10 Things You Must Consider for a Destination Wedding Reception

Planning a wedding is hard work, but the end product is unbelievably rewarding. If you’ve chosen to have a destination wedding in the Bahamas, you’ll find everything you put into it will be well worth it. While the wedding ceremony is the official event, most people have the reception in mind when planning a wedding. After all, the reception is the party and should be the most fun. When planning Bahamas weddings, there are some unique challenges to preparing the reception. Let’s take a look at how the process works, what to keep an eye out for, and tips for making your wedding reception an incredible success.

Planning a Destination Wedding

There are a number of ways to go about planning a destination wedding. While you can do it any way you would like, there are three traditional routes most couples choose from:

DIY.

For go-getters and couples who know exactly what they want, the do-it-yourself route is certainly an option. This is especially true if you’ve been to the location before or are familiar with the area. For couples planning their own wedding and reception, though, it’s important to understand the amount of hard work that goes into the process, as well as the attention to detail needed to make it a success. The hardest part about planning a destination wedding, however, is not being able to physically be there throughout the process. Despite this, many couples do find success in this area.

Travel agent.

• Some couples prefer to meet in the middle and use a travel agent to help plan their wedding. While a typical travel agent won’t plan the details of a wedding ceremony or reception, they can facilitate the process, get you in touch with the people you need to speak with, and ensure the big picture is taken into account.

Wedding planner.

• The third option is to use a wedding planner. A wedding planner can help with the big picture issues as well as the minor details that make a wedding truly memorable. When using a wedding planner for a Bahamas wedding, you typically have choices between on-site wedding planners and remote wedding planners.

Reception Planning: Things to Consider

Chic Bahamas Weddings has noted that whether you’re doing it yourself, working with a travel agent, or handing off some of the responsibility to a wedding planner, throwing a memorable reception requires careful thought and planning. While every wedding is different and details will have to be tailored to the specific location and accommodations, there are a number of elements that should always be considered:

• In vs. out. Do you want your reception to be held inside or outside? Depending on the time of the year, that question may be answered for you. While temperatures are usually comfortable, there are certain periods where rain is frequent. Familiarizing yourself with the climate, temperatures, and weather patterns will help you make an educated decision.

• Accommodations. Where are you staying? If you’re at an all-inclusive resort, there are typically a number of set locations where receptions are held. This can make the venue choice simple and allows you to focus on the smaller details.

• Budget. As always, your budget will dictate how much you are able to do. Develop a budget and stick to it. Depending on how much money you have allotted for your reception, you can determine which elements are necessary and which are superfluous.

• Type/style. Bahamas weddings are almost always more casual than not, but the decision is up to you. What type of wedding reception do you want? It could be anything from a sit-down or cocktail style to casual beach picnic or a simple cake-cutting.

• Elements. You’ve been to enough weddings in your life that you probably have a good idea of what you like and what you don’t care for. Make a list of the elements you want included in your reception and scratch off the ones you have no interest in. Things to consider include being announced as you walk in, having a reception line as you leave, having a first dance, including wedding toasts, cutting the cake, having a buffet line or seated dinner, and more.

• Menu. The menu can be a point of contention for some couples, but it doesn’t have to be. A resort typically asks you to request a number of items and will happily cater to your needs. If you aren’t holding your reception at a resort, it’s important to track down a local caterer with the capability to serve your favorite menu items.

• Decorations. Some couples prefer to let the beautiful surroundings suffice, while others want to incorporate very specific decorations. If there are particular elements you want included, discuss your requests with your wedding planner or venue coordinator and see if they are feasible.

• Wedding favors. Will you be giving out simple wedding favors to your guests? If so, plan on coordinating this with your wedding planner or venue coordinator and include a thoughtful token for guests to remember the wedding by.

• Music. What’s a wedding without some music? Deciding on whether to have a live band or DJ is a major choice. This will almost always be dictated by your budget, but it’s still important to think about. If dancing will be a major part of the reception, a band is worth considering. Otherwise, a simple set of speakers may do the trick.

• Privacy. While you would think an island wedding would be as private is it could get, this isn’t always the case. If you’re looking for a private reception venue, ask about where it’s located. Some venues may be right in the middle of a resort, while others are tucked away by the shore.

Chic Bahamas Weddings

At Chic Bahamas Weddings, we believe the best way to plan a destination wedding is to use an experienced wedding planner. When you plan your wedding reception with us, you get specialized attention and a number of services. We take care of everything, including the bar, catering, centerpieces, design, floral arrangements, music, transportation, photography, wedding cake, and more. For additional information, please contact us today!