Destination Wedding Planning Services
Serving destination wedding couples planning throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Whether you’re envisioning a Lake Geneva weekend, a city-meets-nature escape, or a destination that holds meaning for your families, planning a wedding from afar introduces an entirely different level of logistics and coordination.
Destination wedding planning services provide a full-service experience designed for couples who want a trusted destination wedding planner to guide the process with clarity and confidence. From location research and vendor team curation to travel considerations, weekend flow, and on-site production, I manage the details—so your celebration feels cohesive, intentional, and true to your priorities, no matter where it takes place.
This is for you if:
You’re planning a destination wedding outside your home city or state and want experienced guidance from the start.
You want support evaluating locations and venues through both a practical and design-informed lens, not just what looks good online.
You’d like help building a trusted local vendor team, even when you’re planning from a distance.
You want your wedding weekend to feel cohesive, intentional, and thoughtfully paced—not like a series of disjointed events.
What’s Included:
Location and venue research, including thoughtful pros, cons, and recommendations to support confident decision-making
Destination-specific vendor curation and introductions, tailored to your location, priorities, and aesthetic
Editorial wedding design, developed with travel logistics, climate considerations, and guest experience in mind
Logistics planning for the wedding day and select weekend events, ensuring a cohesive and well-paced celebration
Wedding timeline creation and vendor communication, keeping teams aligned across time zones and locations
Travel-day coordination guidance and on-site oversight for your wedding day (and additional events, as scoped)
Calm, consistent planning support, so you feel informed, grounded, and supported while planning from afar
The Destination Wedding Planning Experience
A full-service, design-forward planning journey built to manage complexity, protect your time, and ensure your destination celebration feels cohesive, intentional, and deeply personal—no matter where it takes place.
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Phase 1: Destination Feasibility & Venue Curation
We begin by evaluating what’s possible—and what’s practical—so every decision is grounded in experience, not guesswork.
Destination feasibility assessment, including weather patterns, seasonal considerations, and travel flow
Venue research, availability checks, and comparative guidance
Communication systems established across time zones and vendor teams
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Phase 2: Vendor Team Curation (Local + Travel-In)
With the destination selected, we assemble the right creative partners to execute your vision on location.
Local vendor curation and coordination (including collaboration with on-the-ground planners when appropriate)
Strategic shortlists, inquiry management, and availability checks
Contract review and communication oversight to ensure alignment across teams
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Phase 3: Design Development & Implementation
This is where your destination wedding takes visual and experiential shape—designed with both beauty and logistics in mind.
Editorial design development tailored to the destination, environment, and guest experience
Final design deck, including color palette, styling direction, and spatial considerations
Collaboration with floral, rental, and production partners to adapt the design to the location
Design decisions informed by climate, travel logistics, installation feasibility, and venue constraints
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Phase 4: Guest Experience & Weekend Flow
A destination wedding is more than a single event—it’s a shared experience.
Guest journey planning, including website guidance and communication strategy
Room blocks, transportation planning, and hospitality coordination
Design and logistics support for welcome events and additional weekend gatherings
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Phase 5: Wedding Week & On-Site Management
Once guests arrive, our role is simple: manage execution so you can be fully present.
On-site production management and vendor oversight
Rehearsal coordination and management of pre- and post-wedding events
(welcome party, pool party, farewell brunch, etc., as scoped)Wedding day coordination, styling oversight, and timeline execution
Real-time troubleshooting and discreet problem-solving
Investment & Booking
Destination Wedding Planning begins at $19,500.
Because destination weddings involve additional layers of logistics, travel coordination, and multi-day production, pricing is structured as a percentage of your overall wedding investment, typically ranging from 15–18%.
The exact percentage is determined by destination, event scope, guest experience requirements, and production complexity. Multi-day wedding weekends or celebrations with significant build-outs, travel logistics, or on-site production needs may fall at the higher end of this range.
During your consultation, we’ll walk through your vision and priorities together and I’ll recommend a pricing structure that feels clear, appropriate, and aligned with the experience you want to create.
From a real couple:
-L & E
“My husband and I live in Boston but chose to have our intimate wedding in Chicago… we wanted to ensure every detail was thoughtfully executed, and since we weren’t local, we knew we needed someone we could trust completely…Alyson put us at ease with her knowledge, organization, and warm, reassuring presence.
As a couple planning from a distance, we were initially nervous, but Alyson’s expertise and communication made all the difference. She helped us bring our vision to life while making sure we stayed on track and stress-free.
On the wedding day itself, she was truly exceptional. Everything ran flawlessly—our timeline, vendor coordination, and all the little details we hadn’t even thought of were handled with grace…We were able to be fully present and enjoy every moment.
For any couple looking for a planner who is organized, thoughtful, and truly invested in making your day special, look no further—Alyson is simply wonderful!”
