Thinking about a destination wedding? Well you’re on track to an unforgettable experience! Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular for so many reasons. They offer a more intimate celebration experience and a centralized location for friends and family to converge from across the globe. Though the motivations to get married far from home run the gamut from the romantic to practical, every destination wedding has one thing in common: the inherent host of logistical challenges. From making long distance decisions, to navigating the gifting, there is a lot to manage.
Really?! I have to “manage” even the gifting? Well, yes. But it doesn’t have to be that hard if you take advantage of the tools and resources at your fingertips. (You can thank yourself later for getting married in the Internet age.) Read on…
From the get-go you’ll find many couples fraught with concern over how to handle the delicate topic of “gifts.” Being sensitive to the added expense, travel and time that comes with a destination wedding, some may avoid registering for gifts altogether. Though certainly noble, the reality is that most of your guests will want to buy you something to celebrate your marriage. The issue then for guests of destination weddings is not only the traditional “what should I buy?” but do I need to carry it to the destination? The issue for the wedding couple is how do I bring all these gifts back?
So what to do? Well, first: BREATHE. And remember those tools and resources:
A simple solution is to use an online gift registry service. Take advantage of the ease and flexibility it offers both you and your guests – no trips to the store, no shipping, no gift wrap, no returns. You can create a gift list that you feel good about, that is helpful to guests and that doesn’t create a logistical nightmare of shipping or the possibility of misplaced envelopes at your destination. With a registry like this you have the opportunity to share what’s most important to you and let guests have the fun of being part of it in a safe, secure and streamlined way…even a small gift can feel big because it’s part of a larger goal like:
- Helping you save for something big like your first home together
- Donating to a charity that is close to your heart
- Buying local in an ecological and socially responsible way
- Giving you the gift of experiences together, like a cooking class
- Sending you off on the honeymoon of your dreams
So remember, when it comes to gifting and destination weddings, keep things simple, keep things virtual, keep things fun and both you and your guests will benefit. Bon Voyage!!
