I love the idea of destination weddings. They're basically a vacation for all of your guests. Everyone loves a good vacation, but that's the thing. As the bride and groom, it's your responsibility to make it a good vacation for everyone. Your guests are using their vacation time from work -- not to mention quite a bit of money -- to travel to your destination wedding. So you definitely want to pick somewhere they would want to go.
We just spent four days in Hilton Head Island, SC and oh my gosh, it is the perfect place for your destination wedding.
9 Reasons To Have A Destination Wedding In Hilton Head Island, SC
1. The name.
You've heard of Hilton Head Island. Your guests have heard of Hilton Head Island. That helps ... a lot. If your guests are using vacation time to get to your wedding, and using vacation savings to get there, you want to give them a place to go that is a place they want to go on vacation. Before recently, I had never been to Hilton Head Island, but this recent trip Pete and I took was a great reason to go. It also almost got me to buy a souvenir shirt with "Hilton Head" across the back. I was that excited to be on vacation somewhere that had always been on my list but was somewhere I never made it to.
So if your guests may cringe at "destination wedding," they'll be happy to hear it's somewhere they actually want to go.
2. It's an island.
You've heard of Hilton Head Island. Your guests have heard of Hilton Head Island. That helps ... a lot. If your guests are using vacation time to get to your wedding, and using vacation savings to get there, you want to give them a place to go that is a place they want to go on vacation. Before recently, I had never been to Hilton Head Island, but this recent trip Pete and I took was a great reason to go. It also almost got me to buy a souvenir shirt with "Hilton Head" across the back. I was that excited to be on vacation somewhere that had always been on my list but was somewhere I never made it to.
So if your guests may cringe at "destination wedding," they'll be happy to hear it's somewhere they actually want to go.
2. It's an island.
Destination weddings and islands go together so well. You could probably have a beautiful destination wedding in Iceland, but couples typically pick somewhere with sun and sand. Like an island. Your guests may not be able to travel to an island that requires a passport, but a domestic island like Hilton Head is feasible.
Many of your guests may be able to drive there and for the ones who decide to fly, there is Hilton Head Island Airport for them to fly into.
Many of your guests may be able to drive there and for the ones who decide to fly, there is Hilton Head Island Airport for them to fly into.
3. The beach.
We live at the beach and still spent time at the beach when we were in Hilton Head. The water was actually pretty nice, but the best part was the sand was pretty much shell free. I don't know the real reason for this, but Pete read something in a book about how the water pushes the shells far into the ocean. It's nice to be able to walk barefoot on the beach without broken shells cutting your feet.
4. Bike trails.
We ride our bikes often. Not as often as Pete would like, but that's mostly because my Fitbit doesn't give me credit for biking. That makes sense because I'm not actually taking steps, but I'm exercising and it should count for something. Fitbit disagrees, so I choose to walk instead of bike each afternoon.
There are a ton of bike trails in Hilton Head, and a bunch of bike rental companies too (which means your guests don't have to remember to pack bikes on the back of their cars along with everything else they can't forget to bring).
5. The food.
Food is so subjective, of course, but there wasn't one bite I had in four days in Hilton Head that I didn't love. It's on the water, so you're guests are gonna see a lot of seafood on the menu: crab cakes, shellfish, shrimp, fish ... low country boil. I mean, this place is known as the lowcountry, so you know you're getting a tasty namesake.
6. Guided tours.
We didn't tour anything in Hilton Head, mostly because we didn't have enough time but also because it rained every day when we were there and my idea of fun isn't sitting on an alligator tour in a storm. But that's actually just one of the many guided tours on the island.
If you guests are not fans of boats, they can find a helicopter tour instead. And if they'd rather keep their feet firmly planted on the ground, there are segue tours too. Something for everyone.
7. Sea turtles.
Turtles are my favorite animal, and I was really looking forward to just stumbling over on one the beach. It didn't quite work that way. I did, however, see a roped off area for a sea turtle nest, and that was good enough for me.
The nesting season for loggerhead sea turtles (the state reptile of South Carolina) is May 1 to October 31, which also encompasses wedding season. Your guests will have to be conscientious of the turtles by turning off lights after 10pm (because the light can distract the hatchlings and cause the to go inland and not out to sea), removing anything from the beach (as far as chairs and the like), and filling in any holes left by playing in the sand.
Maybe your guests will get luckier than me and see a sea turtle come out at night. That would be a wedding week highlight for sure.
8. The Heavenly Spa.
When I went to Seattle for my friend's wedding, she invited me to the salon with her and her sister to get my nails done. I said that's perfect because I had to get my eyebrows done too and since I don't live in Seattle, I had no idea where a good salon was. And bad eyebrows aren't something you can hide, so I needed a recommendation.
