Organising a wedding is hard; however, planning one out of state complicates matters. A wedding away from your home state could be ideal, a dream destination, and the most exhilarating experience in addition to spending time with the likes of you. But it means loads more planning, attention to detail and on the logistics foresight. So to aid you in avoiding the most typical traps, here we bring you a guide of 10 blunders to be avoided when preparing an out of state wedding event.

Not Going to the Venue in Person

The first mistake couples make is not physically visiting the venue. Photos and virtual tours can provide some insight, but nothing beats seeing it all in person. When you visit in person, you can view the state of the amenities as well as things like space dimensions and how everything is laid out. It can also be helpful for understanding potential travel routes, accommodation options in the local area and what guests might like to do while not at your wedding.

Jules Tip: If it feels too difficult to do a few trips, then go for at least one initial visit and another closer to the wedding day.

Neglecting the Requirements Necessary to Obtain a Local Marriage Licence

The requirements for a marriage licence differ from state to state, and can range widely. There might be a waiting time before the licence can actually be used on wedding day in some states, and in other places you may need extra documents or identification. If you do this research incorrectly, the stress it causes in your life is unnecessary or even an invalid marriage according to the law.

Tip: Look into the marriage licence laws of the state in which you are getting married well ahead of time, and speak to someone at the local county clerk’s office for updates.

Miscalculating Travel and Shipping Costs

Destination weddings incur travel and shipping costs. With decorations, outfits, gifts and even your belongings being transported, these expenses can really pile on and are often forgotten. For bulky or fragile items too, like wedding dresses and flowers, shipping fees can be high.

You will need to account for travel and shipping when working out the budget for getting things home, so try to focus on what you must bring back. For decor, go local rental to save some expense.

Not Taking Into Account Seasonal Variations

Each state has its own weather and seasonality. Your wedding date could fall in a peak tourist season, during times of heavy rain or even worse – the middle of a natural disaster zone. If you fail to consider the above, you could disrupt your plans, leave guests uncomfortable, or even lose out on your venue.

Keep in mind: The climate and seasonal happenings of your desired wedding date and location. Choose off-peak dates if possible for greater availability and potentially lower prices

Not Hiring A Local Wedding Planner

Needless to say it can be a challenge to plan everything yourself, and a local wedding planner for an interstate wedding can save your life. They are on top of the best vendors, they know how to deal with any issues that may come up between you and the event or your spouse and the groomsmen, meaning they make sure everything runs smoothly during your special day. Without this kind of expertise, attempts to plan everything from a distance can lead to blunders and omissions.

Worthy tip: Find a destination wedding planner with good reviews! Your planner will become your biggest proponent, making sure everything falls into place even if you’re across the country.

Picking Vendors without Due Diligence

Choosing suppliers you haven interacted with or done sufficient studies on them can lead to dissatisfaction. States have different standards, and vendors’ portfolios may not reflect their true capabilities. Not doing enough research on vendors can lead you to less than ideal services or miscommunication come the big day.

Tip: Spend some time observing vendor portfolios, reading reviews, and arranging video calls to talk about your plan. If possible, schedule tastings with the caterer or preview floral arrangements beforehand.

Failing to budget for guest travel and accommodation

If you are planning a wedding out of state, your guests would most likely have to travel and stay overnight which can be expensive. Failure to consider these factors can leave guests feeling frustrated, particularly when space is at a premium and/or expensive.

Pro Tip: Collaborate with local hotels to secure a discounted room block for your guests. Also, provide tips about travel (what airport is closest, how to get around here, what can do nearby) so we can make their trip easier and more fun.

Last Minute Logistics 

There are multiple logistical aspects regarding transportation, accommodation, timing, and venue setup that contribute to local weddings. This only leads to delays, miscommunications and more stress so save yourself and avoid leaving these plans until the last minute.

Better Idea: Create a timeline documenting all logistics and share with your vendors, planner and key guests. Track timelines, payments and tasks by using wedding planning tools.

Failing to Allow Time for Travel Disruptions

It is rather common for travel plans to be interrupted by forces beyond your control like flight delays, bad weather wallets or problems with traffic. Your wedding timeline may be thrown off if you don’t take these potential delays into consideration.

Take note of the above: try to arrive a little earlier than your wedding to allow for any unexpected delays. Urge guests to follow suit and schedule activities surrounding the venue, such as welcome dinners, so everyone can gradually acclimate to the event.

Expecting Guests to Join Without RSVP

When exploring an out-of-state wedding, it’s natural for the attendance rate to be different than what you would anticipate from a local one. For certain visitors, making their way is not possible due to time, cost or family commitments. Expecting everyone to make it is the least productive of scenarios, and can either lead to overtraining or disappointment.

TIPS: Send your invites as early as you can and request rsvps at the earliest possible stage. Encourage guests to make informed decisions by giving them all the details and, if possible, creating a wedding website. If you are worried about guest attendance, set up a hybrid option for friends and family to join virtually.

Wrapping Up

Wedding planning is a daunting task even when you are doing it with complete assistance from your family and friends, feel; imagine how much more daunting it will become to plan an out-of-state wedding. SoundFun? However, if you avoid all the common mistakes people make while getting married out of state; we assure you there will be no hiccups on your big day! From deciphering local marriage laws to enlisting a reputable local planner, each of these tips will help you get closer to your seamless celebration. Just keep in mind that the day is yours to remember, not your guest’s, no matter how far they have travelled for you.