When you have your heart set on an exotic location for your wedding, you will be forced to make a number of long distance decisions. If you've decided to have the ceremony on the beach or in a garden, you'll be adding an extra dimension to the planning. For the Hebrew couples planning Jewish destination weddings, a wedding rabbi with years of experience has some good advice.
It's important to find out if there is a rabbi available to officiate at the ceremony. If the location is really remote, there might not be someone who can conduct the service for you. In that case, you will need to discuss with your local rabbi the possibility of flying him to the site. The cost of an additional plane ticket and hotel room will have to be added to your budget.
An outdoor wedding is always subject to weather conditions. You need to find out if the Chuppah canopy can be moved inside. For an outdoor wedding the four legs are buried in the sand and a plank is put down for the convenience of guests and the bridal party. This can be a laborious process. If moving the canopy is out of the question, you should make sure the florist can provide a hand held one.
You will be nervous and excited on your wedding day. This is not the time to worry about what's happening with the ritual wedding elements. You should have a specific person assigned to pick up ceremony treasures and set them by the wedding cake or at your table. You have to provide a pull string bag for the person charged with picking up the breaking glass.
If you are flying, you should figure out how best to protect your ketubah. A heavy plastic bag or a cardboard tube, packed carefully in your luggage, should work. If your wedding ceremony is on the beach, you can use a treated canvas ketubah. This material will keep sand and water spray from damaging the document. It's a good idea to have some wire or ribbon on hand in case it gets windy. You can secure the ketubah to the easel that way.
If your guests are flying in, it's a good idea to book the flights or a day or two before the ceremony. If that isn't possible, at least book them on the earliest possible flight that day. That way if the plane is late, they still might make the ceremony. Your wedding planner should have made arrangements to meet guests at the airport and transport them to their hotel. You still need to ask the question though.
You can get wedding insurance. This is something you need to put in your budget. It will protect you if anything unforeseen happens, like a change of plans, a caterer who doesn't show up, or a deposit you have to forfeit.
Your wedding should be a joyous occasion. If you are set on having it in an exotic location, you must plan for everything. You never know what will happen and how you'll have to adjust to keep all the elements of your special day on track.
It's important to find out if there is a rabbi available to officiate at the ceremony. If the location is really remote, there might not be someone who can conduct the service for you. In that case, you will need to discuss with your local rabbi the possibility of flying him to the site. The cost of an additional plane ticket and hotel room will have to be added to your budget.
An outdoor wedding is always subject to weather conditions. You need to find out if the Chuppah canopy can be moved inside. For an outdoor wedding the four legs are buried in the sand and a plank is put down for the convenience of guests and the bridal party. This can be a laborious process. If moving the canopy is out of the question, you should make sure the florist can provide a hand held one.
You will be nervous and excited on your wedding day. This is not the time to worry about what's happening with the ritual wedding elements. You should have a specific person assigned to pick up ceremony treasures and set them by the wedding cake or at your table. You have to provide a pull string bag for the person charged with picking up the breaking glass.
If you are flying, you should figure out how best to protect your ketubah. A heavy plastic bag or a cardboard tube, packed carefully in your luggage, should work. If your wedding ceremony is on the beach, you can use a treated canvas ketubah. This material will keep sand and water spray from damaging the document. It's a good idea to have some wire or ribbon on hand in case it gets windy. You can secure the ketubah to the easel that way.
If your guests are flying in, it's a good idea to book the flights or a day or two before the ceremony. If that isn't possible, at least book them on the earliest possible flight that day. That way if the plane is late, they still might make the ceremony. Your wedding planner should have made arrangements to meet guests at the airport and transport them to their hotel. You still need to ask the question though.
You can get wedding insurance. This is something you need to put in your budget. It will protect you if anything unforeseen happens, like a change of plans, a caterer who doesn't show up, or a deposit you have to forfeit.
Your wedding should be a joyous occasion. If you are set on having it in an exotic location, you must plan for everything. You never know what will happen and how you'll have to adjust to keep all the elements of your special day on track.
About the Author:
Your one-stop source for Jewish destination weddings are right here on the Web. Discover our best dream venue suggestions at http://www.californiarabbi.com/Biography.html.
