Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Checklist

Countdown to Your Wedding Away
Whether you have your heart set on the Bahamas, Mexico, Fiji, or Hawaii, it’s important to plan early. The following checklist will help you and your spouse-to-be cover all the bases of your destination wedding. Keep in mind that these are general recommendations and may need to be adjusted to fit your particular plans.

6 Months to a Year Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Announce your engagement. Congratulations !!
___ Decide on a wedding budget (considerations: airfare, hotel, documents processing, meals, transportation, activities) Don't forget the all important wedding items such as attire, photographer, flowers, ceremony fees, etc. If you are having friends and family, you must consider if they can afford the expense of the trip
___ Choose a wedding date
___ Choose a wedding location
___ Contact TPI - Tropical Escapes, a certified Destination Wedding and Honeymoon planning company. We will find the perfect destination for you. We can assist you and your guest with all of your travel needs from airfare, accommodations, group discounts, car rentals, insurance and tours. Plus, we will connect you to the wedding coordinator at your destination of choice who will then provide you with all the necessary information that you will need regarding marriage licenses, marriage requirements such as documents needed, medical test, waiting period, witnesses, wedding packages.
___ Put together a wedding guest list
___ Send "Save the Date" cards
___ Follow up with guests by phone to get a general head count
___ Start considering the brides wedding dress, groom's attire and the wedding party's attire
___ Obtain necessary legal documents, including, if necessary, passports, divorce certificates, visas, identification, birth certificates, notarized declarations of never having been married.
___ Confirm the number of guest that will be traveling and book all travel plans with TPI - Tropical Escapes.
___ If you're traveling to a foreign part, now is a good time to find out if any immunizations are required. Note that some will need to be taken in several doses with weeks in between! Note: Check out the Canadian consulates  for info on immunizations required for different countries.
___ TPI - Tropical Escapes offers free personal wedding websites for booking with us. Create a wedding website to let everyone know about your special day. Tip: this is a graceful way to also let people find out where you are registered as well.
___ Whether you use a Travel Registry that is offered from TPI - Tropical Escapes or not, think about what you're going to put on your registry -- your wedding gifts should be as much about making your wedding guests feel good as they are about helping you!

4 to 6 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Work with your wedding coordinator to find a wedding florist, musicians, wedding photographer and wedding officiate.
___ Decide on your wedding menu
___ Finalize wedding ceremony & reception details, have signed contracts to be sent to you.
___ Order wedding invitations
___ Register for wedding gifts
___ Buy wedding rings. Consider having your wedding rings engraved.
___ Write and order your wedding invitations

2 to 4 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Mail your wedding invitations
___ Begin choosing or writing your wedding vows
___ Make sure all of the wedding party and other essential people have made their travel arrangements if not have then contact TPI - Tropical Escapes
___ Finalize the bridal party attire
___ Pay final balance on travel arrangements

1 to 2 Months Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Order wedding favors and gifts
___ Have your final dress fitting
___ Shop for vacation wear, including swimsuits, a rehearsal dinner outfit, sun protection

2 Weeks Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Confirm all details with hotel, chef or caterer, florist, photographer, officiate, musicians and/or DJ, and others involved in the wedding
___ Arrange guest seating, if necessary
___ Assemble favors and/or welcome bags

1 to 3 Days Before Your Destination Wedding
___ Be sure you've made provisions for your trips to and from the airport.
___ Reconfirm overseas flights and hotel reservations.
___ Check the weather forecasts for your destinations.
___ Leave a copy of your house keys with a friend or relative.
___ Set your house timers.
___ Change your voicemail message at home and at work.
___ Don't forget to clean out your fridge and empty the garbage!

Upon Arrival
___ Apply for a marriage license
___ Meet with your wedding coordinator
___ Meet with your officiate
___ Visit the ceremony site
___ Make an appointment at the resort salon for a hairstylist, and/or nail.
___ Distribute welcome bags to guests' rooms
___ Go over last minute details
___ Relax!

Your Wedding Day
___ Do your best to relax, focus on each other, and have fun with your friends and family.

Your Honeymoon
__ Spend lots of romantic time together, but don't forget to get out and enjoy the beautiful destination.

Once you have returned
___ Contact appropriate departments to change your name on your driver's license, Passport office, bank account.

Congratulations,  I wish you a long and happy life together !