You’ve waited your life for this moment. It’s time to plan your perfect day. Destination weddings on LBI are an experience of a lifetime. Slow down and enjoy the journey, bride-to-be! Here are 27 helpful tips to get you started.
1. GAIN INSPIRATION FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS ON LBI
The process of planning a wedding is extensive and the options are endless. Starting out, think about what inspires you. Bridal shows are a great way to find inspiration in the early stages of wedding planning.
2. CELEBRATE WITH AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY
Hosting your pre-wedding celebrations on LBI will help you to familiarize yourself with the available venues and amenities as you get ready to celebrate your big day. Spray Beach Hotel and The Gables both have excellent amenities for stress free pre-wedding festivities.
3. SELECT A DATE
If you can be flexible, choose a few optional dates. Many destination weddings on LBI are booked a year in advance. Things to consider when choosing a date are seasonal businesses and their hours, weather patterns depending on the seasons, and how tourism on the island plays a part in your wedding day plans.
4. HASH OUT A BUDGET
What is your wedding budget? Know ahead of time exactly how much you can spend on each area of your wedding celebration. From the location rental, the hotel booking, the transportation, the dress, hair and makeup, food and drinks, photographers, and DJ it’s wise to set a number for each service.
5. DECIDE ON A WEDDING PLANNER
Will you hire a wedding planner? Find one that suits your needs, budget, and location by searching reviews and ratings on The Knot. Planning it all yourself? Get yourself a wedding planning journal and checklist. Planning journals make it easier to stay organized and remember the important details while planning destination weddings on LBI.
6. START YOUR GUEST LIST
Your initial list does not have to be entirely accurate just yet. Getting a rough draft list started early will help you in the venue searching process. You’ll want to consider if the venue will be big enough or small enough for your guest list as well as if the price per head fits your budget.
7 . CHOOSE A VENUE
Where do you want to exchange your vows? What about the reception? Are your date choices available? Do the prices align with your budget? Choosing a venue for your ceremony and reception is a big deal and you’ve got plenty of Long Beach Island wedding locations to consider.
8. ASSEMBLE YOUR BRIDAL PARTY
Who will stand by your side on your special day? It’s time to pop the question to them! Check out Song of the Sea Gift Shop for customized bridal party gifts . Once they’re in, you can begin to ask them for help with planning.
9. DESIGN SAVE–THE–DATES AND INVITATIONS
The cool thing about destination weddings on LBI is that you can pick a beach-style /nautical theme and get creative with your invitations. Don’t forget to let everyone know to SaveThe Date! Your special day will be here before you know it.
10. CHOOSE A THEME
What color combinations will light up your wedding day? Nautical themed weddings work well for destination weddings on LBI. Once you have an idea on what color pallets you will use, you can be on the lookout for odds and ends that will perfectly accessorize your ceremony and reception.
11. PLAN OUT THE DECORATIONS
Will you hire a vendor or will you DIY all of your decorations? Maybe you’ll want to do a combination of both. If you or your family are making crafts, start looking for craft store coupons to save some money. Pinterest has all of the DIY resources needed for destination weddings on LBI.
12. GO DRESS SHOPPING
There are amazing wedding boutiques all around South Jersey. Visit a few of the shops! Some brides say yes to their first dress while others try on countless dresses before deciding. There is no right or wrong answer to this. This is the dress that you will wear on the most important day of your life. You will know when it’s right! Trust your heart.
13. ORDER THE CAKE AND BOOK THE CATERING COMPANY
Most wedding venues offer catering as a part of a wedding package. Ask the venues that you are considering about open house food tasting opportunities. If your venue does not offer in-house catering, they will likely have a list of preferred vendors that know and work well with their location. Take a look at Crust and Crumb Bakery – a great choice for destination weddings on LBI. If you prefer to have everything under one roof, host your wedding at Spray Beach Hotel, because the dining menu and the ambiance is exceptional at their onsite restaurant, The Sand Dollar Restaurant. I dare you to read the menu and resist the pangs of hunger!
