So now you have your venue (YAY!), you’ve prioritized your remaining vendors (you’ve considered placing your photographer as priority #1), and you’re looked into your florist, and now you’ve decided on rentals.

Now what? Your wedding guests.

You’re probably thinking-WOW she’s crazy for planning her chair rentals PRIOR to deciding on the guest list. (Photo by Katelyn James Photography)

To be honest, I thought I was crazy at first. But hear me out, it makes sense.

You want to “lock-in” your rental company as soon as you can, especially if you’re planning a destination wedding…on an island.. where there is only a handful of rental vendors. (Photo by: Katelyn James Photography)

Fun fact #1: Just because you picked out your ceremony chairs, your reception tables, the silverware/glassware, and decor doesn’t mean you’re locked into that exact amount on your wedding date. In fact, in the beginning we told our rental company we needed 100 chairs, 120 pieces of silverware/glassware, etc. About a month prior to your wedding your rental company will ask you to confirm the number of each item your renting. Therefore, by this time you have the “exact” number of guests that will be attending and can adjust your order form (ie. YAY- you’re saving money by reducing your number of rentals!). We went from 100 chairs to 72! At about $12-$14 a piece that saves a ton of money!

Keep in mind, you’re planning a destination wedding so you know NOT all of your guests will show up. At a standard wedding close to home, you have to plan that every guest you invite, might show up. However, at a destination wedding not nearly everyone you invite will show up. Keep in mind your guests have to travel most of the time out of state or the country, just to attend your wedding and that isn’t cheap.

That being said, don’t OVER invite guests just to make sure people show up. Destination weddings are typically meant to be more intimate than the standard wedding. (Photo by Katelyn James Photography)

With that being said, make sure you give your guests plenty of time in advanced with Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations since they’ll more than likely have to ask for time off of work, book a hotel or place to stay.

Tip #1: Create a wedding website so that guests can easily keep track of the events! If you want to be a crowd favorite, you’ll create an accommodations list of local places for your guests to stay! We made a list that included Bed + Breakfast places, local hotels, homes of VRBO and the information to rent the few houses around our venue.

Have questions about your destination wedding (on the Outer Banks or off) let us know!

View Part One HERE

View Part Two HERE

View Part Three HERE

Stay tuned for Part Five