Kristina and Bill have family throughout the United States and were living in Seattle at the time of their wedding, so they had lots of locations to choose from for their destination wedding. Ultimately, the couple decided on a St. Augustine destination wedding in Florida, so the groom’s grandfather would be able to attend. “America’s oldest city’s” historic charm didn’t hurt either! While the couple loved their wedding, the planning process wasn’t without its hiccups.

For example, the couple switched venues part way through the process. “We [didn’t visit] the venue in person when we booked,” says Kristina. “I was going off of old photos online, when it had changed and had considerably less foliage.” Once the couple saw current photos of the venue, they ended up switching to The Oldest House Museum for their event, which was beautiful. This is something to keep in mind when booking your venue from afar. Not only should you ensure the photos on their website are recent, but reflective of the state of the venue at the time of year in which you’re getting married.

Unfortunately, the couple ran into another major hurdle – Hurricane Irma. “[Hurricane Irma] was scheduled to hit right on our wedding date, so we did have to reschedule our wedding,” says Kristina. “This lost us quite a few attendants, but the rescheduled wedding was still fantastic – small and intimate. We were able to keep everything as it was and just pick a new date two months later.” The couple clearly rolled with the punches and were able to pull-off their dream destination wedding, despite some challenges which were outside of their control. Inclement weather can definitely play a part in your wedding away and is a factor to keep in mind when choosing your destination.

When it came to décor, the couple is glad they took a simplistic approach. “It would have been too stressful to ship or fly with any extra stuff, so we ended up renting all the décor, which worked out great.” In the end, Kristina and Bill had the charming, historic wedding they were after. We asked the bride if she had any final words of advice for other couples currently considering or planning a destination wedding.

“Keep the wedding small and hire a day-of coordinator, at least. Both of these things made the day stress free and enjoyable. Also, don’t forget about your husband [or spouse] and incorporate them into the planning. My husband was glad to help and took pride in knowing that he had a hand in the planning. Lastly, remember it is just one day. Pick the thing that is most important to you (like photography for me) and splurge on that. The cost of everything can add up fast and add stress on your relationship.”

Vendors: Photographer: Olivia Morgan Photography, Wedding Planner: Coastal Coordinating, Ceremony/Reception Site: The Oldest House Museum, Florist: Lori Parker Floral Studios, Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas, Cake: Kakes by Katie, Hair & Makeup: Amanda Hopcraft, Gown Designer: BHLDN, Catering: A Step Above Catering Company & Lighting: St. Johns Illuminations