Why You Should Absolutely Say “I Do” to a Destination Wedding

Thinking about a destination wedding? Having just experienced my own, I can honestly say: do it, without hesitation! Our day was everything we dreamed of and more. It was stress-free, magical, deeply personal, and something I’d do again in a heartbeat. Here’s a little insight into our journey and why I believe a destination wedding could be one of the best decisions you ever make.

No Stress, Just Sunshine and Smiles

Let’s be honest, wedding planning can be stressful. But when you’re getting married abroad, it doesn’t have to be. Once we finally chose the destination, everything else just fell into place. That was the hardest part, deciding where to go! You’d think, as a travel agent, it would be easy… but it was because of my experience that I found it tough. I felt like I’d travelled the world twice over before we landed on the right place!

The Maldives had always been a dream, and after getting engaged there the year before, it already held a special place in our hearts. We decided to explore a new island and finally booked LUX* South Ari Atoll and I can wholeheartedly say we made the right choice.

A Seamless Planning Experience

Once we’d chosen the island, planning was a breeze. My wedding coordinator, Jazz (a true star!), was available via WhatsApp and would respond day or night, no question was too small. I had a clear vision of our set-up, flowers, and styling, and she made it all happen. Flowers are expensive in the Maldives (as they have to be imported), but Jazz worked her magic and got them for half the original price. They were absolutely perfect and we had so many compliments on the day.

Most resorts will assign your coordinator a few months before the big day. Compared to UK weddings, where you might book vendors years in advance, this can feel nerve-wracking, but trust the process. These coordinators are miracle workers and make everything effortless. You’re also welcome to contact them at any time if you’re eager (like I was!).

Small Guest List, Big Memories

One of the biggest advantages? No pressure to host a huge crowd. UK weddings can quickly snowball inviting every distant relative and their plus-ones can add up fast. But with a destination wedding, you’re free to invite who you want. It could be just the two of you, close friends and family, or a small, meaningful group. We chose to elope, just the two of us, and it was perfect. Neither of us are fans of the spotlight, so this suited us beautifully. With the money we saved compared to a big UK wedding, we had the most incredible wedding, honeymoon, and memories rolled into one.

A Wedding in Paradise

At LUX* South Ari Atoll, there were three wedding packages to choose from. I wanted to tweak a few things, add some and remove others and the team was so flexible and accommodating.

Our chosen package included:
• Full wedding ceremony set-up on the beach
• Bridal bouquet and groom’s buttonhole
• Symbolic wedding certificate
• Champagne and wedding cake
• Room décor and tropical buggy ride
• In-villa breakfast the next morning (which we upgraded to a floating breakfast)
• Private beachfront BBQ dinner with champagne
• Couples massage
• Bridal hair and makeup
• Professional photography
• Optional video package (which we added)

They even booked us two dates (3rd and 4th August) in case of bad weather, such a reassuring touch. Thankfully, we woke up to clear blue skies and sunshine on our chosen day!

The Ceremony – More Than Just “I Do”

Our ceremony was held at 4:30pm on the beach, just before sunset. It included:
• A reading of our vows
• A sand unity ritual (pouring different coloured sands into one vase)
• A symbolic coconut tree planting (a wonderful excuse to return and visit our tree!)
• Writing love notes to each other, placing them in a wooden coconut, and casting them out to sea

It was heartfelt, emotional, and completely unique. After the ceremony, we watched the sunset before heading back down to the beach for our private BBQ dinner. Our chef cooked everything fresh by candlelight, every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavour. There was so much food we couldn’t even manage dessert, so it was delivered to our villa later that evening.

Post-Wedding Blues (and Joys)

I’ll admit, I cried the next morning, not because I was sad, but because I just didn’t want the magic to end. We still had our floating breakfast and overwater couple’s massage to look forward to, but that post-wedding glow was so special. Thankfully, the photos were ready the next day, and I got to relive it all over again. Watching our wedding video before leaving the island was overwhelming in the best way, it was exactly what I envisioned, and I’ll never stop obsessing over it.

Why You Should Book a Destination Wedding

Whether you dream of saying “I do” with your toes in the sand, having a winter wonderland ceremony in Lapland, or getting hitched in Vegas (with or without Elvis!), there’s a destination wedding out there to suit your vision and budget.

And honestly? I can’t recommend it enough. For us, it was intimate, meaningful, and unforgettable. Everything we wanted and more.

So… should you have a destination wedding? My answer:
All day, every day. What are you waiting for? Let’s get it booked!