Gorgeous Georgia is more than just the home of the peach. Nestled in the heart of the south, an underrated treasure of a state—brimming with life and culture—sits waiting to finally be acknowledged. With picturesque gardens, lush forests, vibrant cities and sunset-kissed skies, Georgia is a destination wedding location made of dreams. 

If you’re looking to host a destination wedding in Georgia but you’re unsure of where to start, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help guide you along on this journey.

Budget and costs

The first step to planning a destination wedding (or any wedding, actually!) is budgeting. Your budget is your guideline for deciding your limitations; it helps you understand what the non-negotiables are. Travel, accommodation, venue hire, catering, entertainment, photography, floral arrangements, obtaining the license and hiring an officiant are just some cost considerations you’ll need to account for. 

It’s overwhelming, we know. The good thing is that there are resorts all over Georgia who offer wedding packages that are often all-inclusive. If they’re not all-inclusive, they’ll typically have vendors that they frequently work with that they can recommend to you.

Location and venue

So you’ve decided that Gorgeous Georgia is the perfect place for your destination wedding. Now you need to consider precisely where in Georgia you want your wedding to be. What does your Pinterest board show you? A fancy city affair down in Atlanta? A gracious garden event under the shimmering stars? Or maybe somewhere with a lush landscape and lakeside views?

Whatever catches your eye, it needs to be somewhere that has suitable infrastructure to host weddings. It’s worth first arranging a site visit to your venue before you finalize your decision. It’ll give you a more concrete idea of space in your mind.

Travel and accommodation

Georgia has a diverse range of locations available for your accommodation needs, too. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to find a location that can host all your guests at the same time or not. The small details matter; if you’re not providing accommodation for everyone, gather a list of suggestions to give your guests in advance. This goes for transportation or travel arrangements, too.

Logistics and timings

There are many moving parts in a wedding; your personal arrival, the arrival of guests and vendors, followed by the schedule of the day. Planning everything out in advance and having a breakdown for your guests to follow is a good way to ensure the day runs as smoothly as possible. Some people prefer to hire a wedding planner to manage this and reduce their stress, instead.

Packing clothes

Your bridal party will need to open conversations early about what everyone is going to wear, but that’s part of the excitement! Make sure you pack for the climate, and remember to invest in proper transportation for the bride’s dress.

It is also worth bearing in mind everyone will need to pack multiple outfits for a destination wedding. You’ll need to work out what you will require for the length of your stay. It could also be worth investigating the hotel laundry and steaming services in case of any mishaps.

Back-up plans

It’s a good idea to go into the day prepared for any eventuality. Be ready with a plan B in case the weather doesn’t turn out as expected. Hiring a gazebo or a tent for an outdoor wedding is the ultimate failsafe. Check your cancellation and refund policies with your venue and vendors for absolute peace of mind, and book that all-important travel insurance!

Entertaining your guests

Your destination wedding in Georgia will require guest entertainment in the same way a regular wedding would. 

• Food: Are you going to have a traditional wedding brunch? Or will you hire a trendy food truck for an exciting twist on wedding catering? Make sure you check for dietary requirements before anything is set in stone!
• Cake: This is a special consideration in itself. Do you want a multi-tiered option or something a little more off-beat, like cupcakes or a donut wall? Consider the flavor, the amount needed, and the aesthetics. It’s the one show-stopper you will want to get right.
• Drinks: You will most likely want to ensure there are options for those who like a cocktail and those who do not. You could design your own custom cocktail/mocktail, or go the classic route and have a champagne reception.
• Music: There are many different parts of the wedding which require musical planning—the ceremony, the drinks reception, the first dance. You could hire a live band, a DJ, a singer; whatever fits with your dream!
• Other activities: Fancy a photo booth? Want to arrange for excursions before or after the event? Are there any fun garden games you could lay out to keep everyone busy between dances?
• Children: If you are having a child-friendly wedding, the parents present will thank you no end for keeping their children in mind with a few activities. Small things like coloring books and board games can make all the difference.

Your dream lakeside wedding at Lanier Islands

Lanier Islands is the ultimate destination wedding venue in North Georgia. With breathtaking views over the lake and fun activities for all the family, our resort is here to provide the perfect base for your dream wedding. We provide on-site lodging as well so you can focus on the big day resting assured your accommodations are squared away!  Contact us today to learn more about our venue and receive our brochure.