The beginner’s guide to Fiji wedding planning
Are you dreaming of a wedding in Fiji but are unsure where to start? Unsure how to kick it all off? Wondering about the best way to approach things?
If the answer to any of the above is yes, we thought you might enjoy a little inside info on how to make the planning process easy. In no particular order, here is some good old-fashioned Bula Bride hot tips & advice on planning a destination wedding:
- What are some common challenges brides/grooms face planning a destination wedding – and how do I overcome them?
Challenge 1: Where do I start?
The biggest challenge is usually not knowing where to start. Most people have made a decision that a destination wedding is for them, and have probably considered the style of wedding they are after (rainforest, beach, garden, chapel etc) but with so many destination brides never having Fiji, figuring out the ‘where’ to get married out of all the choices can be the hardest part. If you haven’t started yet, jump straight into our Wedding Venues directory to take a look at a few of the options!
Challenge 2: Picking a venue
Common ways to work through this are by shortlisting a few places that take your fancy and request packages from each venue and have a discussion with their wedding coordinator. Don’t just look at the dollar cost – picking a location that fits the type of wedding and overall experience you want to have is key.
Alternatively you can engage the services of a destination travel agent/wedding planner that specialises in Fiji to assist you. These travel agents offer a lot of value, as not only can they assist booking all your travel and accommodation, but they should be really well travelled within that country and have visited every venue they are recommending in person. Websites like ours also can help you save hours of research by pulling together information for the whole of the wedding industry and presenting you with a number of the best choices as well as showcasing real experiences from other brides.
- How should I communicate with my vendors?
Here in Fiji many brides talk about ‘Fiji time’ which refers to slower than normal communication. It really helps if a bride takes time to prepare a list of questions for her resort or vendor on everything she wants to know so most things are covered in one email. Multiple emails back and forward can take up a lot of time for the wedding coordinator and many of them do several weddings a week so are busy on location during peak season. We suggest a few weeks in advance of your wedding you prepare your list of questions and then additionally have a meet and greet a couple of days before the wedding once you are at the resort to discuss any final arrangements.
Additionally search your Vendors websites for FAQ’s and similar. Many of them have a wealth of information on their areas of expertise and a quick check might answer your question without waiting for a response.
How do I choose a good time of year to get married?
With white sand beaches, snorkelling and diving, a pristine natural environment and an abundance of culture to immerse yourself in, there’s something in Fiji for everyone and the good news is that temperatures hover perpetually between 26C to 31C year round to enjoy being out and about.
The best time to travel to Fiji is late March to late November, with a wet season from December to March. If you are looking to minimise the chance of rain on your wedding day, it is best to avoid the summer months of December-February. If the weather genuinely wouldn’t bother you or you have a specific date in mind during this time, you’ll actually be able to take advantage of some amazing off-peak specials. Just make sure that your venue has a wet weather option available you’ll be happy with as chances of rain are higher during those months.
What about the legal side? How do I go about that?
Firstly – ensure that you know what you need to do to be legally married! Each country has its own set of requirements. Ensure you have researched everything you need to know from applying to be married to the signed marriage certificate to ensure the right paperwork is completed and your marriage will be legal – this a very important thing to do! In Fiji, your resort Wedding Coordinator will assist you with this process prior to arrival.
What’s the best way to include children and manage them when away for a destination wedding?
Destination weddings are just perfect for family weddings & holidays combined and if this is what you are looking for, our number one tip is to choose the right resort! Does it specifically cater for families? Are there sufficient pool areas where your kids won’t upset other guests with their excited play? Are there beachside casual dining spots so you can eat a big breakfast (included in many packages) but stick to a budget and not overspend on lunch? Is there a kids club and scheduled activities on offer? Are the rooms big enough to accommodate you without being crowded?
Once you have found a resort that ticks all of these boxes, on the wedding day there are many things you can do to keep the kids amused. Most resorts will be able to provide you with nannies to watch over the little ones throughout the reception, if you choose to include them. We suggest setting up a kids table and providing some activity packs to keep them entertained; and think about serving a meal for the kids early on in the evening. After 7pm, kids can return to their room with their own nanny that you or your guests can book through the resort to stay in the room until the party is over. That way kids can be included in the day but as it starts to get dark, you won’t need to worry about keeping an eye on them!
How do I factor in the type of climate into my hair/makeup/dress decision?
In tropical climates such as Fiji, taking heat and humidity into account is an important factor, as well as how well your items will travel. For example, when considering your wedding dress, lace and patterned fabrics travel better and don’t mind being rolled up, just simply unroll your dress immediately once you get to your resort and let it hang for a couple of days. Other fabrics such as satin or crepe get wrinkled easily and will need to be steamed just before they will be worn. To keep your groom cool, consider linen or cotton fabrics and do be scared to wear shorts or ditch the jacket! Read more on travelling with your dress here.
With a good portion of brides we deal with coming from overseas into Fiji, the climate can be very different to what they are used to back home and this needs to be considered when thinking about hair and make up choices. Particularly in the summer months (as early as November and as late as April), Fiji can be extremely humid and often wet. Whatever the month, it pays to think through your wedding day hairstyle carefully for the best result. Get a few pointers from your hairdresser on prepping your hair for your wedding day and some recommended styles if you are getting married in the warmer months or if your hair hates humidity; and for make up, usually lighter is better. Get some advise from the experts here.
OK, now who shall I invite?
You’ll probably also find one of the hardest parts of planning your big day is often the guest list. “Who do I invite?”…” If I invite so and so, do I have to invite so and so?” etc. Planning a destination wedding means it’s not on you anymore! Send out the announcement and only those who REALLY want to attend, and who will overlook the cost of being there, will fly over to watch you when you exchange vows. Yes it can be hard when someone you would love to have there cannot make it – but it is important you accept this will be the case when planning your destination wedding as it is inevitably this happens to almost everyone. Focus on making your destination wedding dream happen.
Lastly – do your research! Planning from far away can be stressful, so make sure you ONLY choose reputable suppliers with a successful history of wedding services. Check their reviews (via Google, Facebook and bride forums), ask them for terms and conditions and if they have insurances and only go with companies where you can see a demonstrable history of them delivering top quality services on wedding days. This will give you one less thing to worry about when you know you have a team of industry professionals booked for your big day with no risk of them not turning up, taking your money or delivering a poor job.
Want to take the next step and make your dream day a reality? Get in touch to chat further and to kickstart the planning process!
