Is a Destination Wedding in Europe Still a Good Idea?

I’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about having a destination wedding in Europe and given the state of affairs, whether it’s still a good idea.  Couples are wondering if it’s safe or if they should reconsider a different area.

These are totally valid questions and important ones to ask.  With the ISIS threat, the world is a bit scary and with the recent attacks on Paris and Brussels and the related refugee crisis in Turkey, Greece, Italy and other countries in the EU, the situation feels understandably unknown and unsure.  I get it.  It’s hard to plan ahead for a destination wedding in Europe when you don’t know what will happen.

Here’s the thing you have to remember, though, you won’t know what will happen in another area of the world either.  Think about the couple who planned a wedding in Costa Rica or Fiji or Aruba a year ago.  How were they to know that the Zika virus would be in their area?  They couldn’t know.  There are natural disasters, viruses, and terrorist attacks that can happen anywhere.  You can’t plan for all of it.  And you honestly won’t know because things can change in a year or even 6 or 3 months.

So, what do you do?  I don’t think Europe is less safe now then when it was a year ago.  If anything, the security is better and more vigilant.  It feels scarier because of what has happened, but I don’t think it actually is.  Think of it this way, would you not go to New York after 9/11?  Well, maybe not immediately after because the city was dealing with the aftermath, but ask yourself, would you not feel safe in New York?

If you really want a destination wedding in Europe, if that is your dream or the place you two feel connected to, I don’t think you should change your plans.  You should still plan for and create the destination wedding you want, but if you are still worried, here are 3 tips to help make your destination wedding in Europe safer and give you peace of mind.

3 Tips to Make Your Destination Wedding In Europe Safer

1. Stay away from big cities.  If you really are worried about terrorist attacks and you want to pick the safest place for your Europe destination wedding, stay away from the big metropolitan cities.  Terrorists are always aiming for large cities and populated areas because it’s where they can inflict the most damage.  So, pick an area that is less populated like the French countryside or by the water in Lake Como.  On the upside, you’ll have a much more relaxed and leisurely time as well.

2. Pick a less newsworthy country.  This is going to sound a bit bad, but I’m all about honesty here.  So, if you are worried about terrorist attacks, then pick a country that is less newsworthy.  When I say less newsworthy, I don’t mean it’s not beautiful or a lovely place to visit, it’s just isn’t as popular as a tourist destination or not as volatile or as big of a country and most importantly, not as big of a target.  Some good examples are Switzerland or Ireland or Norway.  To wrap your head around this idea, think about US states.  New York or California, for example, are going to be more newsworthy than Utah or Kansas, they just are.

3. Communicate with your guests and be prepared. Honestly, this is an important tip no matter what kind of destination wedding you are having, but this becomes especially important when it comes to safety.  Stay up to date and keep your guests informed on the situation in your location and if there is any information they need to know with regards to travel or the wedding itself.  Make sure your wedding website has all the information they’ll need to plan their trip, and provide them with all the pertinent info they need onsite in their welcome bags.  Be prepared so you can handle any potential changes by hiring a destination wedding planner, getting travel insurance, and having a cell phone that works globally (or get a local one).

Lastly, while this is not a tip to make your destination wedding in Europe safer, it is a tip that you should always keep in mind with destination weddings – be flexible. Destination weddings are by nature more fluid and unpredictable.  It’s important to be flexible and adapt if things are not exactly right or if things need to change.

Don’t cancel your destination wedding in Europe just yet!  It’s still a great place to visit and is safer than you think.  If you’re worried, though, use our 3 tips to help make your destination wedding in Europe safer and give yourself the peace of mind you’re looking for.

And if you need help planning your destination wedding in Europe, we can help!  Contact us today to set up a free consultation.