus on living every moment and enjoying your wedding to the fullest,” concludes Motiwala Marwah.

Also read:

Your guide to planning your hair & makeup for your destination wedding

Here’s how you’ll plan your wedding according to your zodiac sign

12 wedding planning apps every bride-to-be needs on her smartphone