Although we hate to burst anyone’s bubble, the misconception that it is more cost-effective to host a wedding out of town is exactly that: a misconception. Remember that many small towns in the provinces do not have local wedding or party professionals who will be able to render services up to your city standards.

1. Look for a place that has easy access to hotels, inns, or a club that guests can spend the night in.

If your venue is less than an hour away from Manila, plan your wedding at an earlier time so that guests won’t be too worried about driving home in the wee hours of the morning.

 
2. Keep your guest list small. The fewer people you have to worry about, the better.

3. Once you have decided on a venue, check the details: bathrooms, generators, road accessibility, and indoor alternative venue in case of rain.

4. Transportation for your guest and suppliers should also be addressed. If your chosen venue requires an airplane ride, arrange for discounted group fares. And don’t forget airport transfers!

5. Check and double-check your supplier’s contracts very well. They should include their own transportation or gas allowance so that you will not have to struggle to provide it the last minute.

6. Prepare inserts or attachments to your invitation: a map and written directions, flight and hotel information, schedule of activities on your wedding day. Place your addresses in the invitation to encourage guests to deliver wedding gifts directly to your house to limit the number of breakables you have to transport.

7. Never leave anything to chance or assume you can purchase items out of town. Make a checklist of every single thing you think you will need, even toilet paper for bathrooms and corkscrews for the bar.

8. Make a day-itself schedule and do a dry run at an earlier date so you can pinpoint any hitches that might arise.

9. Assign a friend to be your eyes and ears. An observant and concerned friend will be able to assist in solving minor problems without stressing you unnecessarily.

10. Welcome tokens and gifts are optional, although they set the mood for your guests to relax and enjoy the minute they arrive!

In our experience, guests at a wedding out of town are generally more relaxed and more receptive to new things. This is the time to experiment with new colors, new dishes and deadly cocktails. If you are striving for a casual, elegant atmosphere, do so away from the city. Remember though that any problems should be shrugged off immediately and the fun should simply go on. As the bride, you should never stress yourself out over the little things. Just relax and enjoy the most memorable event of your dreams.