St. Tropez of Turkey
It's one of the most important days of your life. A day you and your loved one will celebrate forever.
So why not make it as magical as your love story? Why not honor your love with a memory that you and those closest to you will cherish forever?
If you are looking for a wedding as special as the bond you share, why not consider a destination wedding in magical Bodrum, Turkey?
Read on to learn more about this stunning locale and how, with a bit of planning and a good deal of help, you can transform your happiest day into the stuff that fairy tales are made of!
Bodrum, Turkey--A Little Treasure on the Sea
If you've never been one to follow the crowd, if you have more than a little flair for the unusual, if you've always had a taste for the exotic, then Bodrum is the place for you!
Located on the southwestern coast of Turkey, Bodrum is an ancient little seaside gem, nestled happily on the Aegean.
You don't have to be looking for a beach wedding, however, for Bodrum to win your heart.
The diverse landscape offers both the dazzling blue waters of Bodrum's famous marinas and the charms of its pine woods and olive groves.
But the choices don't end there: no matter what you and your guests are into, Bodrum's got it.
History? Check.
Art and culture? Check.
Entertainment, shopping, and dining? Check.
The solitude and natural beauty? Check.
Luxury amenities? Double check.
But Is a Destination Wedding Right for Me?
By now you're probably thinking that Bodrum sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime journey, a fantasy vacation to dream of for the future.
But to combine such a trip with what is, perhaps, one of the most difficult and anxiety-producing events to plan, your wedding?
You may be breaking into hives just thinking about it. The fact is, though, that there's a good reason why destination weddings have become all the rage in recent years.
If you know what you're doing--or, better still, if you enlist the help of the professionals who do--then a destination wedding is extremely do-able.
And the end result will be an experience that you and your guests will never forget. What better way to begin your new life with your loved one?
Where to Begin
The first steps in planning your destination wedding are, of course, to consider what matters most to you and your significant other.
This will help you determine not only where you want to go and whom you want to go with you, but also what you want and expect when you get there.
From there, you can begin sorting out the logistics and the budget, factoring in details such as travel expenses for your family and wedding party.
Remember, as well, that your guests will need a bit of preparation to help them make the journey a safe and happy one. At the very least, they will need enough advance notice to arrange their work schedules and make accommodations for child and elder care.
Choosing the Right Venues
One of the most important aspects of creating the perfect destination wedding is selecting the appropriate venue.
No matter whether you prefer a quaint little hotel offering privacy and beautiful scenery or a luxury resort with all the amenities, you will want to ensure that you know exactly what to expect before you get there.
The same is true of the site you select for the ceremony. If you are traveling a great distance, chances are that you may never have visited the location where your wedding will be held.
This is where turning to experts can be especially important. They're going to know exactly what sites, from lodgings to wedding venues, will work best for your wedding because, literally and figuratively, they've been there with previous clients!
Managing Guests' Travel Needs
As you're attending to all those little fine details that go into arranging a trip, you'll also want to be particularly sensitive to the needs of your guests.
Remember that, as exciting as a destination wedding may be, it also requires your guests to make a greater time and financial commitment than does a traditional, home-based wedding.
For some, it may even pose a financial or scheduling hardship. So consider early in the process how you plan to manage issues like these when they arise--as they inevitably will.
Are you prepared to offer financial help or assistance with travel or family care for guests who need it? If so, what sort of arrangement will you make with them?
If offering such assistance just isn't feasible, then are you emotionally prepared to not have them at your wedding?
Let the Party Start (or End) at Home!
Many couples who choose a destination wedding will have a small ceremony or reception at home for guests who can't make the trip.
This way, you and your betrothed can still have the destination wedding of your dreams, while still allowing the special people in your life to share in the joy of your marriage.
Make It Legal
When you have a destination wedding, then it's especially important to research the legal requirements for both your state of residence and the site of the official ceremony.
Make sure that you have all the documents in hand before you embark, and ensure that they are complete and accurate.
Just to cover all the bases, many couples traveling abroad for their weddings will seek out a justice of the peace or have an informal, legal ceremony at home beforehand.
After all, when you marry the love of your life, you want to ensure it's legal and legit!
Getting Help from the Experts
There's a lot involved in planning a destination wedding, especially to a foreign land. For that reason, you can save yourself a lot of stress by enlisting the help of the experts.
They have all the knowledge and the resources you need for a wedding beyond even your wildest dreams. And the cost is probably less than you would expect.
As a professional destination wedding planner, we do offer wedding packages for virtually every budget.
The Takeaway
Having your wedding abroad may seem like a daunting prospect, but with a little planning and the right people to help you, your big day can be legendary.
After all, your love story is not ordinary, why should your wedding be? A luxury wedding in Bodrum, Turkey can have you and your guests feeling like you've stepped into the pages of a storybook. Contact us to learn more about how we can transform your wedding fantasies into reality!