FAQs for (Destination) I Dos

by Renée Stewart-Hester | Feb 2025

Denae Brennan highly recommends California wine country for a destination wedding location. “The venues are beautiful, food and wine are amazing and the weather is typically stellar,” she says. Pexels/Photography Maghradze PH

Event planner gives an inside look into organizing the perfect destination wedding.

As Denae Brennan notes, hiring a full-service planner is “an investment in peace of mind.”

Brennan of Denae Brennan Events understands how to navigate all types of wedding venues—from Twin Cities event centers, unique boutique locales to private homes on and—destination locations.

What is your role?

… I am the project manager, designer, etiquette expert, confidant—the list goes on! I handle all vendor research, vetting and management; logistical planning; design development and execution, including placing rental orders, working with the florist, etc.and budget creation and tracking. The biggest part of my role for destination weddings is vendor related. There are hours and hours of research and communication involved in planning.

How far ahead should one plan a destination wedding?

In today’s climate, booking a venue 12 or more months [in advance], whether local or destination, is becoming necessary. There is still a spillover effect from COVID-19. People who started dating in the height of the pandemic have been holding off on getting engaged, and we are now seeing an influx of engagements. As such, places are booking out further.

Are hotel/resort staff amenable to working with a planner?

Most venues these days require that couples work with a day-of coordinator at the very least, but there are many in California, for example, which require a full-service planner to be on board. Venues have literally hundreds of clients at one time; if those clients have professional planners, the venues have much less stress on their end.

Do you secure hair and makeup appointments?

I make recommendations to brides, and they make the final selection of the artists. I do help create hair and makeup schedules for the wedding day itself .

Is a destination wedding less expensive?

Sometimes, if it’s a domestic destination … to which all the guests are traveling to, that doesn’t necessarily equal a smaller guest list. International destinations may not have smaller guest lists, but the actual number of attendees will likely go down considerably compared to a stateside event. In terms of cost, it varies greatly depending on location. Your money can go further in Mexico than Lake Como [Italy] … Even in California, you could find a low-cost venue option in a highly sought after area or go with a five-star resort in the same area and spend twice as much for the same guest count.

Is there an ideal number of guests to invite?

This is very personal to the couple, but I think it all depends on what kind of destination wedding you are dreaming of. Is it just your closest friends and family, all staying in the same chateau or villa for three days of celebration? Do you have an extensive list of friends who love to travel, so you want to have a blowout party at a luxury resort?

How can couples “include” invitees who can’t attend?

A common idea is to host a “back home” reception to celebrate your marriage with those who could not attend the destination (or who could not be included on the guest list due to location or budget restrictions) … It can be a backyard barbecue or pool party where you have a slideshow or album of your wedding photos on display, so those who could not be there can get a feel for the big day.

Are there legal hurdles in terms of the marriage being valid?

That’s an important element of a destination wedding—researching the local marriage license guidelines and requirements. For those getting married abroad, it may be easier to legally get married at home first and have a symbolic ceremony at the destination. It avoids having to go through the red tape of having a legal ceremony in another country …