“I wanted a romantic wedding that would ‘knock the socks off’ of my friends and relatives. I also wanted to provide a once-in-a-lifetime memory for everyone. I wanted a breathtaking ceremony, fun and ‘original’ reception, and choices of activities for my guests. After all was said and done, it was an amazing wedding; filled with love, romance, and elegance. All of this was made possible by the French countryside and our great wedding coordinator.

After having my destination wedding in France, I found there were many tid-bits of information I wish I had known before-hand, which would have made my planning a bit smoother. So I decided to make a list of the top ten points of most importance. Here it is for you, I hope your destination wedding is as beautiful as mine. Good luck.” Mary Strohm Chicago, IL.

#1 - Choose the type of ceremony first.

Decide on religious or a symbolic ceremony to start with, this will help you rule out certain locations, paperwork, pre-wedding rituals, and organize your time.

#2 - Choose your destination wisely.

There are many great chateaux and hotels in France which are gorgeous; so it is hard to choose the perfect one. But, once you learn which location is better in certain seasons, or if the location is only available in the evenings; for example, the better off you are for planning your reception and the guest list.

#3 - Make a list of important criteria for you and your guests' stay.

We couldn’t decide if activities were more important than the ratings and amenities of the hotels. We found making a list of criteria helpful in determining our group outings and choosing our reception details.

#4 - Outline an approximate budget.

You must remember a ‘unique’ wedding will have a range of costs. Don’t set yourself at a low budget and expect the ‘red carpet’ treatment. Give yourself a little space to add a little touch of the local flavors.

#5 - Get expert and local advice regarding the customs.

We needed the help of a wedding coordinator mostly for this tip. Going to a foreign country for us meant not speaking the language and having food prepared differently. Knowing what types of food were available in a region and even the details of a traditional French wedding added to the romance and ‘uniqueness’ of our wedding.

#6 - Make all of your reservations early.

We found making reservations early gave us reduced rates. You can always change your numbers later, but it is best to start out high, and get the dates scheduled.

#7 - Send out your invites 4-6 months in advance.

Our wedding coordinator suggested this, and it was a life saver. Our guests had certain dietary needs, new babies were expected; so our accommodations had to be changed to meet their needs. We ended up saving money on our group bookings, and reduced our airfare as well. This greatly lowered our budget, and made everything run smoother.

#8 - Plan your reception carefully.

We wanted a band, dancing, outdoor festivities, and a characturist. The day before we found out it was going to rain, and we had not scheduled an indoor location as a back-up plan. Luckily, our wedding coordinator knew the renters well, and secured us an indoor location; which we only needed to use for the late night cocktail party, but thankfully, we did not get wet.

#9 - Ask your guests what activities they might like.

For my family, this was most of theirs’ first trip to Europe. I wrote on my invitations some option for activities, and had them rank their preferences. This was great in helping us decided which group outings to do. Plus, they got more excited about coming to France.

#10 - Make yourself and the wedding party look their best.

This is a ‘no-brainer’, or so we thought. We hadn’t realized tuxedos rentals were not readily available in some small villages. Renting shoes was not even an option. Our wedding coordinator suggested buying most of our dresses and outfits at home, and shipping them. We did add on a great addition in France though, we hired a hairstylist to style all of the bridesmaids hair alike which made our photos look beautiful and even more professional.