Planning non-wedding events for guests during a destination wedding by Barefoot Bride Sophia Wilder

Deciding to have a destination wedding might seem untraditional to some people. However, when my fiance and I decided to have a destination wedding, we knew we wanted to incorporate some lead up events. We opted for a destination wedding in order to accommodate some special factors that would allow for the families of both of us to enjoy the celebration. This would mean that everyone attending our wedding will be travelling for it, something that we understand is a large time and financial commitment on their part and we really want to show our appreciation for their attendance.

We landed on Playa del Carmen as our destination because we love the city and previously had a wonderful experience as wedding guests of our friends. Our friends planned their wedding with the guest experience as a key factor and it really elevated the overall wedding week.

With destination weddings, we have the unique opportunity to add some flare to pre-wedding events! For example, our friends who got married in Playa del Carmen rented out a private cenote for guests who came into town a few days before the wedding. This was a really fun and unique touch that was certainly different from other wedding-lead up events we’ve attended.They also coordinated a beach day meet up at the public beach in the center of town. This was yet another way they encouraged destination exploration and allowed guests to get to know each other a bit more before the big day. And then of course, they also had a rehearsal dinner for their bridal party and family, too. 

There are a lot of other cool options in Playa del Carmen to choose for wedding lead up events. Being super close to Tulum, hosting a yoga retreat day could be great for those who love meditation and wellness. You can rent a large catamaran for 40 guests to party on the sea if that’s your vibe. You can rent out a beautiful rooftop for welcome drinks. The possibilities are endless!

Because my fiance and I are getting married on January 3rd, we will be in Playa del Carmen a week prior to that. Many of our guests will be joining us on December 31st and because it is New Years Eve, we decided to coordinate a location for our guests who want to celebrate to meet up, go out, and grab a drink on us. 

We also decided on having a Welcome Breakfast event for all of our guests at a highly recommended Mezcal restaurant near our resort. We wanted to offer our guests a fun, authentic experience and host them in the morning so they are able to enjoy the rest of the day, whether they want to relax or chill.

And finally we will be having a rehearsal dinner for our bridal party and our family, too. This will take place at a lovely rooftop location that is a 3-5 minute walk from the resort. We wanted to offer a special thank you to our friends and family who have been helping us make this celebration happen and also have time to mingle with everyone before the big day.

When deciding on wedding lead up events, it’s important to take a few things into consideration. For example, knowing if your guests prefer to party or to chill, if they are exploratory foodies or if they shy away from trying new cuisines, or if you have a mix of guests with different preferences are all things to consider. Because although the wedding is for the couple, we want to find a way to thank our guests for making the trip to join us for our celebration and wanted to consider all factors of the guest experience from the lead up events all the way through the actual wedding.