The backdrop of a tropical white sand beach or Mediterranean castle are certainly the main ingredient for any wedding abroad, but let’s talk about the latest trend in destination weddings, the immersive experience!
Chances are, you chose to have a destination wedding because you wanted to create an unforgettable experience. It’s important to you to present your love as a story and not simply a one-day event. The tropical breezes, the romantic sunsets, the chance to celebrate for days as opposed to mere hours are all elements of the destination wedding that drew you in, and immersing your guests in experiences that integrate all five senses will help to create those intimate and enduring memories that you and your wedding guests will be reminiscing about forever.
Let’s explore how to make each of the five senses the guest of honor at your destination wedding:
ONE: Go beyond the ordinary and expected SIGHTS of a typical wedding…
To orchestrate a sensory and immersive wedding, think about truly capturing your guests’ attention. What unique ceremony experiences will they witness? Try leaning into the culture of your chosen destination by incorporating a few of its wedding traditions. The Mexican tradition of “El lazo” binds the bride and groom together with a “lasso” of sorts. This symbolization of the bond created in marriage is a simple way to engage your guests with this unique imagery!
Kick the cultural immersion up a notch and try a “callejoneada” after the ceremony. This tradition is a parade led by a mariachi band and followed by the bride and groom as they journey toward the reception. Your guests can trail behind and won’t believe their eyes when they see a variety of tequila and burro carts along the way! What a festive entrance to your post nuptials party!
Anyone can exit to the traditional bubbles or rice, but consider the callejoneada, a small fireworks show, a horse and carriage, or a motorcycle escape! These visions are fun, festive, and make for an unforgettable wedding experience!
TWO: Orchestrate the SOUNDS of your big day…
If you’re in Mexico, continue to make indelible wedding memories with a grandiose idea like “la serenata”, a Mexican tradition where the groom sings to his bride-to-be the night before the ceremony – an especially perfect experience for the theatrical or musical wedding party – or for those couples who want to partake in a particularly personal tradition. The customary way to observe this wedding tradition would have the groom go to where the bride is staying for the night, followed by the wedding party, and/or family, and sing outside her window. Talk about a Romeo and Juliet moment!
For another personal touch, create a playlist for your ceremony filled with the favorite songs of your guests! Belting out their most-beloved tune with the bride and groom will surely create core memories!
THREE: Treat your wedding guests to one-of-a-kind wedding aromas…
For, perhaps, your most unique and impactful wedding experiences, try engaging your guests’ sense of smell. Try a beach bonfire, or several small bonfires scattered about (to minimize the “bonfire after-scent” on clothing).
Or, consider companies like Noteology who are in the business of making sweet memories with the personalized fragrances they offer. Consider creating your own signature wedding scents and giving out small gender-neutral rollerball perfumes as unique wedding favors, or essential oils by Ritual:wild. This company uses 100% all natural ingredients, to ensure even your most sensitive guests can enjoy it. This wedding favor will elicit fond memories long after your celebration has ended.
If you’re in Jamaica, The Negril Candle Company offers candle-making classes. Here, you could treat your guests to the sense of smell and touch as they create a scent of their own choosing using locally sourced ingredients.
FOUR: Don’t make your guests FEEL left out; tap into their sense of TOUCH for a truly immersive wedding experience…
Beyond the tried-and-true tradition of kicking off their shoes at a beach wedding, you want your guests to truly be a part of your big day. They can literally have a hand in making your wedding unforgettable by taking part in activities throughout the trip. Depending on your crew, you might decide to get tattooed to commemorate the momentous event. It’s definitely one way to make a lasting impression! Or treat your friends and family to a cooking class and learn about the local cuisine. Nothing speaks to the heart like food!
Wedding day events might include such tactile experiences as guests creating hand-made crowns of flowers, hiring a local artist to draw wedding guests or scenes from your reception, treating everyone to the leisurely pace of a build-your own dessert bar, or booking a local writer to pen poetry for your guests.
Saying your “I do’s” in Punta Cana? Get your guests moving by teaching them the merengue, and enjoy the national dance of the Dominican Republic.
FIVE: You have good TASTE! Play on the popularity of this sense…
A sure-fire way to create lasting wedding memories is to introduce your guests to the unique delicacies of your wedding destination. So much of a country’s culture is highlighted through its cuisine. Present your wedding dinner as the “casado”, the traditional Costa Rican wedding meal. It consists of a “marriage” of their most traditional foods such as rice, black beans, sweet plantains, salad, and tamales with chicken, beef, or fish.
In Spain, do as the Spanish lovers do and feature a wine from the region you are in. Maybe include the Spanish “Wine Ceremony” (many cultures partake in some variation of this). The bride and groom each pour wine from two different carafes into an empty one and then present the blended wines to their partner, symbolizing the joining of your lives! Imagine the scrumptious memories you could make at Masia Cabellut , a breathtaking vineyard just outside of Barcelona!
A truly magical destination wedding should engage all the senses and tell your story. By being intentional about creating experiences that enthrall your guests at every turn, you’ll be writing the next, greatest chapter in your love story that you and your guests will revisit again and again!
Travel With Class LLC believes it’s all in the details – like these! Let’s plan a wedding for the senses today!