When you're planning a destination wedding, it might be in a location that you and your guests are unfamiliar with. So having a hotel with a spa in it is a huge help. At The Heavenly Spa (which is located in the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa), you can get a massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, or a variety of other services. There's a sauna and a whirlpool (which I didn't see until after I showered in the spa's facilities, so that was a bummer). Plus, the spa also offers services like hair and makeup, which is perfect for your guests to book if they're traveling out of town and away from their favorite stylist.
We ride our bikes often. Not as often as Pete would like, but that's mostly because my Fitbit doesn't give me credit for biking. That makes sense because I'm not actually taking steps, but I'm exercising and it should count for something. Fitbit disagrees, so I choose to walk instead of bike each afternoon.
There are a ton of bike trails in Hilton Head, and a bunch of bike rental companies too (which means your guests don't have to remember to pack bikes on the back of their cars along with everything else they can't forget to bring).
5. The food.
Food is so subjective, of course, but there wasn't one bite I had in four days in Hilton Head that I didn't love. It's on the water, so you're guests are gonna see a lot of seafood on the menu: crab cakes, shellfish, shrimp, fish ... low country boil. I mean, this place is known as the lowcountry, so you know you're getting a tasty namesake.
6. Guided tours.
We didn't tour anything in Hilton Head, mostly because we didn't have enough time but also because it rained every day when we were there and my idea of fun isn't sitting on an alligator tour in a storm. But that's actually just one of the many guided tours on the island.
If you guests are not fans of boats, they can find a helicopter tour instead. And if they'd rather keep their feet firmly planted on the ground, there are segue tours too. Something for everyone.
7. Sea turtles.
Turtles are my favorite animal, and I was really looking forward to just stumbling over on one the beach. It didn't quite work that way. I did, however, see a roped off area for a sea turtle nest, and that was good enough for me.
The nesting season for loggerhead sea turtles (the state reptile of South Carolina) is May 1 to October 31, which also encompasses wedding season. Your guests will have to be conscientious of the turtles by turning off lights after 10pm (because the light can distract the hatchlings and cause the to go inland and not out to sea), removing anything from the beach (as far as chairs and the like), and filling in any holes left by playing in the sand.
Maybe your guests will get luckier than me and see a sea turtle come out at night. That would be a wedding week highlight for sure.
8. The Heavenly Spa.
When I went to Seattle for my friend's wedding, she invited me to the salon with her and her sister to get my nails done. I said that's perfect because I had to get my eyebrows done too and since I don't live in Seattle, I had no idea where a good salon was. And bad eyebrows aren't something you can hide, so I needed a recommendation.
When you're planning a destination wedding, it might be in a location that you and your guests are unfamiliar with. So having a hotel with a spa in it is a huge help. At The Heavenly Spa (which is located in the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa), you can get a massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, or a variety of other services. There's a sauna and a whirlpool (which I didn't see until after I showered in the spa's facilities, so that was a bummer). Plus, the spa also offers services like hair and makeup, which is perfect for your guests to book if they're traveling out of town and away from their favorite stylist.
9. The Grand Ocean Terrace at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa.
Pete and I had a destination wedding for everyone but us, and it was so important for me so have a beach reception. We live at the beach and I wanted our guests to experience that. We picked a resort at a local beach with a beautiful oceanfront ballroom.
When we went to the gala unveiling of the Grand Ocean Terrace at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa recently, oh my heart. It reminded me just of our wedding. The gorgeous space (which can accommodate up to 220 guests) overlooks the ocean. And the sunset outside the floor to ceiling windows is the perfect backdrop for your reception. There's an outside deck (with a fire pit!) and enough space to fit a live band and a generous dance floor.
The food we ate at the gala was sensational as well. If you're booking your wedding and you're able to choose the chicken and waffles for your cocktail hour, please do yourself the favor and add it to your menu. I'm still thinking about it.
BRIDAL BABBLE: Are you considering having your destination wedding in Hilton Head Island?
BRIDAL BABBLE: Are you considering having your destination wedding in Hilton Head Island?
Looking for more?
Check out this Hilton Head Island, SC slideshow Pete put together of our time on the island last week.
Love these reasons for having a destination wedding. Hilton Head is beautiful and I would love to go there for the weekend!Thank so much for sharing at Celebrate It!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is having a destination wedding. I would love to visit Hilton Head. I must add it to my Bucket List. Thanks for sharing on Sunday's Best.
ReplyDelete