The biggest wedding-planning challenge that my fiancé Jesse and I have encountered is choosing a location. We're currently debating between getting married in the central coast of California (which is our home), or Ireland (which was the first trip we took together).
First, we threw around the idea of tying the knot in Ireland and making a vacation out of it. In addition to the beautiful scenery that you simply cannot get here in California, it's a special place for Jesse as he has traveled there a number of times to learn more about his family ancestry. Celebrating his family roots and introducing my loved ones to this amazing country would make for a memorable event.
Check out some photos from our trip:
However, after talking to our relatives and friends, we realized that logistically, it would be a lot more involved to plan. Planning a wedding can be stressful enough for any bride, but when you throw the word "destination" into the mix, most couples can become very overwhelmed. In addition to coordinating the day-of details, your guests will be asking you for activity recommendations, restaurant suggestions and everything in between.
The best approach is to create an extremely detailed website that outlines everything you can possibly think of: what type of shoes and clothing to pack, which airport to fly into, where to rent a car and where to grab a quick cup of coffee and a bite to eat. Step into your guests' shoes and remember why you want to bring them with you to such a special place; plan from there.
Acknowledging all of the challenges involved with hosting an event overseas, we moved on to venue hunting here in California. After all, this is where the majority of our friends and family members live and we want them to celebrate our special day for us. We also know that most people wouldn't be able to afford to travel to a foreign country so it makes more sense to do something close to home. We've looked at so many beautiful properties but I couldn't find one that stood out as both a ceremony location and a reception venue.
Amidst all of this location hunting, Jesse and I also started to discuss the flow of the wedding day and how we want guests to feel. The words that immediately came to mind were "comfortable," "fun" and "relaxed." We want a wedding that is a little more unconventional and true to us.
We also came to the realization that we want a more intimate ceremony. Although I can't wait for my dad to walk me down the aisle (I know it is a memory I will always hold close to my heart), the thought of 200 people being glued to my every move makes me a little nervous. (As a professional event planner, it's probably not too surprising that I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of girl while my fiancé Jesse is the life of any party!)
So, how do we balance the two out? That is where we are at now. We thought about building a façade to a tented reception area that would mimic an Irish castle. However, despite our attempts at compromise, I found myself being drawn back to Ireland itself. We are thinking of inviting a small group of people to join us in Ireland for a small ceremony followed by a stateside reception to celebrate with loved ones near and far.
A destination bride has a very different outlook on her wedding than that of a hometown bride. She's looking to make her big day more of an experience and introduce those closest to her to a place that she and her groom love. She wants to spend more time celebrating with her guests while sightseeing than worrying about final wedding details. A destination wedding might also be ideal for a couple who has a large number of combined family members and friends, and they simply cannot afford to invite them all.
In my opinion, you shouldn't feel as if you have to follow any rules when selecting your wedding venues or location. Just stay true to yourself and remember to weigh the pros and cons of each choice. You will end up exactly where you were meant to be with a beautiful celebration amongst those closest to the both of you. Give yourself enough time to make this important decision and don't feel pressured to book right away.
We haven't definitively decided yet either way at this point where we'll be hosting our wedding, but as soon as we do, the real fun starts!
Tell us: How did you choose your wedding location? What factors did you consider?
— Davia Lee
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Davia Lee is a real bride, entrepreneur, lead designer and wedding planner for Davia Lee Events. She loves all things sparkly, fashionable and girly. In contrast, her fiancé, Jesse, is a "man's man" — beard and all! They are the poster couple for "opposites attract" and prove that true love knows no boundaries. Their greatest wedding-planning challenge will be finding a middle ground where all of their wants, needs and dreams will meet. We can tell you this, though — when everything aligns, their big day will be fabulous!
