A destination wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it comes as no surprise that adventurous to-be-weds are always looking for ways to personalize their celebration and make it a truly unforgettable time for themselves and their guests. One of the best ways for couples to do this is to schedule group excursions to take in all the sights and sounds of the region.
As excursions become more of a commonplace addition to destination weddings, we have seen a number of trends rise for these fun getaways. Here are some of our favorites.
Popular Choices: From ATVs to Zip Lines
Of course, the type of excursion chosen will depend on a variety of factors, including the destination, the couple’s preferences and the size and makeup of the group. However, some of the most popular choices we’ve seen are snorkeling, walking tours of ancient ruins, catamaran cruises, swimming with dolphins, zip lining and ATV rides. In general, popular local activities tent to range in intensity and required activity level, which means there is an option suitable for any destination wedding party.
The More, the Merrier
Rather than limit an outing to just the wedding party, couples are opting to invite the whole group of those who made it out to celebrate their marriage. While a romantic massage on the beach is not necessarily an option for the entire party, activities like museum tours, winery visits and sunset cruises may be just the answer for a bit of crowd-pleasing entertainment.
Kid-friendly Fun
As resorts have increasingly catered to children and teenagers through play rooms and lounges, destination weddings have become a family-centric experience. This makes room for excursions for all ages, from the smallest children to their great-grandparents.
Scavenger hunts around the area are a fun way to get everyone involved, as are on-site sports tournaments and introductory lessons to snorkeling, or even scuba diving.
Say ‘Cheese’ for the Pros
For most, the chance to go an adventure with all of their loved ones does not come very often, so couples are more frequently hiring a professional photographer to document every moment of their journey. Whether it is shore-front horseback riding or a walking tour through the nearby city, this gives guests the opportunity to disconnect from their phones and enjoy the moment, knowing that there are pictures being taken.
A Firsthand Perspective
In some cases, hiring a photographer is not a realistic option--especially for the snorkeling, bungee-jumping adrenaline junkies. Adventurous couples invest in a GoPro prior to their trip so that they can record their escapades (a waterproof case is preferred!).
A bonus perk is that a GoPro can come in handy at the ceremony for a firsthand perspective of the walk down the aisle--talk about a fun, and multimedia, memory to have for the future!
Excursions have become increasingly popular add-ons to weddings as they allow the couple and their guests to let loose a bit and enjoy all that their chosen locale has to offer.
Rebecca Hochreiter is the vice president of marketing and customer engagement at DestinationWeddings.com, the world's leading destination wedding and romantic travel planning company. DestinationWeddings.com has worked with nearly 25,000 couples and half a million guests to plan dream destination weddings. DestinationWeddings.com is one of the award-winning brands in the Celebration Travel Group collection.
