You’ve seen it all over Pinterest. It comes across all the big destination wedding timelines. “Make sure you visit the resort that you chose before your wedding!”
Okay, hold up. You’re already spending thousands of dollars (while still trying to stay within a certain budget already) and everyone is saying you need to spend even more to go to the resort TWICE?
There are thousands of reviews and pictures online and you’re working directly with the wedding coordinator at the resort. Is it necessary to visit the resort before your destination wedding?
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If you really want to or insist on visiting the resort before your destination wedding make sure to do the following
1. Make sure it’s in your budget
Most brides don’t consider this cost when starting to plan for their destination wedding. Adding the cost of the flight, resort stay, and time off work can be all it takes to change your mind. If you’re getting married in the same year as your site visit then consider how much time off this will take up.
2. Make sure your travel agent can get you a really good deal
If you can’t imagine not seeing the venue in person before your big day, then at least try to get the best deal possible. This may mean going in the off season (early fall or summer) so the weather may not be as perfect as you want it. Your travel agent should be able to help you get a good deal with the resort, especially if you’re considering having your wedding there and are willing to go when it’s more affordable.
3. Come with a plan in mind
Make sure you know exactly what you want to accomplish with this visit before you go. It’s okay to think of it as a mini vacay before the big day, but you can get a lot figured out for your wedding by seeing everything in person.
- Pick your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception locations
- Take lots of your own pictures
- Bring items you can leave there (décor or wedding favors)
Most brides do not visit the resort before their destination wedding
Let’s be honest, one of the biggest reasons people choose a destination wedding is to save some money. For that reason alone, most brides don’t feel the need to visit the venue before their destination wedding.
If you don’t – make sure to do the following:
1. Read tons of online reviews
Sites like TripAdvisor, Hotels.com, and Expedia have thousands of reviews to sort through. Of course some will be bad, but make sure to note what was bad about it. If you see recurring poor reviews regarding the service, cleanliness, or food that may be a red flag. If it’s a one off comment about something a little more obscure then try not to throw the resort out the window based on one person’s opinion. Also, consider the time the review was posted. Some guests like to complain about the seaweed or weather that is simply out of the resort’s control. Unfortunately, seaweed is more likely at certain points of the year and most resorts do their best to manage it every day. Keep your expectations realistic.
2. Look at plenty of photos and videos
The sites listed above will also include thousands of pictures and sometimes even videos. The photos provided off of the resort’s website are professional and very high quality, so seeing guest’s photos will be more realistic of what the resort actually looks like. This may be somewhat of a reality check for you, but I promise it’s worth it so you don’t get your hopes up when you actually arrive at the resort.
There may also be videos on YouTube of your resort. Either posted by travel websites or guests from their stay, which can be really helpful to get a better idea of the layout of the resort.
3. Follow the resort on social media and look at tagged photos
Especially on Instagram, people love to tag their location when posting pictures. If your resort is tagged you’ll see what pictures are posted, which is also helpful in getting a more realistic idea of what your resort looks like and entails.
Liking the resort’s Facebook page is also another source of a lot of information. Many guests post their reviews on Facebook instead of travel websites. You’ll also get a good idea of how active the resort is to get their name out there and how professional they look.
4. Ask if you can do a Skype or video call with an on-site wedding coordinator
If the reviews aren’t helpful and you still can’t get a good idea of what the resort will look like, consider asking the resort if you can do a video call with a wedding coordinator (something your travel agent could help with as well.) They can walk around the resort and show you all the wedding ceremony locations. It can be really helpful if you want to see something that you aren’t finding in pictures as well.
I hope this post has been helpful on if you should visit the venue before your destination wedding. I’d love to see readers engaging in comments to spark a discussion among brides, so if you have any questions please comment below or contact me here!
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