Destination wedding problems: The guidebook of what can go wrong (and how to avoid it)

There’s no denying the appeal of a destination wedding: postcard-perfect views, tropical vibes, and an extended holiday with your favourite people. But while the photos scream “effortless romance,” the reality behind the scenes can be… sticky. We confront the destination wedding problems and how to solve them.

Whether you’re planning a wedding in Thailand, Bali, Fiji or a romantic villa in Europe, destination weddings are an absolute dream, but they come with some challenges. From packing disasters, communication breakdowns and far-flung mystery illnesses, we tackle destination wedding problems head-on. 

Yes, save this as part of your destination wedding guidebook (yes, you need one!). Here are the major destination wedding hiccups you might hit — and how to plan around them like a pro.

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Packing: More than just outfits

Packing for your destination wedding is an imperative part of planning. And although you might have stocked up on new summer looks with a brand new swimsuit, you might want to make sure you save a bit of space in your bag. You’ll need to think about the wedding attire (hello, wrinkled dress from transit), accessories, paperwork, and consider the local weather conditions.

You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got your makeup, skin care, and the wedding day essentials. The last thing you want is to be running around a foreign country trying to work out where to buy The Ordinary toner that you can’t do your skin care routine without.

Guidebook tip: Include a wedding-week packing checklist in your invitations or website, and send a reminder the week before the flight. Don’t forget universal power adaptors and a steamer!

Check out Bali packages for under 100 guests.

Medications, creepy crawlies and beachside ailments

Tropical places are incredibly beautiful, but some things in postcard destinations need protection against – Bali belly, bug bites, and the occasional beachside ailment like sunburn or heat rash. None of these are trip-ending, but as they always say, “proper preparation prevents poor performance”. And you don’t want to be running around looking for antihistamines or stomach meds in a language you don’t speak.

Guidebook tip: If you’re having a destination wedding, you probably have a wedding website to keep all the information. Add a “what to bring” health section in your guest guide and include the essentials they might not have considered: rehydration pills, SPF, insect repellent, and common travel medications. Preparing a ‘survival kit’ as a welcome gift is a nice touch.

Guest communication: Time zones, transfers, and too many group chats

Coordinating 30+ guests over international waters and across multiple time zones can test even the calmest person. Especially if you’ve got people travelling with babies, the less experienced travellers, and some senior citizens. Cue the chaos! 

From forgotten RSVPs to missed airport transfers, even the most organised friend could get a little lost. 

Guidebook tip: Create one central group chat on WhatsApp and turn off replies. That way just you two as the couple (and the group admins) can communicate in real time with your guests and cut back the stream of responses including inappropriate jokes, confused guests and unrelated pics and memes. Keep the group chat on topic: accommodation details, airport info, transport options, currency tips, dress codes and an exact run sheet of events.

Planning from afar: Control versus let-go

Some things you can control, and some things you can’t. Our biggest hint is to go with a wedding planner! Our destination wedding planners will look after you every step of the way so that fewer things are left to chance. 

Guidebook tip: Make a short list of your non-negotiables (like food, photography, or flowers), and be prepared to be flexible with the rest. The best memories often come from the things that didn’t go exactly to plan.

Packed, prepped, primed and ready to go

A destination wedding is a beautiful way to turn your celebration into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure — but it’s not without its curveballs. By anticipating the sticky bits and arming your guests (and yourself) with the right info, you can swap stress for sunsets, and chaos for cocktails by the pool.

Start your planning with Destinations by Easy Weddings.