The destination wedding planning checklist

A destination wedding is two weddings: the celebration and the travel logistics. Here's the order that actually works.

12 months out

• Pick the country and the city. Visit if you can.
• Visit 2-3 venues in person if budget allows. Photos lie.
• Book the venue with a non-refundable deposit. Without this, nothing else matters.
• Set the date — and verify it doesn't collide with a major holiday in the host country.
• Send save-the-dates immediately so guests can plan flights.

9 months out

• Book your photographer and videographer. The good ones in Como, Tulum, Marrakech book a year out.
• Hire a local wedding planner. This is the most important hire of the entire planning process.
• Secure a 5-7 room block at 2 hotels at different price points.
• Build your wedding website with multi-event RSVP for welcome dinner, ceremony, reception, farewell brunch.

6 months out

• Send formal invitations with the website link.
• RSVP deadline at 8 weeks out (destinations get later replies — bake in the slip).
• Confirm flight + transport partners. Some destination weddings include a shuttle from the airport.
• Decide if you're offering a welcome bag — they're more meaningful when guests have traveled.

3 months out

• Final headcount lock for caterer.
• Send travel notes: airport, ground transport, hotel options, dress code, weather, currency.
• Tip locally if you can — meeting your planner and venue in person again before the week of helps.

1 month out

• Confirm every vendor in writing.
• Print one paper copy of every confirmation. WiFi in a Tuscan villa is not always great.
• Send the final dress code and schedule to all guests.

Week of

• Welcome dinner the night before. Get every guest in one room early.
• Hand off logistics to your planner. The day of the wedding, you should not be answering questions about shuttles.

How Vowly handles this

Vowly Destination plan ($149 one-time) includes unlimited guests, multi-event RSVP, multi-location maps, travel & accommodation fields, and white-glove onboarding. Built specifically for Lake Como, Tulum, Marrakech, Mykonos, Bali — anywhere your wedding takes 36 hours of flying.