It’s Friday! We’re back with another guest blogger, but not just any guest blogger… Amber Events is pleased to introduce the newest member of our team, Morgan Jefferies. *cue air horn* Morgan joins our planning team after many years as a planner in Morocco. Read more about her below, and her advice for planning a destination wedding.
Destination weddings. We’ve all heard whisperings of stories told from attendees of these magical occasions, and many of us have had or will have the privilege of receiving an invitation to one of the above mentioned coveted affairs at least once in our lifetime. As a guest, it can be an excellent opportunity as an excuse for a vacation; as a bride and groom, an exciting and often personal decision to create an experience for your loved ones in a location important to you. With one in every four weddings in 2018 being categorized as “destination,” it’s about time we unpack the ins and outs of this veritable force in the wedding industry.
Having spent a large portion of my career as a wedding planner in Marrakech, Morocco, and my clientele being solely non-Moroccan, I’ll be tapping into my experience and focusing this excerpt on weddings and events overseas from the perspective of both the planner and bride and groom–how they differ from those in the U. S. and the pros and cons to weigh when considering hosting your wedding abroad.
Morgan (pictured) at Beldi Country Club, Marrakech – Lau Wedding, October 2016
Unfamiliar Territory
Picture this: you and your significant other (who live in Los Angeles) travel to Marrakech, Morrocco on vacation. You ride camels through the Sahara Desert and that’s where your boyfriend or girlfriend proposes to you! It’s an unforgettable experience and the country now holds an unrivaled special place in your heart. You and your fiancé return home and decide you want to share the magic you felt in Morocco with those you hold near and dear to you by having your wedding there. Now what?
First things first–hire a planner. Whether that planner is located at the wedding destination, or territorially close to you, planners have the experience, knowledge, and resources to bring your specific wants and needs to a foreign country, and utilize the surroundings to create a beautiful and unique affair. He or she will always be one step ahead of your thought process, designing and accumulating décor, organizing logistics, coordinating vendors, and problem-solving based on experience. Your wedding should be about joy and romance; a planner will help to alleviate much of the stress associated with the process so you can fully enjoy your big day.