Lifestyle: 6 ways to plan a destination wedding

MANILA, Philippines - Dreaming of getting married on the beach? Or in a garden surrounded by lush greenery and colorful flowers? Or in any out-of-town, exotic location?

For some, June is a month especially for brides. In case you are planning a June 2014 wedding (or a wedding in any month, for that matter), here are tips from brides and their grooms who've had successful destination weddings.

1. When you pick your location, take into account logistics, especially for your guests

BEAUTIFUL YET COMFORTABLE. When it comes to a beach wedding, your best bet is to wear clothes of light fabric.

Are you getting married on the beach or in a garden out of town? How easy is it to get there? Can your older relatives travel there? Will you be paying for your guests’ transportation and accommodation costs or will they be paying? The answer to the last question should be clarified with your guests early on.

If you plan to have an outdoor wedding, the wedding planner advises giving your guests a welcome kit. The kit should have mosquito repellant, comforting footwear, basic information on and maps of the place, and program. At the very least, inform them in detail and in advance what to expect and what to bring.

Transporting delicate items like a wedding dress can also be tricky. For beach weddings, it is best to have a wedding dress with light fabric so that it can be folded and transported easily. It will be more comfortable to wear outdoors, too!

2. Compare costs between wedding essentials in your wedding location and where you are coming from
Local suppliers and materials cost lower (usually), so you might want to get them at your location instead of bringing them with you. There are some cases, though, when the cost at the location is more expensive, especially if you are having your wedding overseas.

This helped them cut down significantly on costs and still have a memorable wedding.

3. Enlist your family and friends and/or a wedding planner for help
Jana and Joaqui Tupas had 3 wedding ceremonies: they said their “I do's” in a cove in Boracay in the presence of immediate family, they marched with their entourage at a garden in Tagaytay and they had their wedding kiss at a big party with all their friends in Manila.

How did they pull it off, and with a limited budget? With the help of trusted family and friends.

Whether it’s family and friends or professionals, it is important to work with your dream team. “Go with who and what makes you happy, relaxed and radiant” .

4. Out of town need not be out of town in the conventional sense

If your main goal is to travel and celebrate with your family and friends for your wedding, you don’t need to do all — ceremony and reception — out of town. Let your taste and creativity be your guide.

5. You can also have a travel-themed wedding!

If you love to travel but would like to keep the ceremony in town (and save the out of town for the honeymoon), you can go with a travel-themed wedding.

“The theme, motif and the totality of your dream wedding are best if reflective of your personalities, and show your great love for each other,”

6. In the end, don’t stress too much on the details

“Cliche as it may sound, one must handle everything with a smile,” On the day of the wedding, “just relax and let go.” Your wedding is, after all, only part of the big picture. “It isn't how glamorous your wedding turned out that people will remember; it is how you lived your lives as a married couple”.

- Rappler.com BY RHEA CLAIRE E. MADARANG