So far we’ve talked about finding the perfect spot for your destination wedding and treating your guests while they’re there. In this last post, we’re going to talk about bringing the local area into your wedding.
Planning a wedding is stressful. No matter what, it’s going to be tough. But the actual wedding and the memories you make will make you smile for years. To make it even better, make it unique to you and where you spend your time!
Bring in the local flair!
Okay, you’re thinking I’m nuts. I get it. Bringing in something local will not make it unique to you. You’re not from there or living there or whatever. But if you chose to get married there, it’s a special place. And showing your guests a little about what you love about the area is absolutely going to make it unique!
So how do you do it? I’m so glad you asked!
Food
The easiest way to bring the local area into your wedding is to incorporate some local foods. Think barbecue in the south, a luau in Hawaii, or chicken wings if you come visit me in Buffalo! Every area has local foods that represent the culture of the area. Maybe you have a favorite restaurant in the area. See if they can fix an appetizer if you don’t want them to prepare the entire wedding. Or a special dessert. You can also try something completely new! If you’re going to an area you haven’t been to before, ask family, friends, or the person helping you plan your wedding (I highly recommend working with a local) for suggestions. It’s a wonderful way to honor the place you’re visiting and introduce your guests to something new.
Traditions
You might not think of local traditions immediately, but it wouldn’t take much to learn about them. In Hawaii, leis are a part of everything. They welcome visitors to the island, are used in many local traditions, and there are special ones for a wedding. I can’t imagine a wedding in Hawaii without leis. Just like a beach wedding wouldn’t be complete without sand in your shoes, local traditions can be a lot of fun to bring into your wedding.
Things To Do
We talked last time about treating your guests and planning events together, but I thought that was important enough to mention again here. Show your family and friends around the area where you’re staying. Your wedding doesn’t have to be just one day when you have a destination wedding. You can spend a week or a few days with your loved ones, showing them around your chosen location. In Boy vs. Girl, and all of the Opposites Attract stories, the couple getting married, and sometimes their friends and family, go surfing! You can take a tour of the local area, go visit a famous landmark, or meet at your favorite restaurant. Any number of things can bring all your guests together so they can see exactly what you love about the place you chose to celebrate your love!
How can you take your destination wedding local?
How do you resist what you want?
Been there, done that. Had the scars on my heart to prove it. I was not getting involved with anyone else. It wasn’t worth it. But she didn’t want anything except a fling. We agreed from the start. Then everything changed. I wanted more. But I was the only one.
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