How to plan your sequel wedding in the tropics

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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lots of couples having to cancel or change their original wedding plans, sequel weddings are an emerging trend we’re seeing for 2021 and 2022. And what better place to celebrate your love a second time than in a gorgeous tropical destination? Read on for our guide on how to plan your sequel wedding in the tropics.

What is a sequel wedding?

First thing’s first – what is a sequel wedding? Like the name might suggest, it’s a “take two” or second part at celebrating your wedding. Due to the pandemic and COVID restrictions, lots of couples decided to go ahead with a more intimate ceremony for their first wedding, followed up by a bigger sequel wedding at a later date with all their loved ones. It’s the perfect solution if you don’t want to wait to be legally married (especially on a certain date like an anniversary) while still hosting the second celebration you’ve always dreamed of.

Narrow down your destination and resort

There is definitely a lot of confusion amongst Canadians about travel right now – but it’s easier than you think, especially when you plan your wedding with Sunwing. Our expert planners can help you find the destination that’s right for you, and you can peruse our site (including the helpful Travel Requirements hub) to learn about the various regulations. Keep an eye out for Easy Entry Destinations, which have limited barriers on entry, and resorts that offer on-site testing to make it as easy as possible.

Figure out your budget for both events

Whether you’ve already had your first wedding or you’re in the process of planning both, you want to make sure you set aside an individual budget for both. Lumping both celebrations together in one budget can be confusing, and you could wind up having not enough left in the budget for your sequel wedding! All our wedding planning packages come with a helpful budget spreadsheet that you can use to keep track of costs for everything from venues to flowers, décor and more. When coming up with your budgets, narrow down what’s most important for you in each wedding and allocate funds accordingly (for example if food is a big spend for your sequel wedding and décor a big spend for your first).

Create your guest lists

Having two different wedding celebrations means you’ll have two separate guest lists – one smaller, more intimate list for your official ceremony and a larger guest list for your sequel wedding. There will definitely be some overlap but working off of one list instead of two individual lists will just end up getting confusing and may even result in missed invitations. Proper etiquette dictates that you invite everyone from your original wedding to your sequel celebration, although you can make it clear that they don’t have to attend.

Randy Hansra Photography

Decide on the ceremony

Having a symbolic ceremony at your sequel wedding is a matter of choice, but lots of couples choose to host at least a short ceremony before the party gets started. Since most of your guests won’t have gotten to witness you exchanging your vows in person the first time around, it’s a great way to make them feel included and commemorate your love in front of your nearest and dearest. You’ve already legally tied the knot, so a formal officiant isn’t necessary – you can even have one of your close friends or family members preside over the ceremony for a more personal touch.