How to Plan a Destination Wedding in the Maldives

As one of the world's top destination wedding hubs, the Maldives welcomes couples from across the globe to its sunny shores, allowing overseas couples the chance to tie the knot in its pristine landscapes. One would assume that planning a nuptial ceremony in the country would be a simple task. Organising the perfect wedding day in an exotic location such as the Maldives, however, requires planning and forethought. Here are some tips on how to make sure everything goes according to plan.

1. Time the Ceremony

Although summer weddings in the bright and sunny month of June are considered ideal in most of the world, those who are hoping to tie the knot in the Maldives should avoid hosting an event in June. This is due to the fact that June is when the monsoon season is at its height and inclement weather is inescapable across the archipelago. Timing the ceremony is, therefore, the first step in planning a Maldivian wedding as the monsoon season from May to October is simply the worst time of the year to travel to the paradise isles, let alone host the biggest day of your life. The period from November to April is most suitable for weddings and holidays in the Maldives as every corner of the archipelago is sun-kissed and clear.

2. Decide on a Theme

Those who are planning to marry in the Maldives have a plethora of thematic options at their disposal including a traditional Maldivian ceremony complete with Bodu Beru drummers and a tree-planting ritual or a conventional western wedding in an underwater chapel, for example. Selecting the theme is directly linked to one's budget and how much one is willing to spend to bring a dream wedding to life. Note that those who wish to experience a Maldivian nuptials ceremony can rent the necessary attire from a local resort base or rental service.

3. The Guest List

The next step in the planning process is deciding whom to invite and couples must take a more measured approach unlike when they are organising an event at a local church or hotel. This is due to the fact that some of the invitees may not be able to travel to the Maldives for the nuptials for various reasons and the fact that one may not be able to accommodate as many guests due to the high costs of an overseas ceremony. A destination wedding is a perfect excuse to cut back on the number of guests to one's nearest and dearest without causing offence as many will understand the costs involved in celebrating a wedding abroad; so, keep your guest list short.

4. Secure Vendors

Keep in mind that those who select wedding locations on resort islands the likes of Grand Park Kodhipparu will have the added advantage of having catering and other services also provided by the hotel. This may not be the case for those who wish to enjoy a more unusual wedding location that's not part of a hospitality hub. Underwater weddings and private island weddings fall into this category. In such cases, one must secure caterers, photographers and entertainment without the help of a local resort and its contacts.

5. Wedding Packages

Couples who are in search of a wedding destination may come across the countless Maldives villas offering organised wedding packages to foreign couples. These are all-inclusive packages where every element including attire, food, documentation and other aspects of a wedding are taken care of by the resort hub. While these packages are affordable, they do not offer much in the way of flexibility as couples will not be able to personalise the elements of their big day.