Destination Wedding Tips for Brides

So…you’ve decided a resort wedding is for you. Your wedding planning checklist is done. Now all you have to do is get there, hopefully with your wedding dress in hand and your luggage by your side. As someone who travels the globe as a photographer, here’s my best destination wedding tips for brides. Ready?

Stay Grounded: If you’ve been reading our blog, you know how much we stress the importance of ground transportation. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination wedding and having no idea how you’re going to get to your resort or hotel. Find all this out ahead of time. Call your hotel and ask about shuttles. Get the deets: Where does the shuttle pick up and drop off? How often does it arrive? How much does it cost? Your resort or hotel will be able to tell you how much a taxi should cost, too. Don’t get stiffed by an unethical taxi driver that wants to charge you double.

The Write Stuff: Okay, so we hate to be a downer, but have you ever lost your wallet when you’re out of town? Trust us, it’s awful. So make sure you always have the 800 numbers of your credit card companies written down somewhere with easy access. You might want to jot down your account number, too. And these days it’s easier than ever to keep the information accessible via Google drive or a cloud server. Better yet, snap a photo of your statement. You can also take pictures of your ID and visa, ticket etc. 

Fight or Flight: Text your flight number to yourself. This is one of favorite destination wedding tips for brides. It really works! Just be sure it’s in this format [Airline] [Flight number]. Once you send yourself a text, a hyperlink will appear in your text messages. That link will be invaluable for keeping you up-to-date on your arrival time, gate numbers and even baggage carousel. Bonus tip: If you have family members keeping track of you, send them the same link!

Don’t Dress to Impress: No costume jewelry! It’s a pain in the rear dealing with TSA. Same goes for belts and metal buckles. Your shoes should be easy to slip on and off. Wear loose clothing that’s comfortable. You never know how long you’ll be at an airport.

Park Place: If you’re long-term parking, choose a spot near the entrance. We know. Those parking sports are always taken–NO THEY’RE NOT. That’s what everyone thinks. Plus, the benefit of parking near the entrance is that you’ll be the first to be picked up by the shuttle and the first to be dropped off when you return. Just be sure to take a picture of your parking spot so you don’t forget where you’re at. It’s also handy to note what parking lot you’re in. Sometimes the different lots can be tricky!

Charge Ahead: There’s nothing worse than getting to the airport and having a dead battery. Make sure you not only have a full charge, but you bring a charging cord into the airport with you. Some airports provide charging ports for cell phone emergencies. Also be sure to bring the correct charging cords for the country you’re traveling to because they can be very different.

Big Lug: There’s a reason why they call it luggage. It’s because you “lug” it around. But you don’t have to do that. Most airlines will allow you to check your bag curbside. Avoid the long line inside and hand-off your luggage early. Call the airline ahead of time to see if this is an option at your airport. 

Tag, You’re it! Make sure you have a good ID tag on your handle. The paper ones can rip. And if you want to make sure that you NEVER lose track of your suitcase, get an Air Tag or a Tile. That way you can track where your baggage is with the slide of an app. 

Speaking of luggage, honestly, one of our best pro tips is to be sure your baggage has a loud pattern or is an unusual color. Do you know how easy it is to get lost in a sea of black and dark blue suitcases? Trust us, being able to quickly and easily spot your luggage is a huge perk.

Ship Shape: Sometimes it’s better to send some items ahead. This is especially true if you’re planning a wedding. All those pairs of shoes? Box them up and ship them out. Wedding favors? Send them FedEx. Trust us. It’s cheaper than an overweight suitcase. Bonus, keep the box for shipping items back to yourself!

Check Mate: Probably your most important travel item is your wedding dress, right? You’re in luck. Most airlines are super helpful at getting your dress to its destination safe and sound. Start off by getting the right garment bag. Here’s a great article about which one to chose. Next, tell your airline booking agent that you will have a wedding dress with you. They can make special arrangements. If they can’t, ask for help at your gate. They can arrange for a steward or stewardess to stow the dress for you. Don’t be shy! Ask!

Ensure a Good Time: One of our smartest destination wedding tips is to purchase travel insurance. It’s so easy and, usually, super-affordable. As a destination wedding photographer, believe me, things happen. Travel insurance can cover things like having to cancel your trip, or if your luggage is stolen or medical emergencies. There’s a ton of information about this on-line. Just do your research because you don’t want to be sold a bogus plan. 

Traveling is stressful. We get it. The good news is I’ve been there and done that. One of the perks of booking me as your destination wedding photographer is that you’ll get a Wedding Guide. We’ll also chat on the phone. I’ve got tips for all my brides on how to avoid the pitfalls of a destination wedding.

Happy trails!