When two of the most revered wedding industry experts put together a book, you just know it is going to be not only a hit...but also VERY helpful! Alison Hotchkiss is the owner/creative director of Alison Events, a wedding & event planning company that specializes in high-end destination weddings. Thayer Allyson Gowdy is one of the most sought after wedding photographers and took the photographs for this amazing book/planner.
Alison was kind enough to give us some of her top insider tips to couples planning a destination wedding...
1. In lui of favors pay it forward and offset peoples carbon footprint by purchasing everyones carbon footprint to travel to the destination. TerraPass can calculate this for you.
2. Arrive at your destination a week early, sunbathe, read a book, get massages and be totally relaxed for when your guests arrive. If you are relaxed, they will be relaxed.
3. Ship all your items to your destination two weeks in advance to ensure they get there on time and ship as much as you can so you don't have to carry it all. Programs, welcome agendas and bags/items, cocktail napkins. If shipping somewhere like the caribbean make sure you work with an importer/exporter as they can ease the process and ensure your items arrive ok.
4. Instead of doing a traditional rehearsal dinner do a meet and greet/beach bonfire with beer, sangria and a firepit with s'mores..... or do a 12 noon beach BBQ or volleyball tournament or beach picnic and provide surf boards, boogie boards, snorkels and munchies.
5. In lui of a cake do a chocolate fondue with all the exotic fruit local to your area.
We highly recommend this book to anyone planning or thinking of planning a destination wedding event! The book is for sale here but Alison has been kind enough to offer one of her books to one lucky reader who comments below by July 12th! One entry per email address, please.
