Literally Everything You Need to Know About Destination Wedding Invitations. Literally!

Hey there, Sunny here! Settling on a destination for your big day can be one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. You’ve already pictured your first dance with your new husband or wife, toes in the sand, staring into each other’s eyes with the beach as your sparkling turquoise backdrop and all of your guests gazing lovingly at you both. Then you realize, your guests! What do they need, how do I co-ordinate them all, who should I invite and the million other questions that start to race through your head piercing your beach wedding dreams.

Don’t fret! Destination wedding etiquette rules are a bit different from planning an at-home wedding, but we’re here to help! Here’s what I’ve learned about destination wedding invitations with a little help from the wedding invite experts themselves, Wedding Paper Divas.

How far in advance should I send out my destination wedding invitations?Whether it’s to schedule vacation time, budget or other arrangements, it’s polite to give your guests more than enough time to decide if they’re able to attend. One year to six months is the recommended time to give your guests notice for a destination wedding. Anything less than that, be prepared to understand if it’s too short notice. Keep in mind, your guests will need to plan hotel and flights accommodations, so the more time you can provide, the better.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in three months you’ll want to give out a save the date A.S.A.P. Speaking of Save The Dates …

Do I need to send out Save the Dates?

My actual Save The Dates designed by Wedding Paper Divas that I LOVED!

Yes. If you’re planning a wedding abroad do not skip this step! The minute you and your fiancé firmly decide to have a destination wedding, get your list together and let your guests know they need to travel to attend. The earlier you let guests know they need to plan travel the better prepared they can be and the earlier you can get your confirmed guest list numbers to your venue. Save the Dates should include the destination and the date of your wedding very clearly.

Bonus Tip: Since your guests will more than likely need to arrive at your destination a few days ahead and may choose to stay a few days after, I suggest sending a personally customized “Save The Week” with a 2-3-day range around your wedding date. This way guests have an idea of how many days off they may need to plan in advance for.

What should my destination wedding invitation suite include?

The experts at Wedding Paper Divas suggest including the must-know facts like your venue, your date, your names (of course), and your RSVP cards. For a destination wedding, you should also include enclosure cards with a brief mention of accommodations and flights. You don’t want your invitations to be too cluttered to the point where information gets lost.

Absolutely add a link to your wedding website on your enclosure cards since you can host a great deal of your wedding information online. Make sure your wedding website includes flight details to your destination, accommodations at or nearby your venue, a schedule of events and important details like currency exchanges and airport customs and transfer details. To make it easier on your guests, include information like things to do out and about the destination and what they should pack for the trip (sunscreen, long pants for evening wear, etc.)

Do I have to send a destination wedding invitation to everyone on my guests list?Destination wedding invitation etiquette says that everyone you’ve invited to the wedding should receive a Save the Date (or Save The Week) and an invitation. Yes, even your bridal party! While it’s tempting to save a little by not sending your bridal party or your parents an invitation, still do. Even though they’ve been involved every step of the way and probably now more about your venue than you do, it’s polite to drop an invite to them. They’ll probably want a keepsake of your big day and it makes them feel like more than your personal wedding staff. They’re still guests, after all.

Do my destination wedding invites have to reflect my venue?

They don’t have to, but wouldn’t these beach wedding invitations make you feel one step closer to the beach?! Of course, if you see an invite you like more so than a specifically themed one (because the passport wedding invitation has been done to death) – go for it! It’s your big day and your invites should reflect what you like. Go for those gorgeous gilded, gold foil-stamped invitations with the personalized stamps and envelopes – you deserve it!

Planned a destination wedding already? What advice would you offer about destination wedding invitation etiquette? Share your tips with me in the comments or on social media using #IDoAtSandals.