Tips for Throwing a Destination Wedding in Savannah

From waterfront views and cobblestone streets to endless entertainment and photography spots, Savannah, Georgia has well-earned itself a reputation as one of the most ideal wedding destinations. Savannah destination weddings not only make for stunning ceremonies at lively venues, they are also an excuse to celebrate all weekend long in a charming, bucket list-worthy city.

Since planning a wedding remotely can occasionally lead to some bumps along the road, here are some tips for throwing a destination wedding in Savannah.

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff

While centerpieces, flower arrangements, or silverware add to the wedding experience, people who reflect on your destination wedding in Savannah will mainly remember the stunning scenery of the venue and the fun experiences they had with friends and loved ones. Especially when planning your wedding remotely, it is important to decide on your must-haves, and if something doesn’t pan out exactly how you expected, it is best to do as the locals do and adopt a coastal mindset. Not sweating the small stuff and staying flexible, while honing in on what you really want on your big day, will take some of the stress away from planning a long-distance wedding.

2. Utilize Skype or FaceTime

Jumping on Skype or FaceTime is the next best thing to actually meeting with your wedding planners, caterers, florists, etc. before your wedding. When emails and calls start to get confusing or overwhelming, speaking “face-to-face” on the phone can allow you to better explain what you are looking for and just get to know your vendors better by putting a face to the name. If you are unable to make the trip to Savannah to scope out venues, asking for a Skype or FaceTime consultation and having them walk you through the venue in real-time can also give you a better feel for space than just photos would.

3. Scope out the venue in person

We are all aware of the power of great photography, so when you are searching for wedding venues in Savannah, try to squeeze in a trip to actually walk around venues and see them for yourselves. Even if you have already made a decision, making a trip to the city could make a world of difference in your planning by seeing exactly space size or finding hidden gems throughout the property that you may not have seen online. At The Mackey House, our event specialists work with long-distance clients to schedule a date and time that works for you, so you can experience the venue for yourself before your wedding day. Of course, if making the trip is not possible, Skype or FaceTime can also give you this connection or security with your venue.

4. Embrace local food and natural decor

When you throw a destination wedding in Savannah, there is no better way to fully embrace the Southern culture than through food and decorations. With many caterers throughout the city that prepare Southern dishes or nontraditional dishes with a Southern flare, you can serve your guests food that corresponds to Savannah including fried chicken, shrimp and grits, BBQ, oysters, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, and more. Since these caterers are working in the South, you can rest assured that their dishes will impress guests. As for decorations, shipping or traveling with decorations can add stress to your wedding, so find a venue where its natural beauty will be a focal point, and tone down the decor to lessen stress.

5. Book an extra day

Trust us when we say that after the stress and craziness of your wedding day are over with, you’ll wish you had extended your destination wedding weekend to a long weekend with at least one extra day. Adding this extra day not only gives you additional time to relax and explore the Hostess city with your friends and family, but it also gives guests who may have spent a lot of time and money to come to your wedding the chance to turn it into a vacation. With endless activities to choose from including shopping, dining, visiting historical sites, or heading to Tybee Island, your extra day will make for more unique memories.

6. Send invitations early

For weddings that may require extensive travel plans for guests, we suggest sending invitations out a couple of weeks before you would for a traditional wedding. Sending these out well in advance will allow guests to start taking off of work and saving up money for the trip while also giving your wedding more of a chance to already be on their calendars before they start making other holiday plans. In the invitations, it would be helpful for your guests if you added in some accommodation options in Savannah, weather information for the season your wedding will be held, and other information that will make traveling easier for your guests.

7. Give Savannah-inspired welcome bags

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make your guests’ stay unforgettable. From locally made treats to personalized mementos, your guests will feel right at home in this charming city with these Savannah-inspired welcome bag ideas.

At The Mackey House, we make Savannah destination weddings seamless events from start to finish. Our staff dedicates itself to our destination wedding clients, making sure you feel like you already know the venue by the time you walk in on your wedding day. Our venue perfectly captures Coastal Georgia and its unique landscapes and attributes…. think photos under towering oak trees, vows in an outdoor garden, mouth-watering Southern dishes from trusted caterers, and more.

We’re located just 10 minutes from Historic Downtown Savannah, making it easily accessible from your accommodation, so you can continue to explore Savannah before or after your wedding with us. For more information on destination weddings at The Mackey House, contact us today!