Planning a destination wedding is one of the most exciting events in a couple’s lives. However, as we all know, the worldwide pandemic has changed nearly every facet of our lives. And this Is certainly true with regards to destination weddings. Couples are planning earlier and earlier, it seems, and that means those that are last-minute planners are feeling the pinch. Keep reading to learn our top ten tips for planning your destination wedding in 2024.
When the world closed down in 2020 and 2021… everyone and nearly every single job was affected, and perhaps none more so than destination weddings. The entire destination wedding profession was unsure what the future would look like. We expected 2022 to be a big year with some residual effect in 2023. But there is absolutely no sign of a drop in the number of weddings, in fact, the growth appears to be exponential. And 2024 looks like it will continue to follow this trend.
- Start planning early
- Think about your inspiration
- Hire a planner
- Plan your budget
- Location
- Secure Your Vendors
- Plan a visit
- Plan addition events
- Accomodations & Transportations
- Research ceremony options
1. Start planning early
We cannot begin to emphasize the need to plan early. Because of the increase in the number of destination weddings, the weekends are packed, making mid-week or off-season seem much more desirable. (As I write this article in the winter of 2022, we are already having secured bookings for 2024 and inquiries for 2025!) While we are still unsure of what the future holds, we are sure that more and more couples will be choosing to make the most of their destination wedding and celebrate with friends and family in a truly unique way (Click here to read more about planning a bespoke wedding in Tuscany Work)
2. Think about your Inspiration
Having an idea of what you want your wedding celebration to look like is one of the first things we encourage couples to do. Thanks to the internet, we no longer have to collect and cut out magazine pictures and article, we have the world at our fingertips. Looking ahead to wedding trends of 2024, there is no shortage of ideas out there, so spend a little time and try to think about the kind of event and the kind of emotion you want your guests to experience. Do you want your ceremony to be white-rose fairy tale or a riot of colorful wildflowers? Or do you want the backdrop to be a quintessential Tuscan overlook or do you want to feel the sand between your toes? There is no wrong or right answer and it is perfectly fine if your idea changes over time. But taking time to do dream a little is a useful and fun exercise. Give yourself permission to go knee-deep in boards and images!
3. Hire a planner
Wedding planners can be worth their weight in gold! (Still not sure what a wedding planner does, check out our two-part articles on What do Wedding Planners Do?) Due to the increase in the number of destination weddings post-Covid, our vendors are reporting record numbers of inquiries and we see no sign of this waning in 2024. By securing a wedding planner, you will have someone to walk you through this new landscape. Planners have highly curated and vetted lists of vendors and venues that they have worked with in the past and stand by their quality and excellence. We have even found that some vendors and venues will give preference to wedding planners they have worked with in the past and share the same qualities and vision.
In addition to helping secure the perfect vendors for you wedding, your wedding planner will help you create a workable budget, assist with taking your vision for the day and creating it here in Tuscany, help with accommodations and transportation, plan other events and more! Having a great wedding planner, that you can connect with, will make your day so much easier and more enjoyable, because you only need to worry about having fun without all the other distractions.
4. Plan your budget
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if money was no object and we could have every, single thing we wanted? Sure! But the reality is that we all have a budget we need to stay within. Creating a budget can be one of the most difficult parts to planning a wedding, but also the most necessary. Once you and your wedding planner have your budget in place, you can really start to move forward and plan in earnest.
5. Location
With your portfolio of ideas and your budget in place, you and your wedding planner can really get to work on your destination wedding for 2024. Here in Tuscany and Umbria, we are blessed with some of the most iconic landscapes you’ll find. Whether you want your toes in the sand, your veils fluttering over a wind-swept olive grove, a steep ancient hilltop castle or snow-capped mountain peaks, your wedding planner can make your vision a reality. No matter which location you choose, know that it will be the wedding of your dreams.
6. Secure Your Vendors
We have already touched on what the new landscape of destination wedding looks like in 2024 and want to restate how important it is to secure your vendors early. From florals and photographers to venues and videographers, there is only a finite number of weddings vendors will accept per year, so looking early will go along way towards securing the destination wedding of your dreams.
7. Plan a Visit
While it is not always possible to plan a visit to your destination locale, if you are able to, you will help put your mind to ease. A site visit will allow you to do some tastings, narrow down your menus and make sure that your destination is exactly like all those Instagram pics. Because many couples are planning in advance (sometimes by a year or more), it can make a planning visiting more of a reality – you won’t have two trips stacked on top of one another, spreading out the cost of travel a little bit more.
8. Plan Addition Events
One of the biggest wedding trends for 2024 is multiday events. From rustic welcome pizza parties to fun, day-after pool party brunches, big group events are always a great idea. We expect to see an increase in the number of smaller group activities, as well. Whether you want to explore the great outdoors on horses or quads or get in a few rounds of golf or tennis, the options abound. Other fun ways to celebrate in small groups include winery tours, specialty food tastings or even group cooking lessons. No matter what events you plan, they are sure to be a hit with your wedding group.
9. Accommodations & Transportation
With everyone planning so early for 2024, don’t forget to make arrangements for your guests. Having your guests all squared away with regards to accommodations and transportation are two big items to arrange in plenty of time. Make sure you do your research about reservation options as they don’t quite work the same way here in Italy as they do other places. So planning early and getting your save the dates out early will save everyone a lot of time and headaches.
10. Research Ceremony Options
Planning what kind of ceremony you would like to have is one of the most important decisions you will make and has a lot of repercussions for how your entire event will play out. Take time to research the different options available and pick the one that most fits your needs and vision for your ceremony. Each country will have their own set of requirements with regards to necessary appointments and documents needed. (Check out our blog on “What Legal Paperwork Do You Need to Get Married in Italy” ). Whether you and your partner want a religious wedding in a church, a civil ceremony or symbolic celebration, you and your wedding planner can find the perfect arrangement. (Check out our blog article on “How to Get Document Assistance in Italy“ ).
Predicting wedding trends can be a bit tricky, but we have spent a lot of time combing the literature, making calls and interviewing top tradesmen and women. If we had to sum up the top destination trends for 2024, we would have to say, “It’s never too early to start planning”! Everywhere we look, destination wedding continue to grow in popularity and scope. Need help planning your upcoming nuptials? Please contact Unique Events in Tuscany and see how we can help!
How’d we do with the top ten wedding trends of 2024? Do you think we hit the nail on the head? Do you think we missed something? Drop us a line in the comments and let us know what you thoughts.
