CHERRY CREEK FASHION — 5 Tips For Planning A Destination Wedding By Kerry Moriarty Robbins of KerryON Travel

Kerry Moriarty Robbins is the owner of KerryON Travel, an affiliate of Tafari/Coastline Travel in Denver, and hails from Chicago and grew up traveling with her grandparents and parents. But, it was a study abroad program in Europe that sparked her infatuation with travel. This was her first full immersion into another culture and forever shaped her desire for cultural and culinary discovery. An avid sportswoman, Kerry has trekked to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain, swished down the slopes of Europe and South America, and has attended America’s Cup, Ryder Cup, and US Open in Tennis and Golf.

Since her year abroad in Europe, Kerry has seized every opportunity to jump on a plane, train, or helicopter and has now visited 60 countries. Some of her favorite travel memories include enjoying leisurely winery lunches in New Zealand, visiting small islands off the coast of Cartagena, and exploring neighborhood markets in Thailand. Kerry graduated from The University of Denver with a degree in Finance, has an MBA, and an Executive degree from Northwestern University. Prior to joining the team at Tafari, Kerry worked as a technology executive and enjoyed earning lots of airline miles for her travels. Kerry has her VCTA certification from Virtuoso.

Her specialties include Culture and Culinary, Health and Wellness, Active Adventures, Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, Girls Trips, and Romantic Weekends. In this issue, Kerry shares five tips for planning a destination wedding.

Photo: Orlova Maria (l) // Shoaib Bhatti

TIP 1: This is your movie- picture the big day

When you first start thinking about how to plan a destination wedding, you should think about the big picture. Do you want your wedding on a white sandy beach? In the middle of a big city? A small elegant affair? A big bash with all your friends and family? Then factor in your budget and guest list. You can't begin to work on the details without understanding the whole picture. Once you know where your wedding will be, you can work on the small details such as your style, colors, and design.

TIP 2: Pick a destination

Once you’ve picked the setting, it’s time to choose the special place where you’ll be saying, “I do.” Follow your heart! If you like to spend long days in the sunshine with a drink in your hand, choose a tropical island. If you are looking for something intimate and lovely, rent a small home or a villa in Tuscany. Maybe you are more adventurous and want to do it in a lush jungle, or if you are a historian, London or Rome might be the perfect destination for you! Barn-chic is very popular now and there are some beautiful spots in New England, Montana, and Colorado where you can rent a spot with nature and wildflowers all around you. How pretty is that? You will also want to consider how easy it will be for everyone to travel to your chosen wedding destination. Try picking a place that offers reasonably priced, direct flights from your home city, and make sure the location can accommodate guests that are older or have special needs.

TIP 3: Select a date

If your mind is set on throwing a destination wedding, make sure you take the time to look at the weather at that time of year. Saturday nights are often the chosen date and more expensive so if can you can swing a Thursday, Friday Sunday, or afternoon wedding you can save a lot of money. Early in the planning, make sure to ask your family members and closest friends what date will work best for them. Check a calendar for smaller holidays such as Columbus Day or President’s Day because travel is often more crowded at those times. You will also need to accept that you won’t be able to pick a date that works for all your guests.

TIP 4: Work with a savvy wedding planner and also have an organized contact that lives in that country and works at the venue

Even the best-planned events can have some glitches so you need a team you can depend on. It is this teams job to-

1. Meet with you in person at the venue

2. Advise you on the local requirements to be legally married there

3. What is the proper attire is for that time of year and venue

4. Help select a theme and décor that looks great and they can execute

5. Develop a Plan B in case of rain, heavy wind, a storm

6. This team should be easy to work with and understand your vibe

7. Make sure that the chosen vendors are responsible!

8. Work with you to select a menu that uses local, fresh ingredients

9. Help design some signature cocktails that match the theme

TIP 5: Send out invitations early

It is very important when planning a destination wedding to send out the invitations early. Aim for at least six months earlier if not sooner. Consider dropping hints or sending out save the date cards on the intended date up to a year early so people can block out that date on the calendar. You can help your guests by working with a Travel Advisor to help them figure out the easiest most cost-effective route to the wedding site.

Kerry Moriarty Robbins: @kerryon_travel // https://travel.kerryon.net/