how to plan an intimate wedding abroad – A step by step guide

Planning an intimate wedding abroad is the perfect way to celebrate your love with your closest family and friends in your dream location. With fewer guests and a more relaxed atmosphere, an intimate wedding allows you to focus on what truly matters: your connection as a couple and the special people you’ve chosen to share it with.

Organizing a wedding in a foreign country can present its own unique set of challenges. With some preparation and tips and tricks, you can create the intimate wedding of your dreams! Here’s a guide to help you plan your unforgettable destination wedding.

Table of Contents:

1. How to choose a location for your destination wedding
2. Setting a budget
3. How to make a guest list for an intimate wedding
4. Why you should consider a wedding planner
5. How to decorate when you’re getting married abroad
6. Make it a multi-day celebration

1. Choosing the Perfect Destination for Your Intimate Wedding

The first step in planning an intimate wedding abroad is selecting a destination that reflects you and your partner’s vision and values. Since you’re keeping your guest list small, you have the flexibility to choose a more secluded, private venue. There’s a few things to keep in mind when you’re considering different locations for your intimate wedding:

Scenic backdrops: Since you’ll have a small group, you can take advantage of unique, secluded venues like private beaches, mountain retreats, or hidden gardens that may be off-limits for larger gatherings.

Accessibility: Although you may want an exclusive location, it’s important to ensure your chosen spot is still reasonably accessible for your closest friends and family. If you’re having grandparents attend please keep in mind the walking distance, sometimes a “small walk” isn’t possible. Also make sure to check flight availability, visa requirements, and transportation options.

Legalities: Every country is going to have different rules regarding how to make your marriage legal. A lot of couples opt to get legally married in their own country prior to their wedding day to make this process a bit smoother. But did you know that every intimate wedding package I offer comes with permit assistance? If you are wanting to get legally married at your destination wedding location I can help you figure out exactly what will be needed!

Local culture and climate: Research the weather and customs of your destination to ensure they align with your wedding style. An intimate wedding can be easily influenced by the charm of the location, so embrace local traditions the beauty around you whenever possible.

Popular destinations for intimate weddings abroad include Santorini, Greece, with its stunning ocean views, the rolling vineyards of Tuscany, Italy, and the serene, secluded beaches of Bali or the Maldives. For those looking for a more adventurous setting, consider the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, New Zealand or the Canadian Rockies.

2. Setting a Realistic Budget for an Intimate Wedding

Even though you’ll be hosting fewer guests, intimate weddings abroad can still come with significant costs. You’ll want to carefully outline your budget from the beginning to avoid unexpected surprises later.

What you should include in your budget:

Travel and accommodation: While you’ll have fewer guests, you may choose to offer to cover some of the travel and/or accommodation costs for those attending. This may be a deciding factor of which venue to pick as some venues are all inclusive and will give you a decent rate for booking multiple rooms.

Venue costs: An intimate wedding allows you to opt for smaller, unique venues such as boutique hotels, private villas, or even a local landmark. These venues often offer special packages for smaller gatherings.

Vendors and planners: Vendors really help bring your dream to life, so it’s important to find someone who understands what you’re envisioning for your intimate wedding. All of the intimate wedding packages I offer come with vendor recommendations – no matter where you decide to get married abroad! I have a network worldwide that I am able to chat with to ensure you get exactly what you want.

Legal fees: Depending on the country, you may need to budget for document translation, registration fees, or other legal requirements for your wedding.

By keeping the guest list smaller, you have more room to splurge on key elements like photography, a stunning venue, or an unforgettable meal for your closest loved ones. An intimate wedding lets you prioritize quality over quantity, creating a more meaningful experience without stretching your budget. You may even want to consider a multi-day celebration!

3. Refining Your Guest List

One of the great things, but sometimes challenging aspect of an intimate wedding is a smaller guest list. Choosing to invite only your closest family and friends creates a more personal atmosphere, ensuring the day feels like a true celebration of your relationship. Here’s how to manage the guest list:

Focus on the most important people: While the guest list for intimate weddings are typically immediate family and very close friends, the list is ultimately up to you two. Sometimes friends become your family and vice versa; maybe this is why you’re getting married abroad. Whatever the reason, circle back to your values and what you initially pictured when you dreamt of your destination wedding when deciding on who to invite.

Set clear boundaries: Be upfront about your decision to keep the wedding small. This can help avoid hurt feelings or misunderstandings, especially if you’re not inviting extended family or acquaintances. You don’t need to go into a long explanation, simply saying this is what you two want is a complete sentence.

Consider logistics: Be mindful of your guests’ ability to travel, particularly if the destination requires long flights or has travel restrictions. Make sure those who are truly essential to your day can easily attend.
Limiting your guest list not only makes the wedding feel more intimate but also simplifies the planning process. With fewer guests to accommodate, you can focus on creating that intimate experience you’re looking for.

4. Working with a Wedding Planner

Hiring a local wedding planner is one of the best investments for an intimate wedding abroad. With fewer guests to manage, a planner can help you focus on crafting a personalized experience rather than juggling logistics. Benefits of hiring a local planner include:

Knowledge of the area: A local planner understands the best venues, vendors, and hidden gems for an intimate wedding. They can also help you navigate cultural differences.

Problem-solving: Should any issues arise—like last-minute changes due to weather or vendor cancellations—your planner will have contingency plans in place to keep everything running smoothly.
An experienced wedding planner will save you time and stress, allowing you to enjoy the experience of planning your intimate wedding rather than worrying about every detail.

Did you know some wedding planner’s are able to plan destinations in several different country’s? Pink Iceland for example helps plan intimate weddings in Iceland, but also in Spain too! (I’ve worked with Pink Iceland and always highly recommend them).

5. Embracing the Destination’s Decor

An intimate wedding abroad provides the perfect opportunity to embrace simplicity and let the natural beauty of the location shine through. Here are some tips for keeping your decor understated and meaningful:

Highlight the location: Whether it’s a beachfront, a vineyard, or a mountain setting, you probably picked that venue because you fell in love with it as is. Some venues have an option to rent decor as well, so if you have seen a wedding there and would like something similar the venue may be able to set it up for you!

Personal touches: For an intimate wedding, small personalized details like handwritten place cards or meaningful keepsakes for guests can add an extra sense of intimacy.

Trendy Decor: You’ve probably seen a few trends that come and go each season that you either love or hate. I’d recommend doing whatever feels right to you two and what you think your future selves will love too, but to keep the focus on the experience ultimately. It’s great to have beautiful decor, but it’s even better to have those close moments with loved ones.

6. Multi-Day Celebration

With a smaller guest list you it’s easier to plan a multi-day celebration since there’s less people to wrangle together. You’ll also all be in a beautiful destination with your closest people surrounding you – this may not happen again for awhile. Soak in as much as you can with everyone and create the best memories. Looking for some ideas for a multi-day celebration? I gotchu:

Welcome dinner: Hosting a welcome dinner is a great way to kick off your intimate wedding. It allows your guests to get to know each other in a relaxed setting if they don’t already know each other.

Pre-wedding activities: Organize group outings such as a local tour, wine tasting, or beach day, depending on your destination.

Pre/post wedding brunch: A brunch the either the day before or the following day gives everyone a chance to get to know each other or reflect on the special day and enjoy more time together before parting ways.

Are you ready to start planning your dream destination wedding?

I’m Brittany, an intimate wedding and elopement photographer who specializes in weddings worldwide. Having captured weddings around the world it would be my honour to capture your beautiful anywhere you pick. Take a peek to see what I offer in every intimate wedding package.