Destination Weddings: Should you fly out a supplier or use a local one?

A destination wedding is often a combination of local culture and certain traditions that are from a couple’s home country. One of the biggest questions is whether to use a local supplier or fly one out especially for the big day. We have clients who have done both and we hope to help you by shedding some light on the pros and cons of both options.

If you have chosen to get married abroad, then the chances are that you love the culture of that country, so naturally, you want to incorporate that into your wedding. Often there is a big debate as to whether you use local suppliers or international ones. There are many factors to consider including cost and style. However, one of the starting points to think about is which traditions mean most to you.

If you are planning an Indian wedding then you will likely want to have Bhangra dancing which is a wonderful way to get all of your guests on the dance floor from the word go. Equally, if you are having a Jewish wedding then you might want to have the traditional Jewish dancing (the Hora) during your reception. The Hora dates way back in Jewish culture and it is often the party starter at any Jewish wedding. The chances are that you might find it difficult to find a local band who know how to play all of the Jewish or Indian songs. So in this instance, flying a band in from London would make more sense. That said, you should always take into consideration your budget as showbands often take up a large proportion of this. Additionally, how big is your intended venue? Many show bands go out with a fixed number of artists and others have different setups to fit different sized events and venues. There are many to chose from so it makes sense to talk to a few to see which fits, but in our experience, CLUB LIVE never fails to make the whole event perfect.

Your wedding day may only be one day, but the memories, the photographs, and videography will last a lifetime. Finding the right photographer and videographer is so important and also a very personal choice. Many of our clients have chosen to fly their photographers and videographers over for their destination wedding, but many have also chosen to use local ones. This is less about the pros and cons and more about the image you have in your mind for your photographs and wedding video. It goes without saying that a local photographer will know the area and the climate well and will be able to capture those quintessential vibes which are unique to your destination. That said, the most important part is to like the style of the person you are considering. Whether they are local or would need to fly in, this is the most important aspect of choosing your videographer and photographer.

Personal choice is also vital when it comes to your toastmaster or master of ceremonies. It is not essential to have one of these but in our experience, it does help to ensure that everything runs smoothly. You could of course choose to have a friend or family member fulfil these roles if you think they would be good at it. Using a local toastmaster who lives in the vicinity of your wedding destination is of course cheaper, but then you might have seen someone who you really like at a previous wedding in your own country. Truthfully, this decision is down to whether you have a budget which can accommodate flying one over and providing their accommodation or not, and the style of the person who you want. It might be that there is someone local who fits the style perfectly, or perhaps you know someone else internationally who is what you are looking for. This decision is truly down to your own style and preferences and both options are perfectly viable and a good solution. 

Another important aspect is the religious officiator at your ceremony. A lot of couples want to fly out their own rabbi or priest and there are pros and cons to this. Using someone who you have an existing relationship with is undoubtedly more personal. That said, one of the benefits of using a local officiator is that it is cheaper than flying one out and they might be able to be more flexible with the other religious aspects of your wedding day. In London, it is common to use a Jewish caterer for your event if you want a Kosher wedding. However, if you are having it abroad then there may not be a big choice of Kosher caterers available and you might want the venue to do the catering and embrace the delicious local cuisine. One of the advantages of using a local Rabbi, for example, is that they might be able to kosher your chosen venue which will mean that you can have both kosher and delicious food cooked by the locals who know it best.

One of the biggest parts of any bride’s day is her hair and makeup. A lot of brides have ideas of what they want and many know of hair and makeup artists in their home countries who they would like to use. That said, in our experience, many of our brides use local artists. There are so many talented stylists and artists out there, that it is really not necessary to incur the expenses of flying someone out for your destination wedding. 

As wedding planners, we have a vast network of hair stylists and makeup artists who we work with frequently and we always suggest that our clients consider using someone local and have a trial before deciding to fly someone out. Another advantage to using a local makeup artist and/or hair stylist is that they know the climate and so they know how best to make your hair and makeup not only last all night, but also withstand the humidity and heat which is inevitable in many beautiful destinations. 

Finally, with any destination wedding, there will be small additional items that you will want to source. These can include fans to keep your guests cool during the ceremony, flip flops to save your guests’ weary feet, and ensure an all-night party and goody bags or survival kits. These items are generally best sourced locally. Always remember that if you import them you will have to pay shipping costs and these costs can quickly mount up. Ultimately these items should reflect the destination feel and vibe of your wedding and what better way to ensure this than to use products that are from the country itself.