Welcome to The Hollywed Journal — where timeless destinations, intimate gatherings, and iconic moments take center stage.
If you’re here, you're not planning a typical wedding. You’re curating something far more personal — an experience wrapped in beauty, depth, and meaning. Whether it's exchanging vows in a candlelit villa in Puglia or dining al fresco beneath the stars in the Cyclades, your celebration deserves a setting that feels as extraordinary as your story.
But how do you bring that vision to life — across oceans, cultures, and time zones — without getting overwhelmed?
Let this be your first step — toward something timeless, considered, and wholly yours.
Why Today’s Most Memorable Weddings Are Set Far from Home
Today’s most memorable weddings are about more than just a day. They're a series of artfully orchestrated moments that stretch across a weekend — or a week — in a place that’s close to your hearts (even if far from home).
When done with care, a destination wedding offers:
- A sense of escape – for you and every guest
- Time-rich connection – long dinners, late-night conversations
- Unscripted beauty – real settings, natural light, local charm
- A touch of the cinematic – that feeling you’ve stepped into a story
A Thoughtful Guide to Planning a Celebration Abroad
1. Begin With Emotion, Not Location
Ask yourselves: What do we want this to feel like?
Intimate and poetic? Stylish and sun-drenched? Soulful and celebratory?
Once the mood is clear, the destination reveals itself.
2. Choose a Team That Speaks Your Language (and Everyone Else’s)
Planning across borders is about more than logistics — it’s about translation. Of culture. Of vision. Of emotion.
Your planner should:
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Know the language of design and diplomacy
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Have trusted relationships with international and local creatives
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Be able to anticipate details before they even reach your radar
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Make it feel effortless for you — and unforgettable for your guests
3. Give the Plan Breathing Room
Beautiful things take time — and intention. A considered timeline lets you enjoy the process without the pressure.
When to Begin | What to Secure |
---|---|
12+ months out | Planner, venue, vision conversations |
10 months out | Photographer, catering, styling team |
6–8 months out | Guest accommodations + Save the Dates |
3 months out | Confirm event flow + design previews |
Final month | Pack, prep, savor |
4. Craft an Experience, Not Just an Event
A destination wedding is more than the ceremony. It’s the wine shared over a welcome dinner. The scent of local florals in every room. The sound of laughter as your guests gather under string lights after a slow morning by the sea.
Think about:
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Welcome gatherings that feel like private dinner parties
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Locally inspired welcome gifts that feel heartfelt, not forced
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Easy transportation and insider tips for downtime adventures
The real beauty is in how cared for your guests feel — and how present you get to be.
What Most Couples Miss — and How You’ll Do It Differently
Some common traps:
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Assuming all destinations have the same legal or religious ceremony options
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Trying to manage every detail solo
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Underestimating travel coordination for guests
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Over-planning the weekend with no time to rest or explore
With the right support, these aren’t problems — they’re simply part of the creative process.
Let it Begin…
With the right support and a vision that’s all your own, your wedding becomes more than a destination — it becomes a memory in motion.
Follow along here on The Hollywed Journal for beautifully curated insights, editor-approved planning tips, and stories from couples who’ve turned faraway places into their forever beginning.