Destination weddings not only give you some amazing back drops for your wedding photos but they are fun and unique and give you the chance to incorporate some local culture into both the ceremony and the reception to reflect your surroundings.

Plan a guided tour

Since a destination wedding is also a mini break for your guests and gives them time to meet each other and bond before your wedding day, it would be a nice idea to plan for a local guide to take you all around the area and show you the local sites whilst explaining some of the history and traditions. You may be able to book a guide online, or ask your wedding planner if she can co-ordinate this for you.

Wedding favours

Wedding favours are a thank you to guests for coming to share your special day and what better way of doing this than by giving them a favour which is a piece of local culture. It could be an admission ticket to a museum or a tour, locally baked goods or perhaps a bottle of wine that is exclusive to the region.

The Ceremony

When it comes to the ceremony there are all types of ways of incorporating the local culture, depending on your destination. An Asian wedding, for example, could include the bride arriving to her wedding on the back of a highly decorative elephant accompanied by dancers and performers, and the heady beat of drums playing. Or how about the bride being carried down the aisle on a traditional sedan raft by 8 Fijian warriors to the sound of a choir singing. Alternatively, a couple could be enjoying a traditional Hawaiian wedding with their guests arriving to the sound of ukulele music. The arrival of the bride wearing a flowing white gown and a flower crown or haku, would be announced by a conch shell being blown to call up the earth, air, sea and fire as witnesses to the marriage. The bride and groom exchange leis whilst standing within a circle of love made from fragrant flower blossoms. Hula dancers sway to the sound of the Hawaiian wedding song as the couple recite their vows.

The Reception

Hosting a destination wedding is also a great opportunity to experience new and mouth watering flavours and combinations of food. In Thailand, food is one of the most important parts of the celebrations and all of the food served not only looks and tastes amazing but has symbolic meanings too. To symbolise the unity of the bride and groom Thai rice is mixed with hot sugar caramel and coconut milk, formed into heart shapes and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Pla Ngum or money fish, are cakes in the shape of fish with silver coins representing scales, and symbolise good luck and prosperity. No Thai wedding is complete without Foy Thong, otherwise known as golden silk threads. Made with long strands from egg yolk and sugar syrup they represent a long and happy marriage.

So you see, there are many ways in which you can incorporate some local culture into your destination wedding. Do a little research, be creative, and call upon the knowledge of your wedding planner too.

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