The ultimate travel guide for destination wedding guests

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Attending a destination wedding in the tropics is a fantastic (and easy) way to slip a much-needed vacation into your busy schedule and celebrate those closest to you at the same time. While exciting, destination weddings can require more planning from both the bridal couple and the guests, leaving you (as the guest) with some questions about wedding etiquette that you wouldn’t typically consider. To help you prepare for your getaway, we have put together a list of things to keep in mind once you RSVP yes and join the couple for their unforgettable wedding in paradise.

RSVP early

If you make a couple’s VIP list, the invitation to paradise will arrive well in advance of the wedding and travel dates, so you have more than enough time to plan your getaway. Responding to the invitation – whether a yes or no – in a timely manner is a considerate gesture that will help the wedding couple finalize the necessary details such as their budget, room blocks, scheduling, wedding events and much more, and make the planning process that much easier. Plus, deciding early will allow you the time you need to put in your vacation time, prep and plan for your time in destination.

Use the wedding website as your guide

Planning a destination wedding comes with a lot of moving parts for everyone involved, and to help organize the details for guests, quite often couples create a wedding website or social media page to house all necessary information. This is a great resource to help you plan for the celebrations and provide insights and answers to any questions you may have along the way. You can often find helpful information about the wedding destination and venue, resort amenities to enjoy, wedding events during your stay, exciting excursions and any other perks you can expect.

Connect with an expert

To help ease planning in destination and ensure wedding logistics run smoothly, couples frequently work with a travel agent or destination wedding coordinator who is also available to guests for inquiries about flights, transfers and the resort experience as a whole. As a guest of a Sunwing Weddings couple, you can also make the most of Sunwing Weddings services, as the couple’s Groups Travel Representative is available to help you navigate your travel plans, find the best rates and ensure you’re getting the right information at the right time.

Give the gift of love, or travel

To gift or not to gift? Every couple is different – you may be directed to a gift registry or be deterred from purchasing one altogether; perhaps the option has been left to you to decide. Should you wish to send your friend or loved one a wedding gift, it’s always best practice to send it to their home before they depart for paradise or wait until they return, so it’s not added baggage flying home. That to say, a gift couples will always appreciate and one that is Carry On ready is a Sunwing Gift Card, offering your loved ones the chance to explore the world together once again on their honeymoon or their first anniversary.

Pack light(weight)

You have RSVP’d yes and booked your travel arrangements, now it’s time to pack. It’s always helpful to refer to the couple’s website and confirm the dress code for the wedding ceremony and events during your stay, in addition to researching the resort you’re travelling to as many on-site restaurants have their own rules for attire. If you’re attending a destination wedding, it’s likely you’re in a warm climate so on the big day, keep your fabrics lightweight and lighter in colour. Ladies, make sure to come prepared with the right footwear as beachfront ceremonies and celebrations can be tricky locations for stilettos.