Planning a Destination Wedding

Planning a Destination Wedding BY MARY N. LITZSIGNER, VP Events, Inc     Photography by Jeff Newsom Photography          It’s 10:00 in the morning.  Our wedding is less than eight hours away! The last few months of planning, the meetings, emails, all the time spent thinking about today— and now its here. As I sit on my balcony and look down the beautiful California coastline I am reminded of the importance of each and every decision. First and foremost was selecting the central coast of California for my destination wedding.  The search for the perfect location began a little over six months ago. We traveled along Highway 1 from charming Cambria, through San Luis Obispo, and viewed wineries, missions, historic hotels and bed- and-breakfast inns.  As we made our way into Santa Barbara County, we found ourselves in the heart of the majestic Santa Ynez Valley—the perfect location for a movie, we thought— completing our search into beautiful Santa Barbara.     The words above could have been written by any one of the growing number of brides who are planning a destination wedding.  With exceptional weather most of the year, the central coast of California has become an exciting choice for brides, grooms, and their families.       The most important decision in planning a wedding is the location—hotel property, private estate or winery.  A difficult choice given the wonderful array of locations in the area, but that is part of the fun.  The key to your selection is identifying the factors that are most important to you and your family, then doing as much research as time allows.  A significant part of the research can be done online.  Many locations have extensive websites with photographs, virtual tours and descriptions of the various packages they offer.  You can also read wedding magazines and destination guides.      The Central Coast offers several world-class resorts, theme hotels, historic inns and smaller, boutique hotels.  With destination weddings becoming so fashionable, many of the locations have extremely experienced staff that focuses specifically on weddings.  They can provide you with complete packages offering multiple choices for a rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception, brunch and numerous other services which they can customize to meet your needs.  Many of the resorts are adjacent to the beach, with spectacular views of the California coastline, and most of them boast renowned chefs who can create menus to meet the needs of the most discriminating bride and groom.  Imagine your bridal party arriving at a destination which offers superior service, spa treatments, an abundance of tennis courts and challenging golf courses, and boutique shopping.  Each and every one of your needs will be met during your stay, and all you need to do is enjoy the festivities. You and your guests may never want to leave.      San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties are home to several award-winning wineries. Many wineries now have special events personnel ready to assist you with planning your wine country wedding. The beauty of a winery and the season play an integral role in the planning of a winery wedding. In the spring, the vines are beginning to bloom, the land is greening, and the mountains and valleys provide an incredible visual backdrop. As summer nears, the colors fade into more natural tones; the afternoons become warmer and the sunsets more spectacular.  In the fall, the hillsides take on a color palette of honey, almond, burgundy, orange and deep red.  After the grapes are harvested in mid-October, the land once again begins to prepare for Spring. The ever-changing landscape may be a factor in your selection of location and season for your wedding.      When you plan a wedding at a winery, you select your own caterer, which some couples prefer. The Special Events Director at the winery will provide you with a list of approved caterers and will make recommendations based on your individual needs. An impressive regional and seasonal menu can be prepared for your guests. Pairing their wines with your personalized menu is a trendy and entertaining component of your wedding reception. Be aware, however, that many wineries have restrictions on alcohol distribution.  Before selecting your winery, make sure you understand their rule about what may or may not be served to your guests.      Hosting your wedding at a private estate is also an interesting option. A private estate gives you an opportunity to plan a truly personal wedding.  There are no signs directing your guests, no other weddings happening on the same grounds.        From a design perspective, think of a private estate as a blank canvas that can be artistically created as a signature for the bride and groom.  From palatial estates to an intimate cottage, from a Mediterranean villa to a rustic barn or a horse ranch, the choices are abundant.  But private estates tend to be more expensive than an all-inclusive location. They charge a flat fee for the estate; the rest—the rentals, power, lighting, catering, flowers and all other necessary amenities—must be brought in by various vendors for your wedding.  Sounds complicated?  Maybe.  A wedding coordinator can help you overcome these issues and help you create a beautifully private estate wedding.      Trends are changing in the overall planning of wedding weekends.  Many brides and grooms are returning to intimate rehearsal dinners and are planning additional events such as Welcome Parties, golf and spa excursions, and brunches. While you will want to take care of your guests, do try not to over-plan their stay.  Many guests think of destination weddings as a mini-vacation and an opportunity to explore the area on their own. Welcome baskets are a great introduction to the wedding weekend.  You can include descriptive literature on the area, lists of interesting sights and events, before and after the wedding, for those who may come early or stay after the wedding, and a sweet memento from the bride and groom.  Be as creative as you can.      If you plan ahead, identify the location most suitable for you and your guests, consider all the options and review a comprehensive budget, your destination wedding will be a very memorable experience.

 

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