Plan "B" or even Plan "C" - A Humorous Look at Destination Weddings

When you started to plan your destination wedding, there were a lot of things that nobody told you! Now that you have chosen your elegant wedding favors, let’s take a look at what just might go wrong and how to prepare a Plan "B" or even Plan "C"!!

Do you envision an elegant wedding at sunset? Make sure that it’s not hurricane season! Even in the best of times, you may have rain on your wedding day. There’s nothing quite as romantic as having your first kiss as husband and wife under an umbrella while the wind gusts at 50 miles per hour. So the guests are a little wet. They’ll dry.

A great way to avoid the above scenario is to plan ahead. Even though you really want to be married by the rolling surf while the sun sets in a big orange ball on the horizon, sometimes that is just not going to happen. Plan what you will do in advance if this happens. Are you renting a house? Will the carport accommodate your guests and your wedding party? Is there a community center or fellowship hall that you can rent in case of emergencies? A little investigative work ahead of time will save you plenty of stress on your wedding day.

"Oh, my! It’s time for the ceremony and the cake’s not here." How many times I have heard that line! Again, plan ahead. Check with area vendors and get referrals for all of your professionals. Chances are that you will not meet your "people" until your wedding day. Establish a relationship with everyone you will be dealing with as you plan your wedding. From your photographer to your wedding favor supply person, e-mail them often. Your professional will greatly value your input as they get to know your personality through your e-mail.

Where are the safety pins?" You know, sometimes things just fall apart at the most inappropriate times. When you are packing for your destination wedding, put together a "care" package with safety pins, needle and thread, duct tape, and any other item you might need. Those safety pins really come in handy when that wind is whipping!

And speaking of wind … When choosing your bridesmaid dresses, keep in mind that the wind blows on the beach almost all the time. In fact, you might want to keep that in mind when choosing your dress and veil, too! Nothing like fighting your veil as it beats your soon-to-be husband half to death during your ceremony.

Then there are the rings… please remember that a ring is NOT easy to find in the sand. No matter what anybody tells you, it is a very time-consuming ordeal to stop your ceremony and dig around for your ring. If you have a ring-bearer with a pillow, tie pretend rings on his pillow and let an adult hold your real rings.

A destination wedding can be an event to remember for the rest of your life. Just remember when planning, to plan ahead and keep your sense of humor. If something goes wrong, chances are nobody will know it but you. Let your memories be a cherished gift of love and laughter on your wedding day.