14. SELECT A FLORIST
Your bouquet is the centerpiece of your wedding gown. Do you prefer fresh or faux flowers? Do you have floral preferences or are you basing your decision off of color scheme? When you meet with your florist, present them with your grand visions. You can always scale back from there once you get an idea of price and accessibility.
15. CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER
Your wedding day will go by in a blink, but the photos will last a lifetime. You will want the perfect person to capture every moment. Look for photographers offering an engagement shoot within your wedding photography package. Depending on the size of your wedding party and logistics, it’s usually a good idea to have two photographers present on the day of the wedding to make sure everything is captured. Check the package details to see what’s offered. Price out a few photographers and review their portfolios. Here is a list of the best wedding photographers in LBI.
16. CHOOSE A VIDEOGRAPHER
If you want to relive your wedding time and time again, a videographer is the way to go. Many photographers either include videography in their services or can recommend a videographer for destination weddings on LBI. Here’s a list of the best wedding videographers in LBI
17. FIND A DJ & ADDITIONAL VENDORS
When choosing vendors, from your photographer to your DJ, it’s important to consider location. Choosing local vendors will save you money on additional costs that many vendors will charge if they have to travel. Things to consider: Do you want live music or a DJ? Do you want additional lighting, a photo booth, or social media feeds? Many entertainment services offer packages that include more than just the music.
18. SET UP A NAIL SALON & SPA DAY
Getting ready for your wedding together with your bridesmaids and the other special ladies in your life should be a relaxing, beautiful bonding experience. Doing a manicure and spa day is a great way to unwind and connect before your wedding day. Start researching nail salons on LBI so you know exactly who will take care of the hands that will soon wear your wedding ring. Lavish Spa has an extensive list of bridal beauty services.
19. PLAN THE REHEARSAL DINNER
Tuckers Tavern, Panzone’s Pizza, and Bistro 14 are easy and delicious choices for your rehearsal dinner needs. Beachfront tables and live music will set the right mood. This honorary dinner is a great way to connect with the important people that will be part of your wedding day. Check out the best bars on Long Beach Island. Inviting out–of-town guests that may not be a part of your wedding party is a common way to thank them for traveling.
20. PREPARE FOR AFTER THE WEDDING
After the wedding ends, when you’re still on Cloud Nine, your out–of–town guests are will be waking up hungry. Consider inviting everyone to a post-wedding brunch. If it fits your budget, you can do a breakfast buffet and mimosas. open invitation. If it doesn’t, you can do a beach day, a volleyball game, or a brunch where each guest pays for their own meal. Tripadvisor offers great brunch suggestions for the day after destination weddings on LBI.
21. FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU WILL BE GETTING DRESSED AND READY
Who’s doing the hair and makeup? Where will you and your bridesmaids get dressed for the wedding? What about the groom and the rest of the bridal party? The hotel is perhaps an option if your hair and makeup artists will come to you. But if you have to go to the salon, pick one close to your hotel and venue.
22. IRON OUT WEDDING DAY SETUP
Do you have someone decorating the venue? Or, do you plan to decorate the day before with help from your bridesmaids? Consider if you’re using real flowers and make sure the setup is timed properly so they won’t wilt or die. Work with a local florist and if your venue doesn’t provide linens, check into renting some.
23. PLAN YOUR HONEYMOON
The honeymoon is the best part of all of this! Will you honeymoon on LBI or travel to another place after the wedding? Will you leave the next day or enjoy the rest of the weekend with family before you go? Most people plan destination weddings on LBI because they love the beach and they want to spend their honeymoon there. For a nice week long stay on LBI, consider renting a house or a suite at Spray Beach Hotel or one of the other hotels on LBI.
24. ENJOY THE PROCESS
Most of all, enjoy this special time. It all goes by so quickly. Laugh off the little mistakes and celebrate the moments along the way. Your wedding day will be perfect because you and your fiance are have something together that is worth celebrating. When you have true love, the rest of the pieces fall into place.
Follow Our List of Tips for Planning Destination Weddings on LBI
These tips should help walk you through planning destination weddings on LBI! For more information on Long Beach Island and helpful guidance for wedding planning, dive into our LBI Weddings blog page. Congratulations, bride-to-be!
