3 Ways To Be A Good Traveller And Reduce The Impact of Your Destination Wedding

Travel has changed tremendously over the past few years.  And in so many ways, it’s changed for the better.  Travel has become more accessible and more affordable.  New cheap airlines and routes means that doors have opened to new places.

Far away countries seem not so far away anymore.  What was just imagination and wanderlust are now real possibilities.

And for destination weddings, the possibilities have opened too.  You can get married in places you’d never even dreamt of before.

(Photo credit: Danielle Coons Photography)

All of this is wonderful and exciting.  Like with social media, it makes the world a smaller place.

But, it comes with it’s drawbacks.  More and more places are putting travel restrictions into place limiting the number of people who can visit.  They’re doing this in order to protect and preserve their history, culture and location.  Because with the increased number of visitors, they’re seeing deterioration.

And it’s totally understandable.  Because no one wants to see these beautiful places disappear.  But, with the increased number of people visiting, they have to do something.  And I anticipate that only more places will start adding in restrictions.

So, what can you do?  Not traveling is not the answer.

Instead, be a good traveller.

What does that mean you may ask?  It means follow the mantra they tell you when you’re hiking or camping, “leave no trace”.

(Photo credit: Aihara Visuals)

When you travel you should experience a place fully.  You should enjoy it!

But, don’t leave behind trash or alter a place.  You want to keep it beautiful for everyone else to experience.  Another mantra I like to follow is “leave it better than you found it”.

Traveling is special.  It opens your eyes, expands your mind and fills your soul.  But, it’s not just for you.  It’s for everyone to experience and appreciate.  And for your destination wedding, this destination is a place that will forever be special to you.  You want to keep it that way.

But, in order for that to happen, you have to make as little of an impact on the location and the environment as you can.  So, it can endure and live on long after we’re gone.

So, you’re on board, right?!  But what does this mean in real life?  What does this mean for your destination wedding?

3 Ways To be a Good Traveller And Reduce the Impact of Your Destination Wedding

1. Being a good traveller means disposing of your trash and not littering.  This seems like a no brainer, but do you notice the amount of trash everywhere you go?  If you really looked you’d be surprised.  Keep things clean!  And that means not just the picnic area you’re sitting in or the beach you’re hanging out on, but the street you’re walking down, the road you’re traveling on and the place you’re getting married.

(Photo credit: David Pullum Photography)

2. Being a good traveller means reducing the amount of disposables you create.  There is so much waste with weddings.  I hate to say it, but it’s true!  And this applies to traveling in general too.  There’s all the stuff you bring in and all the stuff you buy.  Instead, keep it as eco-friendly as possible.  Pick items that are useful and can be reused.  And keep it minimal.  There is a reason simple is such a common word I hear for weddings.  Keep it simple.

(Photo credit: Arrowood Photography)

3. Being a good traveller means not doing anything that would alter or damage the location.  Remember, leave a place better than you found it.  That means don’t throw beer bottles into the ocean.  It means don’t carve your names into a rock wall.  Or release a whole bunch of balloons into the air.  What can sound fun at the time (or seem like a great photo op) can damage the location or someone else’s experience down the road.

(Photo credit: Tomasz Wagner Photo and Films)

With all the changes in travel, the world is your oyster!  But, the world is precious.  Everything you do can affect how it will be in the future.  While the world is pretty magical, it can’t magically fix itself if you harm it.  So, be a good traveller and make your destination wedding “leave no trace” but the memories you’ve created.

Need some help planning your destination wedding?  Contact us today.