
Flight Of Fancy: Advice For Your Luxury Destination Wedding
Dreaming of saying ‘I do’ among the rolling hills of Tuscany or barefoot on a Caribbean beach? A destination wedding may well be what bridal dreams are made of, but the devil is most certainly in the detail…
The Côte d’Azur, Italy, the Balearics, Mexico, South Africa, The Maldives – when it comes to spectacular destination wedding locations, the options are, quite frankly, endless. Often steeped in tradition and art while boasting white sand beaches, enchanting villages, world-class food and stunning vistas, it’s easy to see why more and more couples are choosing to look abroad to cement their happily ever after.
“Destination weddings offer the opportunity for couples to gather their favourite people in the world and immerse themselves in their love of a place,” Lucy White, CEO and lead planner of Wiskow & White tells Harper’s Bazaar Bride. Specialising in multi-day, immersive weddings in Italy serviced to an exceptional level for clients all over the world, many from the UAE, Lucy launched her company in 2016 alongside business partner Danielle Wiskow after her own Italian wedding the previous year. “They truly are a once-in- a-lifetime experience where you can enjoy a holiday with your most cherished family and friends while celebrating your love at the same time.”
Yet often spanning several days, events and outfit changes – and not forgetting time zone differences and cultural barriers with foreign vendors – planning the event of your dreams in a different country comes with a whole set of unique challenges that, unless properly managed, can add an extra layer of stress to an already often anxiety-inducing experience. Luckily, that’s where the experts come in.

Lisa Smith, founder and creative director of luxury destination events company Isla & Smith, knows a thing or two about the intricacies of planning a wedding abroad, working internationally for style conscious couples who desire something a little out of the ordinary. “We were the OG of planners to really specialise in destination weddings inspired by fashion, interior design, architecture and luxury travel,” she explains. Alongside her team she plans for a wide range of briefs to create something truly unique for every single celebration, with budgets usually starting around Dhs500,000.
Case in point? One of her most decadent weddings in Ibiza involved a welcome party with a flotilla of luxury yachts transporting guests to a private beach club, a Cirque du Soleil style cocktail hour where waiters burst into surprise song, acrobats performed among guests and synchronised swimmers in Chanel-inspired costumes stormed the pool while, post dinner, one of the island’s hottest DJs kept the party going into the early hours.
Of course, having an experienced wedding planner is essential to navigate cultures, plans and logistics flawlessly, but there’s a myriad of key considerations for brides to take into account before getting down to business.
First things first – budget. “It’s such a hard element to get your head around, especially if you’ve never planned such an important event for so many guests,” says Lisa. To avoid any issues later down the line, she suggests thinking of the amount you would be uncomfortable going over and then working backwards from there. “Together with your planner, get your main expenses under control and then work out what you can spend on the remaining elements. You’ll feel much more in control rather than the budget controlling you.” Lucy seconds this, adding that it’s vital to have a clear forecast from the start before anything is even booked and guests are invited. “You need to know that you can achieve what you want before you start committing to anything,” she adds.

Choice of location is the next hurdle where plenty of brides fall, with one of the most important considerations being finding a destination which doesn’t put your guests out too much. This means that, unless you’re paying, a remote island off Bora Bora might be out of the question. “Unless the venue is so spectacular that all rules go out the window, pick somewhere that is fairly close to an airport rather than say a three-hour drive,” explains Lisa. While not such an issue if you have three or four glorious days of events planned, if it’s just one or two, the ease of travel and logistics is sure to make everyone so much more relaxed. “Planned events should also be as close together as possible,” she adds. “Transporting guests back and forth to different locations can really kill the buzz after a fantastic event.”
If you’re looking to save some dirhams whilst also incorporating sustainable elements into your wedding, one thing many brides forget is that certain items, such as florals and signage, can be reused throughout the day. “Florals in particular can be reused to get the most out of their beauty,” advises Lisa. “Not all elements, but a good chunk should be salvageable depending on the weather, and that makes your recovery party another beautifully styled event without the extra cost.” This includes reusing dinner and cocktail hour florals in vessels and water to style up entrance space structures, plus on stairs and around pool areas.
There are specific things you shouldn’t try to save on though if you’re really looking to throw the party of the century – a big one being your entertainment. “For a truly amazing wedding band it’s most likely you’ll have to fly one in from a big city like London. Your band choice can make or break your party, so if the budget doesn’t quite stretch to this – keep in mind you will need to pay for transport and accommodation for all band members on top of their other costs – get a fantastic DJ instead. As long as they have charismatic energy and work with you on your set list, you’ll have the dance floor filled all night long,” advises Lisa. Other important vendors fall under this umbrella too, so be sure to choose those with experience in your chosen location. “Italian weddings in particular can certainly have their nuances,” advises Lucy. “Having a team that understands this and is confident in these specific scenarios and locations will make the day work and flow better, and ultimately get you the results you want.”
While you may end up with a smaller guest count than at home – and you’ll have to accept that certain important people may not be there on your big day – there’s good reason why A-listers (think the Clooneys and the Crawfords) often swan off to more exotic climes to tie the knot. And at the end of the day, if you’re married to the one you love, then everything has gone swimmingly. Like some of the best destination weddings, if you choose to host your party on the edge of an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean, this could quite literally be the case.
Images courtesy of: Mandarian Oriental, Bodrum
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Bride Spring/Summer 2024 issue